Three Queen’s University researchers are receiving over $1 million from the federal government to promote joint research between Queen’s academics and Canadian industry partners.

The Strategic Project Grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada will help create new knowledge and technologies for:

• strengthening Canada’s industrial base
• generating wealth
• creating employment, and
• influencing Canada’s public policy over the next three years.

“The Strategic Project Grants foster relationships between Queen’s researchers and industry partners that will facilitate research and training in key areas that could strongly enhance Canada’s economy and environment,” says Vice-Principal (Research), Dr. Steven Liss. “Our success in this competition reflects Queen’s reputation for innovative and leading-edge research in the chemical and environmental sciences, and information and communication technologies.”

This year’s grants are targeting environmental sciences and technologies, information and communication technologies, manufacturing and natural resources and energy.

The recipients are:

Cathy Crudden (Chemistry) – Dr. Crudden will receive $270,000 to identify and eliminate hazardous chemicals generated when pharmaceuticals are created.

Cathy Crudden

She is working with students from both Queen’s and Mount Allison universities and pharmaceutical manufacturing company Piramal and the world’s leading chemical company BASF.

Michael Cunningham

Michael Cunningham (Chemical Engineering) – Dr. Cunningham is teaming up with Xerox Canada to create polymers using little or no organic solvent, which will reduce the environmental impact of the process of creating polymers. He will receive a grant of $329,820.

Hossam Hassanein (School of Computing) – Dr. Hassanein is in partnership with Intelligent Machatronic Systems Inc., a company specializing in technological solutions in the automotive industry.

Hossam Hassanein

The project will research how computers can be better utilized in other areas in vehicles when the vehicle is parked or in non-critical situations. These systems could be used for a number of other uses including road monitoring. Eight Queen’s graduate students are also involved in the research. He will receive $471,500 over three years.