NSERC Chair for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (Québec)

Balance: Promoting an inclusive research ecosystem with diverse careers and fair recognition

Chairholder since 2025

Prof. Kulbir Ghuman is the Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Computational Materials Design for Energy and Environmental Applications and an Associate Professor at the Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre at Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). Her research combines physics, chemistry, and advanced computational modeling to design sustainable technologies - such as carbon capture and conversion, green ammonia, and next-generation electrochemical devices - that address urgent climate challenges. As a racialized woman with global experience across India, Japan, Switzerland, and Canada, Prof. Ghuman brings a valuable perspective on both the technical and structural barriers that exist in research. She believes that advancing innovation requires more than scientific breakthroughs - it also means transforming how we support the people who make that research possible, especially Academic Research Professionals (ARPs), whose contributions remain under-recognized in academia. Prof. Ghuman is the founder and director of the Computational Energy Materials Design Infrastructure (CEMDI), a unique and rapidly growing platform based in Quebec with a global network of over 130 members from countries including Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Poland, Qatar, and South Africa. CEMDI promotes inclusive training, empowers emerging researchers, and fosters collaboration and innovation at the dynamic intersection of physics, chemistry, mathematics, materials science, and engineering - integrating advanced computational techniques and artificial intelligence to address complex energy and environmental challenges.

Through the Équilibre program, Prof. Ghuman and her co-Chairs will tackle a major gap in Canada’s research ecosystem: the lack of clear, supported career paths for ARPs. Together, they will pursue three main goals: (1) understand and remove barriers to diverse career paths in STEM, (2) provide targeted training and mentorship for ARPs, and (3) develop and share recognition frameworks that value all contributors to research. As part of her leadership in the Équilibre Chair, Prof. Ghuman will spearhead initiatives such as the “Digital Platform for All” - a user-friendly research hub built to provide open access to training, data organization tools, and inclusive digital infrastructure, especially for those in remote or under-resourced communities. With support from CEMDI, Calcul Québec, and other partners, this platform will follow FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles and support training in computational science and data-driven research. Prof. Ghuman will also contribute to well-established programs such as "Apprentis chercheurs" at INRS as well as cross-Chair initiatives like the “Femmes in Focus” podcast, Indigenous-led projects such as “Illuminating Connections” and the “Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation Roundtable”, and training programs like the “Nanoprogram in Scientific Platform Management”.

The Équilibre Chair is about building a research culture that values everyone. By elevating ARPs and making research careers more visible and accessible, this program will strengthen Canada’s scientific workforce and accelerate progress in critical areas such as clean energy, health, and technology. Young people from diverse backgrounds will gain new opportunities through mentorship, training, and exposure to real-world research. Through strong partnerships and inclusive leadership, Prof. Ghuman along with the other two co-chairs are not just closing equity gaps - they are shaping a future where all contributors to science are recognized, and Canada stands at the forefront of inclusive research innovation.

• McGill University
• Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
• Université Laval
• Fondation CERVO
• Canadian Network of Scientific Platforms (CNSP)
• BioImaging North America (BINA)
• Computational Energy Materials Design Infrastructure (CEMDI)
• SHAD Canada
• Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology (SCWIST)
• UNESCO Chair on Materials and Technologies for Energy Conversion, Saving, and Storage (MATECSS)
• SKILLSETS, McGill University
• Canada Bioimaging (CBI)
• McGill Branches Program
• Centre interuniversitaire de recherche sur la science et la technologie (CIRST), UQAM
• Latin America Bioimaging (LABI)
• Microscopy Australia (MA)
• Scientista, McGill University
• Pôle de recherche et d'innovation en matériaux avancés (PRIMA) Quebec
• National Centre for Electrochemistry and Environmental Technologies, (CNETE Inc.)
• DeepTech Canada
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Photonics Society, Montreal Chapter
• Optonique
• Calcul Québec
• Les Scientifines
• Soapbox Science Montreal

Email: kulbir.ghuman@inrs.ca