J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves and Patricia Romero-Lankao appointed Canada Excellence Research Chairs

Published: November 17, 2023

Professors J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves and Patricia Romero-Lankao have been appointed Canada Excellence Research Chairs in recognition and support of their cutting-edge research in areas that align with Canada’s priorities in science, technology and innovation.

Awarded by the Government of Canada, Canada Excellence Research Chair positions are designed to help world-renowned scholars and scientists further their research, train young researchers and help Canadian post-secondary institutions attract and retain top talent.

Garcia-Luna-Aceves, a professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, was named a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Intelligent Digital Infrastructures. His research looks to advance the networking architecture, protocols and algorithms that power the internet, with a view to increasing its benefits for marginalized communities and industries.

“It’s an opportunity like very few others,” says Garcia-Luna-Aceves, who plans to launch a multi-disciplinary research hub to reimagine the internet. “It’s a clean slate to pursue my research. That I can do so in one of the best, most inclusive cities in North America is an added blessing.”

“Professor Garcia-Luna-Aceves has his sights on an ambitious and impactful project. Everything in his distinguished career suggests he’s the person for the job,” said Professor Deepa Kundur, chair of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering. “I enthusiastically congratulate him on his CERC, a well-deserved recognition of his incredible talent.”

Romero-Lankao, a professor in the department of sociology at U of T Scarborough, was named a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions. Her research explores how transitions to clean energy can be made more equitable, so that a net-zero future doesn’t arrive at the cost of marginalized communities.

“There is more to our transition than all our beautiful technological ideas; there is a decision-making that politicians and coalitions have to make differently with communities, and this reconfiguration of power is something to catalyze,” says Romero-Lankao.

Romero-Lankao, who has spent decades working to integrate social sciences considerations into environmental work, wants to create a hub to connect her group’s research with teaching, students and community-centered learning. “I want to be very experimental and risk-seeking, and ensure that we are known for doing amazing work in a couple of years.”