Contact

Office of the Vice-President (Research)

Main Office Contacts


Reach the Office of the Vice-President (Research)

General Inquiries: research@ucalgary.ca

Vice-President (Research): vpr@ucalgary.ca

Communications and Marketing: vprcomms@ucalgary.ca

Phone (403) 220-5460

Main Office Location & Mailing Address

A100, Administration Building
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Participate in Research

For more information about participating in studies or trials, please visit: ucalgary.ca/research/participate

Strategic Marketing & Communications Location & Mailing Address

Please mark mail Attn to: VPR Communications

MT 820, MacKimmie Tower, Main Campus
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Letter of Support Requests

For signatures on VPR letters of support, please provide a draft to vpr@ucalgary.ca and allow for a minimum of 5 business days for internal review and finalization. Failure to meet this deadline may impact the VPR’s ability to provide a letter.

For programs managed by the Research Services Office (RSO), the request for letters of support must be routed through Research Services.

VPR Executive Team

William Ghali

William Ghali

Vice-President (Research)

Contact Karen Pankraz for schedule requests

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Malinda Smith

Malinda Smith

Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion)

Contact Rupa Shankar for schedule requests

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Michael Hart

Michael Hart

Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (Indigenous Engagement)

Dr. Michael Hart is a proud citizen of Fisher River Cree Nation in central Turtle Island. In 2018 he moved to the University of Calgary to be the inaugural Vice-Provost of Indigenous Engagement, and professor in Faculty of Social Work. His research focuses on Indigenist helping perspectives, theories, and practices. 

Contact Svetlana Vakanjac for schedule requests

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Andre Buret

André Buret

Associate Vice-President (Research)

Dr. Buret’s portfolio includes oversight of UCalgary’s UCare programs and units, university biosafety compliance with the federal Public Health Agency of Canada, Advancing Canadian Wastewater Assets, and off-campus field research facilities.

Contact Eudy Jumbo for schedule requests

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Braden Manns

Braden Manns

Associate Vice-President (Health Research)

Contact Joan Keller for schedule requests

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Robert Thompson

Rob Thompson

Associate Vice-President (Research)

Executive Director, Research Services

Dr. Thompson’s portfolio includes serving as Executive Director, Research Services. He is the co-chair of the GFC Research and Scholarship Committee and sits on the Dimensions Executive and Indigenous Research Steering Committees, Campus Strategic Initiatives Group, among others.

Contact Angelina Nair for schedule requests

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Susan Skone

Susan Skone

Associate Vice-President (Research)

Dr. Skone’s portfolio includes administration and oversight of the Urban Alliance Initiative, Canada Research Chair Program, and Strategic Research and Innovation Opportunities.

Contact Eudy Jumbo for schedule requests

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Ian Gates

Ian Gates

Associate Vice-President (Research & Innovation)

Ian Gates provides leadership for the innovation teams across UCalgary's innovation ecosystem and advances the research and innovation agenda for the University Innovation Quarter.

Contact Eudy Jumbo for schedule requests

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Katrina Milaney portrait

Katrina Milaney

Associate Vice-President (Research)

Dr. Milaney prioritizes community-led research focused on health equity and vulnerability related to disability, homelessness, gender, culture, domestic violence, unsafe drug use and mental health. Her primary interests revolve around political ideology and how decision-makers impact policy, public systems, and service delivery.

Contact Angelina Nair for schedule requests

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Lorna Very, Executive Director, Office Vice-President (Research)

Lorna Very

Executive Director, Office of the Vice-President (Research)

Contact Angelina Nair for schedule requests

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Pamela Roach, Director, Indigenous Engagement

Pamela Roach

Director, Indigenous Engagement

Dr. Roach is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Community Health Sciences, the Director of Indigenous Engagement in the Vice-President (Research) Office, and a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Dr. Roach is also Deputy Scientific Director of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health. She holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health Systems Safety with a focus on dementia and brain health. Her program of research examines the intersection of health services, policy and upstream determinants of health in order to improve the health of individuals and populations. 

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VPR Operations & Administration

Marjorie Moreau

Marjorie Moreau

Senior Director, VPR Operations

(403) 220-2995 
mmoreau@ucalgary.ca

Marjorie plays an instrumental role in fulfilling the mandate of the VPR Office as well as the design, implementation and direction of administrative systems and structures. She provides leadership, direction and administrative oversight for matters related to the research portfolio.

Karen Pankraz

Karen Pankraz

Executive Assistant to the Vice-President (Research)

(403) 220-7833
karen.pankraz@ucalgary.ca

Karen provides dedicated administrative support to the Vice-President (Research). She is the primary point of contact for all internal and external stakeholders requiring VPR expertise, and facilitates his leadership efforts through diverse administrative duties.

Angelina Nair

Angelina Nair

Executive Assistant, Office of the Vice-President (Research)

adnair@ucalgary.ca

Angelina provides dedicated administrative support to the Associate Vice-Presidents (Research) (AVPR). 

Eudy Jumbo

Eudy Jumbo

Executive Assistant, Office of the Vice-President (Research)

eudy.jumbo@ucalgary.ca

Eudy provides dedicated administrative support to the Associate Vice-Presidents (Research) (AVPR). 

Kerri Ermantrout

Kerri Ermantrout (On Leave)

Executive Assistant, Office of the Vice-President (Research)

(403) 220-6958 
kermantr@ucalgary.ca 

Kerri provides dedicated administrative support to the Associate Vice-Presidents (Research) (AVPR). 

VPR Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Dr. Karen Benzies

Karen Benzies

Director, Social Innovation Initiative

benzies@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Benzies leads the Social Innovation Initiative, to enable faculties to mobilize their academic experience and transdisciplinary expertise into solutions for complex social problems. 

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Tara Barnas

Tara Barnas

Manager, Social Innovation Initiative

tara.barnas@ucalgary.ca

Tara guides the Social Innovation Initiative, working closely with the AVPR Innovation, AVP Research, and the broader UCalgary social innovation community.

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Charity Tsang, Social Innovation

Charity Tsang

Administrator, Social Innovation

Charity provides dedicated administrative support to the Social Innovation Initiative team. She serves as the primary point of contact for all internal and external stakeholders seeking information about social innovation services, collaborations, and support.

charity.tsang@ucalgary.ca

VPR Strategic Marketing & Communications

For general requests to the VPR Strategic Marketing & Communications team, please contact us at vprcomms@ucalgary.ca. 
We are located at MT 820; be sure to contact a team member prior to visiting as the floor requires keycard access. 

Pam Hyde

Pamela Hyde

Director, Strategic Marketing and Communications

(403) 210-3992  
pbhyde1@ucalgary.ca

Pam leads the VP Research marcom team, and provides guidance for strategic initiatives and units across the VPR portfolio. 

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Ali Abel

Ali Abel

Manager, Communications

amabel@ucalgary.ca

Ali leads the development of institutional positioning and narrative around research and innovation at UCalgary, with a focus on VPR strategic initiatives.

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Rand Al-Hashmy

Rand Al-Hashmy

Senior Specialist, Strategic Marketing and Communications 

ralhashm@ucalgary.ca

Rand is responsible for the development, implementation, and coordination of the Vice-President (Research) communications and marketing plan. As a leader in the VPR Strategic Marketing & Communications team, Rand delivers programs that include brand management, advertising, media relations, special events and internal communications.
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Kimberley Vircoe

Kimberley Vircoe

Senior Specialist, Strategic Marketing and Communications 

kimberley.vircoe@ucalgary.ca

Kimberley’s portfolio is focused on the IRISS and REB Exchange platforms, working with the project team on instructional design, product marketing, and communications.  

Julia MacGregor

Julia MacGregor

Senior Specialist, Strategic Marketing and Communications

jmacgreg@ucalgary.ca

Julia is responsible for the development, implementation, and coordination of the VPR Office communications and marketing plan. As a member of the VPR Strategic Marketing & Communications team, Julia supports the Innovation portfolio, working closely with the AVPR Innovation, AVP Research, and the broader UCalgary social innovation community.
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Calla Novello-Lauritsen

Calla Novello-Lauritsen

Senior Specialist, Strategic Marketing and Communications (Transdisciplinary Scholarship)

calla.novellolaurits@ucalgary.ca

Calla is responsible for communication and engagement planning and implementation for the Transdisciplinary Scholarship initiative, and to help strengthen our focus on transdisciplinary scholarship by engaging existing units and teams to build awareness and increase collaboration across all disciplines.

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Cody Coates, Digital Media Specialist

Cody Coates

Specialist, Digital Media

cody.coates@ucalgary.ca

Cody is a digital marketing and media production specialist with a passion for creating engaging content and delivering effective campaigns, known for his collaborative approach and commitment to understanding each project's needs and goals to create content that not only looks great but also drives results.

 

marta cyperling

Marta Cyperling

Senior Specialist, Communications and Engagement (Strategic Initiatives)

mcyperli@ucalgary.ca

Marta provides communications support to a number of initiatives in the VPR portfolio. She has a wealth of experience in communications planning, media relations and storytelling. 

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Blessing Oduniyi

Coordinator, Communications and Events Operations

blessing.oduniyi@ucalgary.ca 

Blessing enables streamlined workflows across the VPR Strategic Marketing & Communications team, and supports the development and execution of strategic initiatives. 

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VPR Strategic Initiatives

Barry Phipps

Barry Phipps

Research Coordinator, Strategic Initiatives

(403) 220-8765  
bphipps@ucalgary.ca

Barry contributes to the strategic planning and implementation of major initiatives within the VPR portfolio. Barry is responsible for the establishment of research and commercial collaborations with industry, government, and other external partners. 

Carmen Rieder

Carmen Rieder

Manager, Industry Engagement

carmen.rieder@ucalgary.ca

Carmen leads the Industry Engagement portfolio in the office of the Vice-President (Research).  The Industry Engagement (Research) team is tasked with strategic development and management of institutional research partnerships.  Carmen responds to company requests for UCalgary research expertise, facilitates partnership building, and works closely with the VP Research, VPR leadership team, the Associate Deans (Research) and research services leaders across UCalgary.

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Sana Tariq

Sana Tariq

Research Officer, Strategic Initiatives

Sana supports major strategic initiatives within the Vice-President (Research) portfolio, including the Advancing Canadian Water Assets (ACWA) research facility, the Urban Alliance partnership, and the Institutes of Transdisciplinary Scholarship’s Cities and Societies focus area, leveraging advisory and project management expertise.

stariq@ucalgary.ca

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Susan Sun

Industry Engagement Specialist, Energy and Advanced Technologies

susan.sun@ucalgary.ca

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Sid Gunamalai

Sid Gunamalai

Industry Engagement Specialist, Health & Life Sciences

sid.gunamalai@ucalgary.ca

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Michael Blough

Michael Blough

Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Dr. Michael Blough leads the Strategic Initiatives and Research Intelligence (SIRI) team at UCalgary, where he oversees efforts to advance the university's research enterprise. His team specializes in identifying non-traditional funding opportunities, aligning them with faculty expertise, and guiding researchers through the application process. With an integrated data science unit, his team also provides cutting-edge research analytics, in addition to developing tools and dashboards to help leadership make data-informed decisions regarding UCalgary operations and activties.

mdblough@ucalgary.ca

Alexandra Wall

Alexandra Wall

Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives

alexandra.wall@ucalgary.ca

Marcelo Suarez

Marcelo Suarez

Research Analyst, Strategic Initiatives

marcelo.suarez@ucalgary.ca