World renowned scientist Yanwen Zhang was announced today as the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies. This appointment will see Zhang move her research program from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to Queen’s University, where she will begin her term in Spring 2024.
Zhang’s research is focused on nuclear materials, looking at how these materials behave under extreme conditions such as radiation. This is highly relevant research, particularly in the domain of nuclear reactors and renewable energy.
As safe and reliable nuclear reactors are being developed, particular attention must be placed on the materials used to construct these reactors and how they behave when exposed to high levels of radiation—the fundamental idea behind Zhang’s research.
As the world turns to renewable energy sources, demand for nuclear power is growing.
Approximately 15 per cent of Canada’s energy production comes from nuclear reactor systems, but this number jumps to 60 per cent for Ontario.
“I am excited to be continuing this research at Queen’s—a university with a long history of expertise in materials science and a commitment to advancing research to combat climate change,” Zhang said in a press release.
Zhang’s appointment will see her receive $1 million per year for eight years.
Zhang s Paul Kubes, CERC in Immunophysiology and Immunotherapy, as the second chair Queen’s has recruited as part of the 2022 CERC Competition, totalling a $16 million investment in the University.
“These are great research areas of tremendous impact societally,” Vice-Principal (Research) Nancy Ross said in an interview with The Journal.
The CERC program was established in 2008 as a way for Canadian universities to attract high calibre researchers and scholars, particularly from international institutions. The program plans to invest $248 million to recruit 34 CERCs across 18 institutions, including Queen’s.
This announcement highlights opportunities for both current and future undergraduate and graduate students at the University.
“Research is people, and our CERCs come here partially because we have great students,” Ross said.
Both CERCs at Queen’s will involve students in their research projects. As part of the forward-looking nature of the CERC funding, there’s significant discussion around the training of highly qualified researchers, explained Ross.
One of the Principal’s priorities is to integrate teaching and research in a fundamental way. Ross hopes students, and graduate students in particular, see the addition of these major research projects to Queen’s as good news.
—With files from Asbah Ahmad
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