Research Office of the Vice President Research

Staff Directory

Picture of Phani Adapa

Phani Adapa PhD
Director Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Ronda Appell
Research Specialist (Post-Award) Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Taunia Arthur
UACC Animal Technician Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Olga Baron
Associate Director Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Danielle Baron
Research Facilitator - Agriculture and Bioresources


Melanie Bayly
Research Ethics Specialist (Behavioural), Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Lisa Belhumeur
Senior Research Security Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of  Nicole Benning

Nicole Benning
Research Support Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of Julie Beres

Julie Beres
Executive Assistant

Julie provides the Associate Vice-President Research with high-level administrative support. She is responsible for the day-to-day management of the associate vice-president’s schedule and is the first point of contact for those seeking the associate vice-president’s time or attention.


Cameron Berg
Research Support Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of  Bruna Bonavia-Fisher

Bruna Bonavia-Fisher
Research Facilitator - College of Medicine


Sydney Boulton BSc
Student Assistant Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Chris Bowman
Technology Transfer Manager Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  Anna Burton

Anna Burton BComm
Director of Development, Institutional Research


Picture of  Doreen Canillas

Doreen Canillas
Programs Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Michelle Cholowsky
Legal Counsel Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  David Chuong

David Chuong BCOMM
Human Resources, Strategic Business Advisor


Picture of  Gen Clark

Gen Clark
Research Facilitator - Pharmacy and Nutrition, Kinesiology


Stephen Cooley
Legal Counsel Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  Alice  Der

Alice Der
Executive Assistant

Alice provides the Vice-President Research with high-level administrative support. She is responsible for the day-to-day management of the vice-president’s schedule and is the first point of contact for those seeking the vice-president’s time or attention.


Christina Desnoyers
Research Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Andrea DesRoches
Research Ethics Coordinator (Behavioural & Biomedical), Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Picture of  Jennifer Drennan

Jennifer Drennan MBA, EdD (ABD)
University Rankings Strategist


Kevin Driscoll
Research Facilitator - WCVM


Tova Dybvig
Research Facilitator - Department of Pediatrics


Picture of Andrea Eccleston

Andrea Eccleston BSc, MA
Operations Manager International Office


Picture of  Danielle Ellis

Danielle Ellis PhD
Associate Director Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives

Danielle Ellis (PhD) leads the strategic facilitation team in offering a competitive-advantage to the development of strategic, multi-disciplinary and large institutional grant applications.


Graham Fairhurst PhD
Research Facilitator - School of Environment and Sustainability


Mandy Fehr
Coordinator Undergraduate Research Initiative


Heather Ferguson
Administrative Officer Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of  Terrance (Terry) Fonstad

Terrance (Terry) Fonstad BE, MSc, PhD, P.Eng, P.Ag, FEC, FGC (Hon)
Associate Vice-President Research (Ethics and Infrastructure)


Preet Kamal Gill
Research Officer Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Bridget Gray DVM
UACC PAR Veterinarian Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Amanda Haichert
Administrative Officer, Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Picture of Chantal Hanson

Chantal Hanson BA, MA
International Research Specialist (Health Sciences) International Office


Azadeh Hatef
Animal Research Ethics Board (AREB) Coordinator Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Picture of  Alix Hayden

Alix Hayden
Director Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Luke Heidebrecht
Research Facilitator, Edwards School of Business


Picture of Lindsay Herman

Lindsay Herman BA, MA
Communications Officer Research Profile and Impact


Picture of  Leah Houseman

Leah Houseman BA, MA
Programs Officer Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Megan Hubert MA
Research Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives

Supports large-scale grant applications with a special focus on writing, editing and project management.


Kristine Hunter MSc
Research Facilitator – School of Rehabilitation Science


Olesya Hursky
Aquatics Manager Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Picture of Manisha Jalla

Manisha Jalla PhD
Research Development Specialist, CIHR and NSERC


Susan Jelinski
Director, Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Erin Kulhawy
Technology Transfer Officer Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  Yelena Landry

Yelena Landry BCOMM
Human Resources, Strategic Business Advisor


Picture of Vanessa Leon

Vanessa Leon BA, MA
International Partnerships Specialist (Africa, Americas and Oceania), International Office


Candace Leuschen
Executive Clinical and Research Assistant, AVPR-Health


Picture of  Le Li

Le Li BA, MEd
Senior International Specialist (International research oversight and strategic partnership facilitation) International Office


Tania Liboiron
UACC Animal Technician Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Picture of Michaela Lynds

Michaela Lynds PhD
Research Development Specialist, NSERC


Katya MacDonald
Research Facilitator - University Library


Morgana Machea MA
Programs Officer Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


John Mapletoft
Technology Transfer Manager Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  Darcy  Marciniuk

Darcy Marciniuk MD, FRCPC, Master FCCP, FCAHS
Associate Vice-President Research


Diane Martz PhD
Responsible Conduct of Research Specialist


Picture of  Erin Matthews

Erin Matthews BA, MA
Communications Officer, Research Profile and Impact


Picture of  Leanne McCutcheon

Leanne McCutcheon
Financial Coordinator Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  Brenda Meyer-Burt

Brenda Meyer-Burt
Research Support Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of  Karen Mosier

Karen Mosier
Research Coordinator - Department of Surgery


Picture of  Sara Mueller

Sara Mueller PhD
Senior Programs Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives

Sara has a PhD in English from Queen’s University. She provides strategic leadership and key supports for large-scale grant applications.


Hamisi Mwaguni
Research Ethics Coordinator (Behavioural), Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Picture of  Darren Nickel

Darren Nickel PhD
Research Associate - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation


Wainewright Noble
Intellectual Property Specialist Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of Dean Olorenshaw

Dean Olorenshaw
Senior Strategic Business Advisor, Finance


Matt Olson MJ
Communications Officer, Research Profile and Impact


Darcy Overland
Research Planning and Facilitation Officer - Arts and Science


Kerry O’Shea
Legal Counsel Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Ty Pellerin
Research Security Officer Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Christine Peng
Technology Transfer Officer Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Bethany Penn
Research Specialist (Post-Award) Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Owen Pennock
Legal Counsel Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Jolana Piercy
Administrative Officer Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of  Diana Pitoulis

Diana Pitoulis
Executive Assistant

Diana provides high-level support to executives within the Office of the Vice-President Research.


Picture of  Amanda  Plante

Amanda Plante
Research Ethics Specialist (Animal) Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Caitlin Prebble
Research Ethics Specialist (Biomedical), Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Centaine Raginski
Research Support Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Shalini Reymond
Research Ethics Coordinator (Behavioural), Human Research Ethics Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Jennifer Reynolds PhD
Research Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Carrie Rhodes
UACC Animal Technician Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Meaghan Risling
Programs Coordinator Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Dani Robertson-Boersma
Research Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of Alexa Saleski

Alexa Saleski
Program and Communications Student Assistant Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Jenelyn Santos Ong
Manager, Opus Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Ozlem Sari
Research Facilitator - Department of Medicine


Laura Sayer
Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  Laurie Schimpf

Laurie Schimpf
Research Support Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of Arun Sharma

Arun Sharma BCom, MFin
International Partnerships Specialist (Europe), International Office


Tenille Shivak
Clerical Assistant, Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Heidi Smithson
Senior Research Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Jaime Speed
Project and Engagement Coordinator Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Corinne Steininger
Administrative Coordinator Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  Sandra  Stone

Sandra Stone
Research Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of  Kurtis Swekla

Kurtis Swekla
University Veterinarian and Director of Animal Ethics Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Anu Tandukar
Project Coordinator, Opus Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  Leila Tang

Leila Tang BA, MPhil, PhD
International Research Specialist (Engineering and Natural Sciences) International Office


Picture of Brit Tastad

Brit Tastad B.COMM, CPHR
Executive and Strategy Officer


Adrian Taylor
Research Ethics Coordinator (Biomedical), Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Infrastructure


Picture of Derek Tiessen

Derek Tiessen BSc
International Partnerships Specialist (Special Projects), International Office


Gerelt Trost
Research Support Specialist Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Dalton Van Der Nest
Project Coordinator Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives


Picture of Brittany Walch

Brittany Walch B.Comm
Institutional Awards Officer Research Profile and Impact


Picture of  Dawn Wallin

Dawn Wallin BA, BEd, PhD, MEd
Associate Vice-President Research (Engagement)


Natasha Werbicki
Program Coordinator, Opus Innovation Mobilization and Partnerships


Picture of  Tonya Wirchenko

Tonya Wirchenko
Manager, Executive Initiatives and Projects

Tonya is responsible for executive initiatives and projects in the Office of the Vice-President Research and works closely with other vice-presidential portfolios.


Picture of Nataliia  Zakharchuk

Nataliia Zakharchuk BEd, MEd, PhD
International Research Specialist (Social Sciences and Humanities) International Office


Picture of Dan Zhao

Dan Zhao BA., MA., MEd.
International Partnerships Specialist (Asia), International Office