Dr. Neda Maghbouleh has been appointed as a new Canada Research Chair and Dr. Nadja Kunz has been reappointed as a Research Chair, both in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields of research.
The Canada Research Chairs Program elevates Canadian universities to world-class research centers by fostering research excellence and training the next generation of skilled professionals. Chairholders contribute to advancing knowledge, improving quality of life, and strengthening Canada’s global competitiveness.
Dr. Neda Maghbouleh
Canada Research Chair in Race, Ethnicity, Migration, and Identity; Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology
Dr. Neda Maghbouleh is a sociologist specializing in racialization, classification, and identity. Her work, which combines qualitative and quantitative methods, is among the first to identify and empirically study Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities in the U.S. and Canada. While situating her research within theories and debates core to sociology, she has become a recognized authority on race and ethnicity categories. She provides expert guidance to major institutions like the U.S. White House Office of Management and Budget, Statistics Canada, and the American Medical Association. Most recently, she was appointed by the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau as one of 26 citizen-stakeholders on the 2030 Census Advisory Committee.
Dr. Nadja Kunz
Canada Research Chair, Mine Water Management and Stewardship; Associate Professor at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and the Norman B Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering
Mineral production is a key driver of the Canadian economy, and it is projected to expand further with the release of the federal government’s Critical Minerals Strategy, which aims to position Canada as a major global supplier. While mining and minerals processing bring significant economic benefits, the sector also has numerous social and environmental impacts, particularly on water resources. During her second CRC term, Dr. Nadja Kunz will develop new tools and decision frameworks for context-dependent, time-sensitive solutions in water and tailings management. Her work will focus on three key objectives: integrating minerals processing, hydrological, and economic models to tailor water and tailings management strategies; enhancing the climate resilience of landscapes affected by mining; and developing automated large language models to support regulatory oversight.
This research aims to improve the sustainability performance of Canada’s mining sector both domestically and internationally, contribute world-class academic insights to scientific debates, and train future leaders in this field. Research outputs will be disseminated through scientific journals, book chapters, and conference presentations. Dr. Kunz will also share her findings with industry, policymakers, and Indigenous rights-holders via conferences, short courses, and accessible research summaries and opinion editorials, building on the approach of her first CRC term.
