Two researchers have been awarded the renowned Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship to pursue their work at Carleton University. The awards were announced Thursday in Toronto by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, minister of state (science and technology). Eli MacLaren and Alex Wong will each receive $140,000 in research funding over two years.
MacLaren’s research project, The Production of Canadian Literature, aims to develop and enrich the sovereignty that Canadians require to live well and intervene intelligently in world affairs. The ultimate aim of the project is to produce an eight-part book in which MacLaren will tell the story of Canadian publishing from its origins in the 18th century to today, demonstrating that many international factors have been central in the making of Canadian literature.
Wong’s project studies the costs and consequences of adaptation for organisms. He will attempt to come to a thorough understanding of the process of adaptation in order to confront a number of challenging issues, including biodiversity, climate change and the emergence of new diseases. These studies will provide an important contribution to our understanding of the evolutionary process, helping to predict the responses of natural populations to ecological and medical challenges.
“We’re proud to have attracted these stellar young researchers,” said Kim Matheson, Carleton’s vice-president (research and international). “They will be joining a rich, collaborative and productive environment with sponsorship in internationally renowned research units.”
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship program is designed to attract and develop top-tier researchers from Canada and around the world. Each year, 70 fellowships are awarded, with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
“MacLaren and Wong are sure to flourish at Carleton and will establish themselves as independent researchers and scholars in their own right. Faculty and students alike who have the opportunity to work with them will benefit greatly,” added Matheson.
Brilliant Research. Brilliant Researchers
Carleton University is a dynamic, interdisciplinary research institution located in Ottawa-Canada’s capital. It has innovative programs in sciences, engineering, arts, and public administration and has realized partnerships with numerous public and private sector organizations. Its strengths have led to international recognition for its faculty, as well as an ability to attract outstanding students.