Grants and Contributions

The objective of this research project is to characterize a novel miRNA-based interaction pathway between plants and their microbiome. A miRNA-based interaction mechanism between bacteria and their plant hosts could be exploited to achieve real-world impact to problematics such as soil pollution, crop production and global warming.

Achieving improved performance is critical for accomplishing agriculture productivity. This challenge requires development of innovative technologies that can be applied broadly in diverse crop species. As signaling pathways play important roles in performance traits, in this project, we will investigate TOR signaling mediated functions, to identify gene targets for such traits with potential applications in crops.

This project will efficiently target the crucial genes controlling development of lentil seed and seed coat traits using (1) EMS mutagenesis and (2) CRISPR/Cas9 based genome editing tools to generate novel diverse cis-regulatory alleles, to address the need for improved lentil meal quality and support the Canadian lentil industry.

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) disease in wheat causes losses in yield and quality due to production of fungal mycotoxins. Mealworms can feed on mycotoxin-contaminated wheat and grow normally to be used as protein-rich poultry feed. This project will identify the novel detoxification pathway in mealworms and find useful applications.

In cannabis, specialized structures on flowers produce unique compounds with medicinal importance. This project will investigate the physical and chemical landscape of these surface structures through the application of 3D imaging and synchrotron light technologies, revealing how the broad range of medicinal compounds are sequestered on cannabis flowers.

Uncontrolled motions of marine platforms due to vortex shedding can adversely affect the performance and safety of the operations. The objective of this project is to conduct proof of concept physical simulations to investigate whether air bubbles can effectively be utilized to control such motions in the marine context.

"Biorefinery" is a potential alternative for the petrochemical industry. Lignin valorization is key to its sustainability. Decomposing lignin polymers into aromatic subunits for value-added chemicals and fuels needs novel enzymes with selective activities in a green and mild biocatalytic process. HPT screening facilitates the quick discovery of novel ligninolytic enzymes.

The project "Dual-Channel Photothermal Interferometry: Constraining the Climate Impacts of Black Carbon" will construct a new instrument for traceable measurements of aerosol light absorption, which are essential to climate science and public health. This instrument, the first of its kind, will support Canada’s clean-emissions goals and Arctic monitoring programs.

It has been shown than it is possible to produce ammonia by electrochemical method using water and air at room temperature and pressure. The efficiency is however too low. Finding electrocatalysts that are selective for ammonia production rather than hydrogen evolution is challenge that this project intends to overcome.

CCAT-p is a pathfinder telescope optimized for mapping the mm to sub-mm sky for both cosmological and galactic star formation studies. CCAT-p will have first-light in 2021. Leveraging NRC-Herzberg's instrumentation heritage, this research program will develop the required optical interface plan for the early-science/commissioning camera, operating at 860 GHz.