At NSERC, we rely on the expertise and insights from our research and partner communities to advance our mandate and ensure that our program offerings, policies and strategic initiatives are internationally competitive and impactful. As part of these efforts, we have been piloting an initiative: NSERC Scholar in Residence advisory roles.

Over the past several years the organization has gradually welcomed such Scholars, experts in specific fields who have provided a fresh perspective on our policies, programs and processes. The Scholars also complement formal governance structures and provide rapid, as-needed expertise, stakeholder engagement support and help advance longer-term planning.

Dr. Imogen Coe took the role of our first Scholar in Residence and served as the founding Dean of the Faculty of Science at Toronto Metropolitan University. Among other activities, she provided a researcher’s perspective on NSERC’s core programming and delivery, on equity, diversity and inclusion, and shed light on how we can support the next generation of highly qualified personnel.

She completed her term as NSERC Scholar in Residence in June 2025 and we thank her for her significant contributions as a Canadian thought leader in the integration of principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in the research landscape and as foundational to research excellence.

“Serving as NSERC’s inaugural Scholar in Residence has been an extraordinary honour and a unique opportunity to help advance equity, excellence, and inclusion in Canada’s research community. I’m deeply grateful for the thoughtful and constructive engagement on policy development with NSERC colleagues, and for the many rich conversations over the past three years with staff across the organization. It has also been a privilege to work alongside my fellow Scholars in Residence, Dr. Green and Mark Daley. The future of Canadian science depends on our collective commitment to building a more inclusive, diverse and innovative research ecosystem—because that is what drives true excellence.”

Next, NSERC welcomed Dr. Mark Green, professor of civil engineering and former Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at Queen’s University. He provides NSERC with unique and novel viewpoints from an Indigenous researcher’s perspective on our programs, policies, and processes. This significant guidance contributes to the goal of using research as a tool to advance reconciliation with Indigenous rightsholders, including Inuit, First Nations, and Métis communities.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Green’s term has been extended an additional year and we look forward to gaining further insights from him.

“It’s been an honour working with NSERC the past two years, and I look forward to expanding and strengthening the important work of weaving reconciliation and Indigenous perspectives into scientific and engineering research. NSERC’s dedication to putting reconciliation into action is both admirable and impactful.”

The third adviser to join this group is Mark Daley, Chief AI Officer at Western University whose role as Scholar in Residence runs from 2024 to 2026.

His extensive experience in advancing AI research and policy—both nationally and globally—positions him as a key figure to help guide NSERC during this transformative period. Mark’s blend of academic excellence, policy acumen, and cross-sector leadership makes him uniquely qualified to support NSERC’s efforts in harnessing AI’s potential while safeguarding ethical and equitable standards.

“Thanks in part to NSERC's bold historical investments in scholars like Geoffrey Hinton, humanity has created machines that think and intelligence that scales with compute power. The ubiquitous availability of intelligence will change the research endeavour profoundly. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the team at NSERC to help imagine and build that future."

NSERC benefits immensely from the commitment, imagination and expertise of the science and engineering community in Canada. NSERC is committed to building a knowledge base through broad-based discovery-oriented research; encouraging the development of in-demand highly-qualified research professionals; and driving industry partnerships with universities and colleges to create a culture of academic entrepreneurialism. NSERC’s Scholars in Residence help the organization stay focused on the future and aware of significant new challenges and opportunities.