By IAN ROSS
When Dr. Rui Wang took the reins as Lakehead University’s vice-president of research in 2004, the stated goal was to strive toward being among the top 25 research universities in Canada.
To the cardiovascular research specialist, the Thunder Bay institution is on the right track after being named the best university for undergraduates in a national survey by the Toronto-based Research Infosource Inc.
While the distinction doesn’t immediately translate into a bundle of research dollars, the ranking does provide national recognition for the northeastern Ontario campus, says Wang. And the news also delivers a much-deserved motivational boost for staff as well as serving as a great recruiting tool.
“This recognition will put the university at a very advantage position for attracting graduate students, researchers and industry contributions,” says Wang, a professor in the physiology department, who came from the University of Saskatchewan in 2001.
Research Infosource is considered Canada’s source of R & D intelligence in analysis of business, science, technology and innovation.
In their national ranking of 50 Canadian universities, Lakehead finished 29th overall -- up from 38 in 2005, but the ranked first in the undergraduate category.
Their research dollars, measured as ‘sponsored research income,’ almost doubled from $9.8 million in 2004, to $18.4 million in 2005.
Sudbury’s Laurentian University ranked 31st overall with $16.5 million in research dollars, up two spots from the previous year.
Wang says this proves the university is on the right track in following their new five-year strategic research plan to crack the top 25.
Already the university has much working in its favour. Besides serving as the west campus of the new Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Lakehead is an internationally-recognized pioneer in using molecular genetic techniques in studying ancient DNA.
Wang wants to build on the momentum generated in expanding their research activity into several diverse and promising fields including biomedical, biotechology, bioenergy, nanotechnology as well as wood sciences and environmental pollution control.
New faculty members have injected “new blood and spirit,” says Wang, and taken a more collaborative and “trans-disciplinary approach” to their work with a focus on regional and cultural issues most relevant to northwestern Ontario.
“The strategic direction together with all the faculty members and researchers are just a perfect fit.”
He also praised Ottawa and Queen’s Park for their support of university-based research through government investment.
“We have to applaud our government for doing a wonderful job in supporting university research and hope that can be increased,” he says, especially for smaller northern and remote universities.
While the improved ranking is encouraging, Wang says Lakehead has the potential to do much better.
“We never think this is the end of our effort, it’s just the beginning. Our goal is in next five to 10 years, to become one of the top 25 research intensive universities in Canada. We are not there yet, but we’re not that far either.”
