Grants and Contributions

This project targets a cool-core brightest cluster galaxy where JWST Cycle 2 data revealed warm H2 and clumpy PAH emission in the circumgalactic medium, likely from jet-driven shocks. Using full NIRSpec and MIRI/MRS IFU coverage (2-28 µm), the project will map gas temperature, excitation and ionization to study how shocks, turbulence and feedback regulate star formation and molecular gas survival. Combined with ALMA, VLA and Chandra data, it will provide the first spatially resolved view of the baryon cycle in a BCG and its cold CGM.

This project will use JWST to conduct the first deep infrared census of YSOs in the massive protoclusters NGC 6334I(N) and 6334I, identifying over 1,000 sources down to 0.1 L☉. Combined with ALMA disk observations, it will measure dust masses, radii and substructures to reveal how circumstellar disks evolve in dense cluster environments and how such regions shape star and planet formation.

This project aims to develop a new type of flexible, lightweight sensor network that can monitor people’s health in space and in remote areas. By using laser-induced graphene (LIG) as a sensing layer within sensor patches, the resulting network can track moisture, strain, and temperature across the body, generating a comprehensive physiological body map. The developed sensing network will advance health monitoring from local or torso-based monitoring to comprehensive full-body monitoring. Beyond space exploration, the lightweight sensing network can benefit health monitoring in rural communities.

This project aims to better understand the sources and behavior of methane gas on Mars, which is important because it could indicate active biological or chemical processes beneath the planet’s surface. To achieve this, the project uses rotorcraft—drones capable of flying in Mars-like conditions—to track methane plumes and pinpoint their origins. The investigation will progress through three stages: first, examining plume dynamics and source localization in a non-chemically reactive environment; next, examining methane and chlorine interactions under simulated Mars conditions in a laboratory; and finally, field testing in an environment similar to Mars (Námafjall, Iceland). The project’s main deliverable is a detailed method for detecting and tracing methane plumes, helping scientists determine whether Mars may have ongoing biological activity.

This project uses JWST imaging and spectroscopy to study Kepler’s supernova remnant, a key Type Ia case for testing single- vs. double-degenerate progenitor models. By mapping ejecta, circumstellar material and dust, the observations will reveal the progenitor’s nature, constrain explosion models and link resolved galactic remnants to JWST studies of distant Type Ia supernovae.

This project will use NIRISS to observe M dwarf stellar flares, which disrupt stellar spectra and affect exoplanet studies. By monitoring five active stars and building a library of over 400 flares, the project will improve models of M dwarf activity and refine interpretations of exoplanet spectra influenced by stellar flares.

The objective of this AO is to support Canadian students to participate in national and international space conferences and training events that will offer them the opportunity to learn about and be involved in the latest developments in space science and technology, to develop their professional network, and in some cases, present their research results at the national and international level.

The objective of this AO is to support Canadian students to participate in national and international space conferences and training events that will offer them the opportunity to learn about and be involved in the latest developments in space science and technology, to develop their professional network, and in some cases, present their research results at the national and international level.

The project aims to improve food production in space by developing a compact, low-power “root-zone lab” that uses engineered capillarity instead of gravity-dependent plumbing for water and nutrient delivery. By leveraging additive manufacturing, all capillary features are integrated into a single efficient part, reducing mass, volume, leaks, and assembly complexity. Real-time monitoring of nutrient balance and root zone stress is achieved through printed organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) based sensors. The project involves bench and clinostat testing of fluidics, staged biology experiments, and comparison with traditional pumped systems to optimize plant outcomes. The main deliverables are a flight-relevant, 3D-printable module with replaceable sensors, offering a reliable solution for space missions and a plug-in, cost-effective monitoring system for terrestrial applications. Additionally, the initiative will provide multidisciplinary training in materials engineering and plant stress biology for six trainees.

This project aims to study flares from Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, using JWST/MIRI and Chandra. By characterizing mid-IR spectral changes and X-ray emission, the observations will distinguish between flare models, probe accretion processes, and reveal the physical conditions near our closest supermassive black hole.