Saint Mary’s University is a leader in the region in obtaining external research funding, becoming the top primarily undergraduate research university in Nova Scotia according to a new report detailing Canada’s top 50 research universities.
Dr. Danika van Proosdij is the director of TransCoastal Adaptations Centre for Nature-Based Solutions at Saint Mary’s University, which provides its researchers, students, funders and the community with opportunities to engage in initiatives that address climate change.
The report comes from Research Infosource Inc., which releases a yearly list titled Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities. Saint Mary’s placed 1st in Nova Scotia and 16th overall on the undergraduate university rankings. The university also rose two spots to 45th place on the overall top-50 list.
Saint Mary’s earned an impressive 22.1 per cent increase in research income growth, totalling $12.3 million in external research funding in 2022, rising three spots to 5th on the ungraduated rankings for research growth. This total external funding represents an intensity of $48,600 per professor, and $21,200 per graduate student. Funding from competitive National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) awards accounts for $8.6M of research funding at the university.
“Saint Mary’s continues to maintain a strong position among Canada’s top research universities,” says Dr. Adam J. Sarty, Associate Vice-President, Research and Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. “The university shows excellent performance in obtaining external research funding, with particular growth in not-for-profit research income growth, earning us the number one ranking among other Canadian undergraduate universities.”
Students at Saint Mary’s can work alongside Dr. Rituparna Kanungo, Astronomy and Physics Department Chair, on discoveries with rare isotopes. Learn more about student research opportunities.
While Saint Mary’s is a primarily undergraduate institution, the university is committed to prioritizing research and involving students in those research efforts, explains Dr. Sarty. Saint Mary’s University’s strong, continued growth, and improved rankings, reflect the success of this commitment.
“Faculty members at Saint Mary’s have earned federal, provincial and international funding for their work, and we also ensure that the next generation of researchers has a chance to explore research in their fields,” said Dr. Sarty. “For example, our suite of summer undergraduate research awards program is open to all students across campus after their first year of undergraduate studies, allowing them to work alongside professors and gain invaluable experience that they use in their studies at Saint Mary’s and beyond.”
For more information on Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities list, visit Research Inforsource.