Located at the Shippagan campus, the Research lab on materials, micro-
Raman spectroscopy and FTIR produces new advanced materials with
a hierarchical porous structure in gentle conditions inspired by nature.
Microorganisms, for example, develop materials exhibiting performances
often well above those of our most modern materials at room temperature
by using salts dissolved in the water.
Founded in 2000 by Professor Yahia Djaoued, the research lab has developed
a solid expertise in the field of advanced materials technology.
It aims for excellence in research and has been able to establish and maintain
successful relationships with its industry partners. The laboratory has received
about two million dollars in grants and research contracts.
A new area of research is being developed in the laboratory under the
direction of researchers Marie-Hélène Thibault and Yahia Djaoued. It focuses
on the production of biodegradable composite materials and their uses in
bone reconstruction
8
The dream takes shape
Research lab on materials, micro-Raman spectroscopy
and FTIR
Annual Report Highlights
2015-2016
9
Research, development,
creation and innovation
Developing research and graduate programs are
among the Université de Moncton’s priorities. We
firmly believe that the reputation of an institution
of knowledge depends largely on its capacity
to conduct strategic research. It stimulates,
among other things, an increase in knowledge,
development, creation and innovation (RDCI).
Research is mostly conducted to advance
knowledge, but it also impacts several facets of
our strategic plan. For example, it enhances both
the learning experience and recruitment. The
development, transfer and dissemination of new
knowledge push the boundaries of the university
and increase its notoriety.
Creation of a school of public administration
A school of public administration, the École des
hautes études publiques, has been created. Effective
September 2016, the new school will include faculty
members from the public administration, economics
and political sciences departments as well as the
programs offered in those academic units.
The university’s infrastructure for research in
the area of public policy is already quite solid.
It includes the Canada Research Chair in Public
Administration and Governance, led by Dr. Donald
J. Savoie, as well as the Donald J. Savoie Institute.
Its mandate is to promote research on international,
national, provincial and regional issues impacting
on the development of the Atlantic Provinces.
Université de Moncton among Canada’s
Top 50 Research Universities
According to results published in Canada’s
Innovation Leaders 2015, the Université de Moncton
is one of the Top 50 research universities in Canada.
It stands out for its growth in research income that
rose from $8.6 million to $10.8 million (25.2%),
the second largest gain in the country. Among
universities primarily offering undergraduate
programs, it ranked first for its portion of total
university research income from non-profit research
partnerships (21.3%).
Interdisciplinary health research day
The eight edition of the interdisciplinary health
research day organized by the Faculty of health
sciences and community services was held in March
2016 at the Moncton campus.
The event brings together professors, researchers,
clinicians and students as well as anyone with
an interest in health-related research. It gave
participants an opportunity to look at current
clinical and community health care problems form
a multidisciplinary perspective. This year’s research
day was held under the theme
Health and Welfare:
Let’s act together
.
The
Passion: to discover
campaign is
launched
In 2016, a campaign intended to shed positive
light on its projects in the areas of research and
innovation was launched. The
Passion: to discover
campaign is coordinated by Communications, Public
Affairs and Marketing. It targets young adults, those
interested in graduate studies, public decision
makers and potential investors in research and
innovation.
Well-deserved research grants
Six Université de Moncton researchers received
discovery grants from the Natural Sciences and
Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
They share $780,000 over five years.
At the Moncton campus, the recipients are Deny
Hamel (physics and astronomy), Etienne Hébert
Châtelain (biology), David Joly (biology) and
Jean Saint-Aubin (psychology). At the Shippagan
campus, the research group in computational
physics and photonics, consisting of professors
Samira Barmaki and Stéphane Laulan, also received
a grant from the NSERC.
Professors Simon Lamarre (biology) and Pier Jr.
Morin (chemistry and biochemistry) were also
allocated funds to acquire infrastructure to conduct
research to control protein metabolism in fish. The
funding, totaling more than $240,000, was awarded
by the Canadian Fund for Innovation’s (CFI) John R.
Evans Leaders Fund.
Researcher Anouk Utzschneider, Centre de
formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, and
school of nursing director Pierre Godbout received
a research grant in the amount of $40 000 from
the Consortium national de formation en santé.
Their research aims to better understand what
motivates doctors and nurses trained in French in
New Brunswick to get involved in training emerging
professionals.
