Dean's Scholarly, Research and Creative Activity Award Recipients
The Dean's Scholarly, Research and Creativity Activity Award recognizes individual faculty members on an annual basis for outstanding scholarly, research and creative activities (SRC) achievements and impact on their disciplines during the previous academic year.
Award recipient(s) will receive a certificate of recognition and a monetary award of $2,000 as a one-time payment (subject to applicable deductions).
Key criteria: Scholarly, research and creative activity
2025 recipients
Christopher Campbell-Duruflé
Lincoln Alexander School of Law
In 2023-24, Professor Campbell-Duruflé's research was recognized for its significant impact. He received two research grants (SSHRC Insight Development and MITACS Globalink Research Internship). He published an article in a leading journal; published a chapter in a Research Handbook, alongside leading scholars of international climate law; and brought two other chapters close to publication. He presented his work at an academic conference and promoted it on The Conversation, reaching almost 4,000 reads globally. He also aligned his service at the faculty, the university and beyond with his deep commitment to research excellence, contributing to TMU's next Strategic Research Plan.
Tara Collins
Faculty of Community Services
Dr. Collins has demonstrated exceptional SRC achievements over the past academic year. She secured a significant Ontario Research Funds grant, expanded the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP), and hosted a major intergenerational event with participants from around the world. She was also prolific in her publications, including a new book on children's rights and professional practices and a notable chapter in the Handbook of Public Participation in Impact Assessment. The ICCRP she leads, involving over 200 children and young people globally, and her publications have significantly advanced the field of children's rights, fostering innovation and global knowledge exchange.
Louis-Etienne Dubois
The Creative School
Dr. Dubois is an impressive researcher who deserves recognition for his commitment to collaboration and interdisciplinary research. In the last 15 months alone, Dr. Dubois has published 10 peer-reviewed articles in top-ranked journals and presented working papers at three international conferences. He is the co-author of the most read article published in Harvard Business Review in 2024, which is a testament to his high-quality and high-impact research. In additional to receiving six SSHRC grants in the past few years, Dr. Dubois has also mentored junior pre-tenure colleagues by involving them in collaborative research projects.
Rishad Habib
Ted Rogers School of Management
Dr. Rishad Habib has had a tremendous year of SRC activity, demonstrating her ability to be highly productive while still targeting top-tier journals. In summary, Dr. Habib had five publications: two at ABDC A* journals, two at B journals, and a fifth published in an unranked open-access journal. In addition, Dr. Habib has an invited revision at an A journal and several papers in the review process, as well as multiple conference presentations, invited talks and significant contributions to the broader SRC community. Her research into societal issues and consumption makes significant theoretical contributions with direct practical implications as well.
Aida Haghighi
Faculty of Community Services
Dr. Aida Haghighi, an Assistant Professor in the School of Occupational and Public Health, focuses on industrial safety, safety management, and safety and digitalization. As an early career researcher, she has made notable contributions to research and collaborations, working with national and international institutions like IRSST and INSA. She supervises one PhD, five MSc, four BSc students, and five RAs, resulting in four journal articles, 1 book, 1 book chapter, and five conference presentations. She secured over $261,000 in funding and serves as a Review Editor for Frontiers in Public Health Journal, also evaluating grant applications and jurying graduate theses.
Eternity Martis
The Creative School
Professor Eternity Martis's research portfolio makes vital contributions to our understanding of journalism's impacts on underserved communities, specifically Black communities. Professor Martis leads the Reporting on Black Communities project, which aims to address the harmful impacts of journalism through community participation. Its outputs will equip journalists and students to accurately report on Black communities while building trust with communities. As a journalism school, we deeply value this project and Professor Martis's new and critical contributions. She is a collaborator on the Black Journalist and Media Worker Survey, working alongside the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism and Belonging.
Naimul Mefraz Khan
Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
Dr. Naimul Khan is the director of the TMU Multimedia Research Laboratory, conducting research in user-centric intelligent systems combining machine learning, computer vision and Augmented/Virtual Reality. He has over 80 publications in premier multimedia, AI, and health informatics venues, and a rich history of industry collaboration with media and healthcare companies in Toronto and beyond, with over $3.5 million government funding secured to-date. Notable projects include computer aided diagnosis of neonatal anomalies, non-pharmacological anxiety reduction with AR/VR ,outdoor AR storytelling at the Fort York National Historic site, AR exhibit at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
Emmanuel Kyeremeh
Faculty of Arts
Emmanuel Kyeremeh's research addresses challenges faced by immigrants and racialized minority groups. His work focuses on Ghanaian immigration in Canada, health and well-being of racialized minorities, and food security of Africans in Toronto. This work is widely published in top journals and is extremely well supported through internal and external research funding. Highlights from 2023-24 include a successful SSHRC Insight Development Grant, and seven published manuscripts - including work published in the Annals of the American Association of Geographers. Importantly, Emmanuel uses his position, platform and research to advocate for immigrant and racialized communities to make substantive, positive change.
David MacKenzie
Faculty of Arts
Professor David MacKenzie is a leading scholar and author of many books in international/Canadian history. In 2023-24 he produced two books, completed a third, and a book chapter. King and Chaos: The 1935 Canadian General Election joins UBC Press's series on important turning-point elections. According to historian Christopher Dummitt, it "elegantly" leads readers through these events with "ease and expertise." Un Pays en Conflit: La tumultueuse election canadienne de 1917 (Septentrion) is a French-language translation of Embattled Nation (co-authored with Patrice Dutil). It is an impressive achievement and rare for an English-language Canadian history book to be translated into French.
Farrokh Sharifi
Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
Dr. Janabi-Sharifi, fellow of CSME, EIC, CAE, and AAIA is a world leading expert in the field of Opto-Mechatronics with the focus on Robotics and Control. He has an outstanding publication record with 2 books, 5 proceedings, and over 290 refereed articles in journals and conference proceedings. His publications have been cited more than 5,188 times in just the last five years, with many making it to Top Ranking Lists of prestigious journals. His work has led to 4 US patents, and been recognized internationally through fellowships, best paper awards/certificates, and visiting professorship awards from several world-class organizations.
Lixia Yang
Faculty of Arts
Dr. Lixia Yang is an exceptional psychologist with expertise in aging, cognition, and wellbeing. She has built thriving national and international collaborations with researchers from different institutes and community/industry partners. Her research addresses societal challenges related to aging with transformative impacts on active and healthy aging in Canada. Dr. Yang is also a community leader who has been actively promoting psychological wellbeing of Chinese immigrants in Canada. She has 95 peer-reviewed publications and currently holds grants from NSERC and SSHRC. Her research excellence has been recognized with a NSERC Early Career Researcher Award and the 2020 Dean's SRC Award.
Nariman Yousefi
Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
Dr. Nariman Yousefi is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. He joined Toronto Metropolitan University in July 2019. His research is focused on developing nano-enabled materials for fast and efficient water treatment, and identification of microplastics and nanoplastics in water. His group has been developing point-of-use water treatment devices for remote and sparsely populated communities with no access to centralized water treatment devices, such as Northern and Indigenous communities in Canada and many communities in the Global South.
Hossein Zolfagharinia
Ted Rogers School of Management
Dr. Hossein Zolfagharinia, an associate professor and director of the OSCAResearch Centre, is a distinguished scholar in supply chain management. He has published 39 journal articles, 27 of which appear in prestigious A* and A journals. He has delivered over 30 research talks, including keynote presentations. Hossein has secured over $1 million in research funding from NSERC, SSHRC, and other grant agencies. His mentorship has supported 27 students, leading to awards and successful job placements. Recognized with 22 distinctions, including best paper awards and outstanding research recognition funding, Hossein's impactful research and leadership exemplify excellence in his field.
Past recipients
- Costin Antonescu
Faculty of Science - Ehsan Behzadfar
The Creative School - Nicole Blanchett
The Creative School - Burcu Bulgurcu
Ted Rogers School of Management - Michele Clarke
The Creative School - Colleen Derkatch
Faculty of Arts - Saman Hassanzadeh Amin
Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Sandra Juutilainen
Faculty of Community Services - Rasha Kashef
Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Mehrab Mehrvar
Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Paul Moore
Faculty of Arts - Uchechukwu Ngwaba
Lincoln Alexander School of Law - Laleh Samarbakhsh
Ted Rogers School of Management - Hongbing Yu
Faculty of Arts
- Alagan Anpalagan
Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Samantha Biglieri
School of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Community Services - Miranda Campbell
School of Creative Industries, The Creative School - Farhad Ein-Mozaffari
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Hilary Evans Cameron
Lincoln Alexander School of Law - Alexandra Fiocco
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts - Mehdi Kargar
School of Information Technology Management, Ted Rogers School of Management - Linda Rothman
School of Occupational and Public Health, Faculty of Community Services - Debashis Sinha
School of Performance, The Creative School - Roxana Suehring
Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science - Emily van der Meulen
Department of Criminology, Faculty of Arts - Isaac Woungang
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science - Hadis Zarrin
Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Morteza Zihayat Kermani
School of Information Technology Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
- Sameh Al Natour
School of Information Technology Management, Ted Rogers School of Management - Martin Antony
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts - Anthony Bonato
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science - Elsayed Elbeshbishy
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science - Kathleen Hammond
Lincoln Alexander School of Law - Stefania Impellizzeri
Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science - Yoontae Jeon
School of Accounting and Finance, Department of Finance, Ted Rogers School of Management - Raktim Mitra
School of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Community Services - Farrokh Sharifi
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science - Hossein Zolfagharinia
School of Business Management, Department of Global Management Studies, Ted Rogers School of Management
- Deborah De Lange
School of Business Management, Department of Global Management Studies, Ted Rogers School of Management - Eric de Noronha Vaz
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Arts - Leila Farah
Department of Architectural Science, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Niushan Gao
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science - Carolyn Kane
School of Professional Communication, Faculty of Communication and Design - Naimul Mefraz Khan
Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Eric Liberda
School of Occupational and Public Health, Faculty of Community Services - Atefeh (Atty) Mashatan
School of Information Technology Management, Ted Rogers School of Management - Mehrab Mehrvar
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Alireza Sadeghian
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science - Lixia Yang
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts - Linda Zhang
School of Interior Design, Faculty of Communication and Design
- Natalie Alvarez
School of Performance, Faculty of Communication and Design - Alagan Anpalagan
Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Stephanie Cassin
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts - Farhad Ein-Mozaffari
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Konstantinos Georgiou
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science - Anne Harris
School of Occupational and Public Health, Faculty of Community Services - Janet Koprivnikar
Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science - Ali Miri
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science - Tor Oiamo
Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, Faculty of Arts - Fei Song
Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour, Ted Rogers School of Management - Brett Story
School of Image Arts, Faculty of Communication and Design - Emily van der Meulen
Department of Criminology, Faculty of Arts - Lu Zhang
School of Accounting and Finance, Ted Rogers School of Management
- Saman Hassanzadeh Amin
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Costin Antonescu
Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science - Martin Antony
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts - Jennifer Burwell
Department of English, Faculty of Arts - Jonathan Farrar
Accounting, Ted Rogers School of Management - Farrokh Janabi-Sharifi
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Dimitrios Latsis
School of Image Arts, Faculty of Communication and Design - Stephanie Melles
Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science - Pawel Pralat
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science - Thomas Tenkate
School of Occupational and Public Health, Faculty of Community Services - Sandra Tullio-Pow
School of Fashion, Faculty of Communication and Design - Ian Young
School of Occupational and Public Health, Faculty of Community Services - Morteza Zihayat Kermani
Information and Technology Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
- Harald Bauder
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Arts - Anthony Bonato
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science - Eric Hehman
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts - Chun-Yip Hon
School of Occupational and Public Health, Faculty of Community Services - Seung Hwan (Mark) Lee
School of Retail Management, Ted Rogers School of Management - Bruno Lessard
School of Image Arts, Faculty of Communication and Design - Mehrab Mehrvar
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Jamin Pelkey
Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Faculty of Arts - Janet Yamada
Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Faculty of Community - Hossein Zolfagharinia
Global Management Studies, Ted Rogers School of Management
- Alagan Anpalagan
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Rupa Banerjee
Human Resources Management and Organizational Behaviour, Ted Rogers School of Management - Ben Barry
School of Fashion, Faculty of Communication and Design - Nick Bellissimo
School of Nutrition, Faculty of Community Services - Colleen Derkatch
Department of English, Faculty of Arts - Farhad Ein-Mozaffari
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science - Carolyn Kane
School of Professional Communication, Faculty of Communication and Design - Richard Meldrum
School of Occupational and Public Health, Faculty of Community Services - Andriy Miranskyy
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science - Ali Miri
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science - Horatio Morgan
Global Management Studies, Ted Rogers School of Management - Nima Naghibi
Department of English, Faculty of Arts - Robert Teigrob
Department of History, Faculty of Arts