Vice-Principal of Research
Message from the Vice-Principal of Research
Since the establishment of the Division of Graduate Studies and Research nearly six decades ago, it has become an intellectual crossroads where strong fundamental research underpins an extensive programme of sponsored research to address the needs of our partners and stakeholders. Faculty enjoy the essentials of full academic freedom whilst still exhibiting a strong interest and collaboration in defence-related research challenges and opportunities. It is this backbone of research excellence that establishes the university’s essential capacity to deliver outstanding education to our students, both graduate and under-graduate. Amongst all Canadian universities, RMC is uniquely challenged to train the future CAF officer corps and develop excellence in research within the government sector and the greater community. According to RE$EARCH Infosource Inc., RMC was placed in the top 50 research universities, ranking 40th for the year 2017-2018. Over the medium to long term, RMC is poised to increase its level of research income and anticipate returning to a placement of high 30s previously achieved.
Consultations undertaken during the recent Defence Policy Review underscored the importance and value of informed discussion of defence issues. The CAF has had a long-lasting and productive relationship with academia and derives significant benefit from stimulating and leveraging the well-established intellectual capacity resident in this community. Collaboration with academia and other experts not only strengthens the foundation of evidence-based defence policy-making, but also helps drive innovation and develop future thought leaders. As part of the Government’s vision, RMC will seek to stimulate increased research on defence and security issues in Canada, and is mindful of the need for a diverse spectrum of voices contributing to the conversation in this field. To enhance its relationship with and derive greater benefit from Canada’s rich academic and analytic community, the Defence team will increase investment in academic outreach to $4.5 million per year in a revamped and expanded defence engagement program. To this end, the program will include:
- a collaborative networks of experts;
- a new scholarship program for masters and post-doctoral fellows; and
- an expansion of the existing expert briefing series and engagement grant program.
Those who decide to join us will not only benefit from being part of a world-class research environment but also be among a wide network of colleagues, partners and collaborators found across government, industry and the greater Defence and security community.
Former Vice-Principals of Research and Deans of Graduate Studies
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 2020-Present | Dr. C. Malardier-Jugroot, Ph.D. |
| 2020-2020 | Dr. M.A. Hennessy, BA (Hon), MA, P.D. |
| 2014-2020 | Dr. P. Heffernan, Ph.D. |
| 2013-2014 | Dr. J.R. Buckley, B.Sc., Ph.D. |
| 2003-2013 | Dr. B.J. Fugère, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. |
| 1995-2003 | Dr. R.D. Weir, C.D., B.Sc., D.I.C., Ph.D., F.C.I.C., F.E.I.C., F.I.U.P.A.C., F.R.S.C., C.Chem., P.Eng. |
| 1984-1995 | Dr. W.F. Furter, rmc, ndc, B.A.Sc., S.M., Ph.D., F.C.I.C., P.Eng. |
| 1972-1984 | Dr. J.B. Plant Captain (N) (Retired), C.D., A.D.C., ndc, Ph.D., P.Eng |
| 1963-1972 | Dr. T.S. Hutchison, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.Inst.P., F.A.P.S., F.R.S.E. |
| 1959-1963 | Dr. J.R. Dacey, M.B.E., B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., F.C.I.C. |
RMC Research Team 2014-2020
The RMC Research Team provides key dedicated support to faculty, students and partners for the development, implementation and optimization of ongoing and emerging research activities. In addition to their extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of governance, project management, grants and partnerships – the members of the research team have the theoretical, methodological and practical skills and expertise that support concerted efforts and collaboration in research activities. It is this Graduate Studies and Research Team that help form the shape of innovative research at RMC.
RMC Research Grants Office
Frederic Labarre
Research Funding at RMC
The College has posted a strong gain in their graduate research income. During the period 2015-2016 to 2016-2017, its funding increased by 10.4% from $11.7 million to about $13.1 million – mainly due to an increase in collaborative DND sponsored research. However, the totality of the research funds came from a wide range of sources including DND and RMC (nearly $9.3 million), other federal government departments (nearly $1.2 million), as well as the funding received from the three federal granting agencies known as the Tri-Council: the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC); the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC); and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
RMC received support from the first two financial councils at a total of nearly $2.3 million. To make special note of a few of the grants obtained from among sixteen Tri-Council programs: a Collaborative Research and Development Grant in the amount of over $195,000 (NSERC); a Discovery Grant (NSERC) at $693,000; an Insight Grant at nearly $43,000 (SSHRC); and $700,000 for the Tier One and Tier Two Canada Research Chairs program (NSERC and SSHRC). RMC’s research capacity is critically supported by the Research Support Fund (RSF) established by the Tri-Council which is designed to offset the large financial burden of the indirect costs of research. During the reporting period of 2016-2017, grants amounted to nearly $956,000 without which the research objectives of the university and our stakeholders could not be met.