Seven UBC Faculty of Applied Science affiliated researchers have been named or reappointed as Canada Research Chairs. They are among twenty-five chairholders from UBC announced on October 23, 2026.
The Canada Research Chairs program awards up to $311 million annually to support research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities and social sciences. UBC received an investment of $23.2 million in this round of appointments.
New Chairholders
Dr. Kristen Haase, associate professor in the MacIsaac School of Nursing was named a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Aging, Equity and Cancer. Her research seeks to transform how society supports older adults living with cancer and chronic conditions. Dr. Haase’s work, grounded in community partnerships and equity-focused research, will generate new insights and interventions that strengthen inclusion, connection and dignity for older adults.
Dr. Dominic Liao-Mcpherson, assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering was named a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Algorithmic Autonomy. His research aims to advance our understanding of how the computational algorithms we use to animate autonomous systems interact with their environment and to use these insights to make algorithmically controlled systems more sustainable, resilient, and equitable.
Dr. Sepideh Pakpour, assistant professor at the UBC Okanagan School of Engineering was named a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Climate Resilience and Infectious Diseases. Findings from her research will inform practical solutions developed with engineering, clinical and industry partners. The aim is to reduce transmission risk while improving occupant comfort and helping buildings remain resilient in a changing climate.
Dr. Fabio Rossi, professor in the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering was named a Tier 1 Research Chair in Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Rossi’s research aims to improve tissue regeneration by understanding and modulating the intercellular communication networks that underlay it, with a focus on the role of mesenchymal progenitors and the inflammatory environment.
Renewed Chairholders
Dr. Manu Madhav, assistant professor in the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering renewed his Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Neural Circuits of Cognition and Control. His research examines how the brain can flexibly create and modulate neural representations of tasks and space. Applying these insights to foundational and translational neuroscience, we will quantify how the human brain represents orientations and how their navigational abilities degrade with aging and neurodegenerative dementias.
Dr. Warren Poole, professor of Materials Engineering renewed his Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Through Process Modelling of Advanced Structural Materials. Central to the global Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) field, Dr. Poole’s research focuses on replacing lengthy, costly, trial-and-error-driven research and development in advanced manufacturing with digital simulation—of material properties, manufacturing processes, and responses to those processes. This evolution is key to accelerating the adoption of stronger, safer, lighter-weight materials into the natural resource and transportation sectors.
Dr. Julia Rubin, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering renewed her Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Trustworthy Software. Her research will investigate new theories and develop innovative solutions for trustworthy Human-AI interaction in the era of AI-assisted Software Engineering. Dr. Rubin will focus on developing reliable approaches for AI-assisted Software Engineering that leverage formal methods and analysis, and identifying and cultivating the skills needed for developers to use AI tools responsibly and effectively.
Tier 1 Chairs are tenable for seven years and receive $200,000 annually. Tier 2 Chairs, given to emerging researchers, are for five years and receive $100,000 annually. This round of appointments named 220 chairholders at 45 institutions across the country.
These seven Applied Science research chairs join six others announced earlier this year.