Announced March 27 at York’s Markham Campus, Natural Resources Canada will invest $28.9 million in 12 projects across the country to build and deploy clean energy technologies through its Energy Innovation Program.

These investments support efforts to reduce emissions and modernize Canada’s energy systems as clean technologies advance.

York's project, led by Associate Professor Marina Freire‑Gormaly at Lassonde, is one of four initiatives funded in the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage stream which supports early research on capturing, moving, story and reusing carbon dioxide.

Freire-Gormaly will focus on developing a carbon capture technology that replaces heat‑intensive systems with electrochemical and light‑driven processes. By using advanced materials, the technology aims to cut energy use, reduce operating costs and improve performance.

“This funding allows us to move promising carbon capture ideas from the lab and scale them up, closer to real‑world use,” says Freire‑Gormaly. “It supports York’s role in developing practical, low‑energy solutions that can help reduce emissions.”

The project, titled “Development and scale-up of novel solid C02 capture photoelectrochemical active sorbents,” began in 2023 and will continue until March 2027 with a focus on creating and testing new solid materials that absorb carbon dioxide when exposed to light and electricity, instead of through thermal processes.

Freire‑Gormaly and her team of researchers – including co-applicant Assistant Professor Solomon Boakye-Yiadom and other collaborators at York's Faculty of Science – have developed new electrode materials using copper, aerogels and specialized coatings to improve performance.

Researchers are using a small, custom-built lab to accurately measure how much carbon dioxide is captured. Findings will help evaluate costs, environmental impacts and carbon emissions, and help determine how sustainable and practical the innovative solvent-based pathway would be at an industrial scale.

“These innovations are crucial towards a net-zero energy transition for all Canadians,” says Friere-Gormaly.

Tim Hodgson, minister of energy and natural resources, says the project reflects Canada’s goal to scale up clean energy and responsibly grow the nation’s conventional energy industry.

“We are investing to provide reliable, affordable and clean power across the country that will propel our economic growth, protect affordability for Canadian families and make Canada a low-risk, low-cost, low-carbon energy superpower.”

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The GSL is a pivotal research centre aligned with żě˛ĄĘÓƵ’s commitment to addressing complex global health challenges. It’s done so by bringing together students, faculty and professionals from multiple disciplines and institutions to work on applied research projects that focus on global antimicrobial resistance, public health institutions and global legal epidemiology.

Its goal is to offer critical insights for researchers and policymakers on evidence-informed, equitable approaches to global health governance.

The new program, says Mathieu Poirier, GSL director, expands upon the lab's leadership by enlisting the research efforts of York faculty and students, as well as external partnerships.

“At the Global Strategy Lab, we advise governments and public health organizations on how to design laws, policies and institutions that make the world healthier for everyone,” he says. “Our new will build on this mission by consolidating our leadership in this newly emerging field to inform more equitable and effective legal systems that respond to health threats that transcend borders.”

The program emerged in part from the lessons of COVID-19 – which underscored the critical need for stronger legal frameworks to guide both national and international responses to health emergencies. It is the first program of its kind in Canada, says inaugural Research Director Roojin Habibi.

As an example, Habibi points to her collaboration with former GSL director Steven Hoffman on the 2019 Stellenbosch Consensus Statement, which outlines when states can legally impose travel restrictions consistent with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations.

That work proved to be prescient. When the pandemic struck, the statement served as a key reference for policymakers and scholars assessing whether government travel bans aligned with international law. It demonstrated how global health law can provide clarity and accountability during crises.

Building on those insights, Habibi hopes the new program will continue to advance understanding of how international, regional, national and non-state actors can use law to shape health responses and build stronger systems. A central focus is developing long-term, grant-funded research projects that explore how law influences public health systems.

One of the first projects is studying how amendments to WHO’s International Health Regulations, introduced after COVID-19, are translated into Canada’s public health system. This work draws directly on GSL’s interdisciplinary expertise in law and epidemiology to assess how legal reforms affect national preparedness and health equity. “We have the opportunity to engage our legal and epidemiological tools to analyze that in a systematic, systems-level way,” says Habibi.

Beyond research, the program is designed to enhance training and education of the next generation of global health scholars. Habibi plans to expand experiential learning opportunities for York undergraduate and graduate students through research assistantships – something she says is critical, given the growing post-pandemic interest in global health law careers.

“Students understand they have a role to play in strengthening institutions like the World Health Organization or the Public Health Agency of Canada. I see a lot of students who are ready to pick up the tools at their disposal and forge ahead in building healthier communities,” says Habibi.

“I’d love to see this program have policy impact through interface with governments and international organizations, and make Canada a hub for global health law research.”

For more details, email Habibi at roojin.habibi@globalstrategylab.org.

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The new investment is delivered through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), which delivers financial support and business services to help entrepreneurs and organizations grow, create jobs and diversify the region’s economy.

Announced by Judy Sgro, member of parliament for Humber River–Black Creek, the funding underscores the vital role Black entrepreneurs play in shaping Canada’s economy and the importance of supporting their growth.

“Over the last few years, we’ve seen just how much Black entrepreneurs can achieve when the right support is in place,” says Olusegun Villasa, program manager of the BEA. “This new investment means we can build on that progress, deepen our impact and continue creating a community where innovation is accessible to all.”

Since its launch in 2021, BEA has supported 136 ventures, helping them generate more than $46 million in revenue, raise $7.3 million in funding, and create 989 jobs. The BEA has also invested more than $525,000 in upskilling and professional development for Black entrepreneurs and professionals.

Its programming has ranged from bootcamps that help Black entrepreneurs validate food and beverage products or prepare startups for investment, to a leadership certificate program delivered with Schulich ExecEd. Specialized streams also support growth in the consumer-packaged goods and technology sectors through accelerators and mentorship that connect founders with industry experts and networks.

With this new investment, BEA will bolster its impact by expanding programs in business process improvement and export readiness, in addition to hosting an annual forum to connect Black founders with ecosystem leaders. That impact extends to community partners such as the TD Community Engagement Centre at żě˛ĄĘÓƵ, located in the Black Creek Community.

“The TD Community Engagement Centre has always been about building connections and supporting people right here in Black Creek,” says Byron Gray, manager of the centre. “This investment means more entrepreneurs in our community will have access to the mentorship and networks they need to grow stronger businesses where it matters most.”

For the BEA, the investment represents more than funding. It is a step toward creating lasting impact, building stronger communities and ensuring Black entrepreneurs have opportunities to thrive for generations to come.

“Momentum is everything for entrepreneurs, and this funding helps us keep building on it,” says David Kwok, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at YSpace. “We’re excited to see more Black founders turn ideas into thriving businesses that create jobs, spark innovation and inspire the next generation.”

Learn more about the and its programs.

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Six research initiatives led or co-led by York faculty members have received funding through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), supporting projects that mobilize knowledge and spark change. 

Four projects were awarded Connection Grants, which fund short-term events and outreach activities that connect researchers with communities to share knowledge and foster collaboration. Another two projects were awarded Partnership Engage Grants, which support research undertaken in partnership with a single organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sectors. 

“These SSHRC-funded initiatives exemplify how York researchers are working in partnership with communities to address complex societal challenges,” says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. “From exploring how cycling can advance gender equity, to examining artists’ responses to political backlash, to supporting inclusive education, digital storytelling, gender inclusion in STEM, and educators’ digital rights, these projects demonstrate how  mobilizing knowledge through inclusive and collaborative approaches can create meaningful change at local, national and global levels.” 

The Connection Grant projects are part of the February 2025 competition and are valued between $7,000 and $50,000, provided over one year.  

Cycling Towards Change: Advancing Mobility Justice, Gender Equity, and Sustainable Development through Bicycles is led by Lyndsay Hayhurst, professor in the . The initiative received $24,596 to bring together researchers and community partners from Canada, Uganda and beyond to explore how cycling can promote gender equity and sustainable development. York researcher Jessica Nachman is also a collaborator. 

Facing Backlash: Performance in the Age of Reactionary Politics is led by faculty members in the : Marlis Schweitzer, Courtney Lancaster, Jamie Robinson, Keira Loughran and Laura Levin. The project received $19,692 to examine how artists and performers respond to rising reactionary political movements through creative expression. 

No for now: Building educator capacity to simultaneously support transgender students and parent-child relationships is led by Jake Pyne in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. The project received $23,498 and aims to equip educators with tools to support both transgender students and their families, addressing a critical gap in inclusive education.ĚýThe project is a collaboration with Lee Airton of Queen's University.Ěý

The Electronic Literature Organization @25 International Conference is co-led by Caitlin Fisher, director of York’s Augmented Reality Lab and professor in AMPD. The project, led by Lai-Tze Fan from the University of Waterloo, received $25,000. The event will mark the 25th anniversary of the Electronic Literature Organization and explore the future of digital storytelling. 

The Partnership Engage projects are part of the March 2025 competition and are valued between $7,000 and $25,000, provided over one year. 

Gender and Microinclusion in STEM Workgroups is led by Kelly Thomson in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) with co-applicant Marcela Porporato,. Partnering with Santex in Argentina, the project received $24,988 to investigate gender inclusion in STEM work environments. 

Strengthening Educators' Collective Capacity to Bargain for Digital Rights is co-led by Hannah Johnston (LA&PS) and sava saheli singh (Faculty of Education) from żě˛ĄĘÓƵ, with applicant Vera Khovanskaya from the University of Toronto. Partnering with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, the project received $24,750 to examine how educators can advocate for digital rights in the procurement and use of educational technologies. 

To see the full list of recipients, visit . 

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Seven faculty members from żě˛ĄĘÓƵ have been awarded Partnership Development Grants by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), securing a combined total of $1,397,010 in funding. The grants support one- to three-year initiatives that foster new or existing research partnerships with the goal of advancing knowledge and mobilizing outcomes that benefit academic and non-academic communities.

“This remarkable success in the SSHRC Partnership Development Grants competition highlights York’s strength in building meaningful research collaborations that span disciplines and sectors,” says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. “These projects demonstrate how our researchers are partnering with communities to co-create knowledge that informs policy, advances equity and addresses complex global challenges. They reflect York’s ongoing commitment to research with real-world impact.”

These grants build in a wave of other recent funding announcements by SSHRC, including an additional $1.7 million funding żě˛ĄĘÓƵ researchers recently received through Insight Development Grants, and $5.7 million from Insight Grants.

Faculty leading the projects represent the , the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the .

The following York researchers were awarded funding as part of the 2024 competition:

Charles Cho, Schulich School of Business
Project: Bridging worlds: Collaborative solutions for global biodiversity accounting and reporting
Funding: $199,976

Amrita Daftary, Faculty of Health
Project: Developing a global framework to address gender-based violence in women affected by TB
Funding: $200,000

Ester E. Amanda De Lisio, Faculty of Health
Project: Unidivercidade Nem Davida: Insurgent Geographies of Puta/Trans Activisms in Rio de Janeiro
Funding: $200,000

Lyndsay Hayhurst, Faculty of Health
Project: Partnering for the Planet: Co-Creating Gender-Just Climate Solutions through Sport for Development and Peace
Funding: $199,961

Johanne Jean-Pierre, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Project: Inspiring adolescents to become first-generation university students through bilingual short films
Funding: $199,384

Joan Judge, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Project: Vernacular medicine and modes of knowing in China: historical and global contexts
Funding: $199,329

Yvonne Su, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Project: Sanctuaries of Hope: Co-Creating Knowledge, Policies, Workshops and Participatory Films on South-South Queer Migration with Bogotá’s LGBTQ+ Houses
Funding: $198,360

These awards reflect żě˛ĄĘÓƵ’s continued leadership in collaborative, equity-focused and community-engaged research across global contexts.

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Building on an additional $1.7 funding żě˛ĄĘÓƵ researchers recently received through SSHRC Insight Development Grants, the now announced  Insight Grants provide long-term funding for projects lasting two to six years, enabling emerging and established scholars to pursue innovative research in the social sciences and humanities. 

York’s funded projects reflect the University’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and social impact. 

“This outstanding result in the SSHRC Insight Grants competition reflects the depth and diversity of research excellence at York,” says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. “Our researchers are leading critical work that addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing society today – from refugee education and immigrant career pathways to digital culture and equity in the workplace. These projects exemplify York’s commitment to purposeful research that drives positive change in Canada and around the world.” 

żě˛ĄĘÓƵ researchers received SSHRC Insight Grants for a diverse range of projects. Several focus on refugee education and immigrant integration, exploring governance in refugee schooling and sustainable career paths for newcomers.

Themes of equity, diversity and inclusion are prominent, with studies examining workplace barriers and inclusive practices. Others investigate digital culture and technology, including platform-based work, AI in education as well as children’s media environments.

Additional projects address business ethics, refugee law, urban infrastructure and climate risk, reflecting the University’s broad commitment to tackling social, technological and cultural challenges through interdisciplinary research. 

In addition to LA&PS, faculty leading the projects also represent Glendon College, the Faculty of Education, the , the , the Faculty of Science,Ěý and the .Ěý

Below is a list of York recipients of the

Daniel Adler, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design
Project: Arguing for Assemblage: Diasporic Identities in Sculpture from a Pan-Pacific Perspective 
Funding: $86,939 

Alison L. Bain, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change
Project: Queer cultural infrastructure and the remaking of inclusive cities: within and beyond Rainbow Cities Network recognition 
Funding: $282,004 

Kelly Bergstrom, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Platforming Leisure: Navigating worker experiences of labour and leisure in the digital platform economy 
Funding: $228,512 

Marie-Helene Budworth, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Diversity at work: Beyond a monoracial framework 
Funding: $85,155 

Natalie Coulter, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Understanding Our Digital Futures: KidTech, AdTech and Branded Content in the DigiVerse 
Funding: $291,354 

Andrew C. Dawson, Glendon College
Project: Trust and Democratic Stability 
Funding: $251,427 

John R. Greyson, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design 
Project: Vital Transgressions: Activism, Risk and Queer/Trans Cinemas Today 
Funding: $314,525 

John Ippolito, Faculty of Education 
Project: The languages of everyday citizenship: Migrant views on naturalization in a host country 
Funding: $99,800 

Benjamin Kelly, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: The Politics of Repression in Ancient Rome: Discourses and Practices 
Funding: $82,358 

Kiridaran Kanagaretnam, Schulich School of Business
Project: Are Firms Reactive or Proactive to Climate Change Risk? 
Funding: $78,500 

Anja Krstic, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Increasing gender equality: An examination of why and how gender roles influence men's parental leave-taking decisions 
Funding: $112,174 

Geoffrey P.J. Lawrence, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Examining Generative Artificial Intelligence in Post-Secondary English for Academic Purpose (EAP) Programs 
Funding: $89,678 

Matthew A. Leisinger, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Ralph Cudworth's Freewill Manuscripts 
Funding: $77,009 

Bernard V. Lightman, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies  
Project: The collected letters of John Tyndall (1820–1893), influential Victorian scientist: editing and publishing volumes 18 to 21 
Funding: $88,785 

Muyang Li, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Shaping the Future of AI: Artificial Intelligence Governance in Global Dynamics 
Funding: $93,966 

Marcel Martel, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Un nouveau spiritueux: le cognac, la mondialisation et la tempĂ©rance au Canada et aux États-Unis, 1870–1933 
Funding: $61,204 

Gillian A. McGillivray, Glendon College
Project: From Paternalism to Precarity: Land, Labour, and Politics under a French Enterprise in Brazil 
Funding: $79,715 

Yuzhi Joel Ong, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design 
Project: Memory Machines: emerging practices in environmental sensing and ecopoetics 
Funding: $369,281 

Poonam Puri, Osgoode Hall Law School 
Project: Empowering the shareholder voice as a means to stakeholder democracy: a comparative analysis of shareholder proposals in Canada and the United States 
Funding: $251,478 

Jennine S. Rawana, Faculty of Health 
Project: Enhancing real-time emotion regulation skills among emerging adults in a digital era 
Funding: $67,258 

Sean Rehaag, Osgoode Hall Law School 
Project: The Refugee Law Lab at the Canada-US Border 
Funding: $253,975 

Antulio Rosales, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Crypto-bans versus crypto expansions: explaining variation in cryptocurrency mining prohibitions across global north and global south contexts 
Funding: $279,986 

Anoosheh Rostamkalaei, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Entrepreneurial outcomes and liability of poorness 
Funding: $73,299 

Shirin Shahrokni, Glendon College
Project: Not a Single Story: Impacts of Race, Gender, and Geographical Provenance on the Employment Trajectories of Highly Skilled Francophone Immigrants in Ontario 
Funding: $86,192 

Winny Shen, Schulich School of Business
Project: What will people say? How image risks impede equity, diversity, and inclusion involvement at work 
Funding: $195,084 

Rachel E. Silver, Faculty of Education 
Project: Refugee Education Governance and Alternative Futures in Kenya 
Funding: $266,953 

Jane Tingley, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design 
Project: Being in Relation 
Funding: $277,120 

Kurt F. Thumlert, Faculty of Education 
Project: Embodied, tacit, and multimodal learning: Re-situating pedagogies of skilled practice in the age of AI and artifice 
Funding: $96,386 

Maggie E. Toplak, Faculty of Health 
Project: Investigating the relationship between actively open-minded thinking and myside bias in adolescents and adults 
Funding: $274,402 

Fuminori Toyasaki, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Collaboration between Competitors in Product Innovation 
Funding: $179,390 

Antonella Valeo, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Context Matters: A żě˛ĄĘÓƵ of Corrective Feedback in Adult Language Teaching and Learning 
Funding: $199,630 

Alexandra E. Widmer, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Disability Matters: Kinship Networks, Integration and the Social Consequences of Medical Diagnoses in Vanuatu 
Funding: $121,317 

David Weitzner, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Humanistic Stakeholder Theory and a Minimalist Ethics Litmus Test for Firm Purpose 
Funding: $190,790 

Jelena Zikic, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies 
Project: Are alternative careers sustainable? Towards health and well-being of immigrants across Canada 
Funding: $201,095 

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Funding, provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) Spring 2025 Project Grant competition, is part of a national investment to support health research across Canada. 

“York’s success in this highly competitive program highlights the University’s growing leadership in interdisciplinary health research that addresses complex medical and social challenges,” says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. 

In the Faculty of Science, Gary Sweeney was awarded $998,326 for a five-year study examining how iron and lipid imbalances contribute to heart failure. His project, titled “,” will explore how excess iron and unhealthy fats trigger cellular changes that impair heart function, particularly in individuals with obesity or diabetes. 

The research focuses on ferroptosis – a form of regulated cell death – and its role in cardiac remodelling, a process that can lead to heart failure following a heart attack. This innovative study aims to improve understanding and treatment of heart failure and related conditions, and uncover new therapeutic targets to prevent or reverse heart damage. 

“Heart failure is a common and devastating event,” Sweeney says. “Our research contributes to understanding why this occurs and how it can be prevented or treated.” 

The goal is to uncover the detailed processes behind heart failure so novel treatments and preventions can be developed, leading to better outcomes for people at high risk of heart disease.

In the Faculty of Health, Karen Campbell, along with co-investigators and York faculty members Mia Biondi and Roya Haghiri-Vijeh, will lead the four-year study "Exploring the Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Health in Women with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).”  

“Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world and approximately one in four Canadian women have experienced partner violence,” says Campbell. “This is a public health issue that needs to be addressed urgently.”  

Living with a disability can substantially increase a woman’s risk of experiencing violence, notes Cambell. Women living with MS – a chronic, often disabling neurological condition – may face unique vulnerabilities that heighten their risk and consequences of intimate partner violence. 

The study will explore how intimate partner violence affects the health and well-being of women with MS, how they manage their safety and care, and how prepared MS health practitioners are to help. The research team will use surveys and interviews with women across Canada and with health-care providers who treat MS.   

“The goal is to better understand women’s experiences and to improve care by supporting clinicians,” says Campbell. “The findings will help create more supportive, trauma- and violence-informed care for women with MS who have experienced intimate partner violence.” 

The funding was July 18. 

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Divya Sharma, assistant professor in the Faculty of Science who leads the , is a co-principal investigator on two Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grants: a Team Grant of nearly $2 million and a Project Grant of close to $1 million.Ěý

The Team Grant project, titled “,” brings together experts from across disciplines to address systemic gaps in liver transplant care. 

The interdisciplinary team includes clinicians, researchers and policy experts from institutions including University Health Network, the University of Toronto and other leading transplant centres.  

The team aims to build a national framework that uses AI to identify and address disparities in access to liver transplants and in post-transplant outcomes. Sharma is leading the development of a predictive model that integrates both clinical data and social determinants of health – such as income, geography and structural barriers – to support long-term graft health and inform more equitable care. 

“By incorporating social and structural factors into our modelling, we aim to create a more holistic and equitable approach to liver transplant care,” says Sharma. 

Sharma is also a co-principal investigator on a second CIHR-funded project, â€ś,” which received $933,300. This five-year study, led in partnership with researchers at the University Health Network, focuses on predicting and preventing graft fibrosis – a serious complication that affects up to 25 per cent of liver transplant recipients. 

The team is developing a multimodal AI tool that combines clinical, pathology and imaging data to identify patients at high risk of graft scarring. The tool will be integrated into hospital electronic health records to support real-time decision making in clinical settings. 

These projects build on Sharma’s recent study published in , where she and collaborators introduced GraftIQ, an AI tool that helps doctors diagnose liver graft problems without needing a biopsy. The model offers a safer and more accurate way to support care for liver transplant patients. 

“This work has the potential to inform national policy and improve outcomes for patients who have historically faced barriers to access,” says Sharma. 

Liver transplantation is a life-saving procedure, but access to it – and the quality of care received after surgery – can vary significantly depending on a patient’s background and circumstances, she says. These projects are designed to close these gaps by building a data-driven framework that can be used by clinicians, health systems and policymakers to make more equitable decisions. 

“The goal is to ensure that predictive tools are not only medically accurate but also representative of Canada’s diverse transplant population,” says Sharma. 

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Initiatives supported by this investment showcase innovative strategies for enhancing access to education and facilitating transitions for students pursuing their academic goals. 

Among the 29 projects funded by ONCAT for the 2024-25 period, żě˛ĄĘÓƵ will lead a project that will create a more inclusive and supportive campus environment for transfer students.  

Titled "The Student-Ready Campus: Building Capacity to Support Transfer Students," the project received $75,000 to provide essential training for campus partners to better understand and address unique challenges faced by transfer students to help facilitate smoother transitions and enhance academic success. The project was awarded funding as part of the ONCAT Capacity Grants, which “support the development and implementation of learner-centric policies, practices and pathways at a single post-secondary institution.” 

Brian Poser, director of Academic Success & Transition Programming (ACMAPS) at York, will lead the project and says the initiative will strengthen pathways to success for transfer students.  

“Our initiative aligns with work underway at ONCAT that focuses on creating welcoming and supportive campus cultures,” says Poser. “It recognizes that beyond transfer credit assessment and advising, transfer students will thrive in environments whose services are geared to their specific needs. One step in creating such a culture is to ensure staff and faculty are well-informed about the specific challenges faced by transfer students." 

The project will begin with focus groups to gather insights on transfer students' needs and experiences. It will include a six-session, 12-hour training series for faculty and staff on topics such as transfer shock and academic transitions, along with an analysis of transfer credit processes and retention rates. The goal, says Poser, is to promote a culture that better supports transfer students across all service areas. 

Furthermore, York was also named a partner institution for a grant supporting Queen’s University project “Expanding Pathways for Engineering Technology and Engineering Programs.” 

Working with Queen’s and the University of Windsor, also a partner institution, York will play a role in creating pathways that connect engineering technology programs with accredited engineering programs. The goal is to increase access for students with college training to transition to university-level programs that are considered high demand in the province. 

The funding for this project was awarded as part of the ONCAT Collaboration Grants, which “support the development and implementation of learner-centric policies, practices and pathways across multiple post-secondary institutions or the entire post-secondary sector.” 

“We prioritize innovative initiatives with the potential to scale or be adopted across institutions, that help learners successfully navigate their academic journey and receive appropriate recognition for previous academic and work experience,” says Adrienne Galway, ONCAT president and CEO. “Our mission is to ensure that learners complete their post-secondary credentials and transition successfully into the workforce.” 

To read about all 29 projects, see the . 

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Sohn, a professor of geomatics engineering in the Earth and Space Science and Engineering Department at the , will use the $1.65-million grant over the next six years to develop and deploy “Smart Mobility Advanced Research & Training (SMART).”

The grant was announced July 9 as part of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program, which will invest $26.4 million to support projects that will help new researchers transition into the workforce of Canada’s most critical sectors.  

The program encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration and provides robust mentoring and mobility opportunities that equip researchers to thrive in a variety of research settings. It supports innovation in natural sciences and engineering while building bridges to health, social sciences and humanities. 

Sohn, founding director of York’s (MOVE), leads cutting-edge research to develop solutions to mobility-related challenges. His work, along with those at MOVE, focuses on enhancing safety, comfort and accessibility while ensuring mobility technologies are responsibly and efficiently integrated into society.Ěý

The SMART initiative addresses Canada’s urgent need for research talent in next-generation transportation system. 

According to Sohn, SMART will prepare graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with advanced, interdisciplinary training in AI-powered, connected and sustainable mobility systems, while emphasizing equity and community impact. 

“As director of the SMART program, I am proud to lead this national initiative to train the next generation of researchers and innovators who will shape Canada’s transportation future,” says Sohn. “SMART brings together leading experts in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, mobility policy and community health to tackle critical challenges in how people and goods move – with a clear emphasis on equity, sustainability and public well-being.” 

SMART’s training will span sustainable transport, mobility analytics and digital twin systems, with a strong emphasis on equity through collaboration with Indigenous and underserved communities. Grounded in two Living Labs – at żě˛ĄĘÓƵ’s Keele Campus and Opaskwayak Cree Nation – SMART will develop real-world solutions to improve health, access and food security. Backed by leading academic, civic and industry partners, SMART blends technical training with hands-on experience. 

A key pillar of SMART is its partnership with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, which focuses on co-developing mobility solutions to improve access to health care and fresh food in response to chronic health challenges.Ěý

"Working closely with OCN leadership and health providers, our team will co-develop and pilot smart mobility solutions – including data-driven transportation planning and on-demand delivery services,” says Sohn, adding that one such initiative supports the delivery of fresh produce from OCN’s Vertical Smart Farm directly to community members, helping to address diet-related health issues and promote food security. 

Work at the Keele Campus Living Lab will focus on deploying and evaluating real-time mobility solutions in a dynamic urban setting. Sohn will also lead SMART’s efforts in digital twin mobility to integrate real-time sensing, AI and simulation to support responsive, inclusive and data-informed transportation systems. He will also oversee the SMART Internship and Exchange Program, which will offer trainees valuable experience with industry, government and community partners across Canada and internationally. 

“With SMART, we’re not just training researchers – we’re building a new generation of innovators who can lead Canada’s transition to safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility systems,” says Sohn. “The funding from NSERC’s CREATE program will prepare emerging talent with the skills, networks and vision to thrive in a rapidly evolving transportation landscape.” 

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