Canada Research Chairs

The Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) stands at the centre of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development. CRCP attracts and retains some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds. Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

The University of Northern British Columbia is committed to the federal government’s policies on non-discrimination and employment equity for the four designated groups (women, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Indigenous peoples) as well as the LGBTQ2+ communities and individuals with intersectional identities, and has endorsed the Tri-council Dimensions: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Canada Charter and the Universities Canada Inclusive Excellence Principles.

Canada Research Chairs

  • Dr. Sarah de Leeuw
    de Leeuw, Dr. Sarah
    PhD Cultural Historical Geography, (Queen's University at Kingston - 2007), MA Interdisciplinary Studies in Geography and English (UNBC), BFA Creative Writing (University of Victoria) Professor, Northern Medical Program and Geography Canada Research Chair in Humanities and Health Inequities Adjunct Professor, Geography Adjunct Professor, Health Sciences
    Phone:
    250-640-6763
    Email:
    sarah.deleeuw@unbc.ca
    Website:
    http://healtharts.ca/

    An award winning researcher and creative writer whose work focuses broadly on marginalized peoples and geographies, Sarah de Leeuw grew up and has spent most of her life in Northern British Columbia, including Haida Gwaii and Terrace. She is the Research Director of the Health Arts Research Centre and teaches in the areas of Indigenous peoples well-being and health humanities.

  • Dr. Sarah Gray
    Gray, Dr. Sarah
    Postdoctoral Fellowship University of British Columbia, Postdoctoral Fellowship University of Cambridge, PhD University Victoria, BSc University of Victoria Professor, Northern Medical Program Canada Research Chair in Integrative Physiology of Diabetes
    Phone:
    250-960-5442
    Email:
    sarah.gray@unbc.ca

    Dr. Gray joined the Northern Medical Program in 2007 and became a Canada Research Chair in the Integrative Physiology of Diabetes and Obesity in 2013. She completed a PhD in endocrine physiology at the University of Victoria, followed by postdoctoral training in at the University of Cambridge, and the University of British Columbia. She is a life science researcher examining the biological mechanisms of metabolism as it relates to obesity and type 2 diabetes and teaches endocrine physiology in the UBC undergraduate medical program. Dr.

  • Greg Halseth
    Halseth, Dr. Greg
    BA (University of British Columbia), MA, PhD (Queen's University at Kingston, 1993) Professor, Geography Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies Co-Director, UNBC Community Development Institute
    Phone:
    250-960-5826
    Email:
    greg.halseth@unbc.ca
    Fax:
    250-960-6533
    Website:
    https://www2.unbc.ca/greg-halseth

    Greg Halseth is a Professor in the Geography Program at the University of Northern British Columbia, where he is also the Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies, and the founder and Co-Director of the UNBC Community Development Institute. His research examines regional development processes, rural and small town community development, and community strategies for coping with social and economic change.

  • Dr. Brian Menounos
    Menounos, Dr. Brian
    BA, MA (University of Colorado), PhD (University of British Columbia, 2002) Professor, Geography Canada Research Chair in Glacier Change
    Phone:
    250-960-6266
    Email:
    brian.menounos@unbc.ca
    Website:
    http://couplet.unbc.ca

    Brian is a professor of the Geography Program at the University of Northern British Columbia and a Canada Research Chair in Glacier Change. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in 2003.

  • Tristan Pearce
    Pearce, Dr. Tristan
    PhD University of Guelph; MA University of Guelph; BA University of Northern British Columbia Associate Professor, Global and International Studies Canada Research Chair in Cumulative Impacts of Environmental Change Adjunct Professor, Geography
    Phone:
    250-960-5766
    Email:
    tristan.pearce@unbc.ca
    Website:
    http://www.envchange.com

    Tristan Pearce is an Associate Professor in the Global and International Studies Program at the University of Northern British Columbia, where he is also the Canada Research Chair in the Cumulative Impacts of Environmental Change. His research examines the cumulative impacts of environmental change for communities, using this understanding to identify and evaluate pathways for adaptation with a focus on the Arctic, Pacific Islands Region and BC.

  • Dr. Thomas Tannert
    Tannert, Dr. Thomas
    PhD, PEng Professor
    Phone:
    250-960-6710
    Email:
    thomas.tannert@unbc.ca
    Website:
    https://thomastannert.opened.ca/

    Thomas Tannert joined the University of Northern British Columbia in 2016 as BC Leadership Chair in Tall Wood and Hybrid Structures Engineering. Thomas received his PhD from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, a Master’s degree in Wood Science and Technology from the University of Bio-Bio in Chile, and a Civil Engineering degree from the Bauhaus-University Weimar in Germany. Before coming to UNBC, he worked in multi-disciplinary teams in Germany, Chile, and Switzerland and was Associate Chair in Wood Building Design and Construction at UBC.