Gianni Parise

Gianni Parise is McMaster University’s Vice-President, Research, responsible for leading and advancing the university’s robust research enterprise. In this role, he oversees a broad ecosystem that supports researchers in securing funding, building partnerships with industry and government, driving commercialization and innovation, and enhancing the national and global reputation of McMaster’s research efforts.

Parise also serves as Chair of the Board of McMaster Innovation Park (MIP), where he plays a key role in accelerating innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship both on campus and across the region.

With more than 20 years of experience in research, academic, and institutional leadership at McMaster, Parise most recently served as Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science. He has also held positions as Acting Deputy Vice-President, Research and Associate Dean of Research and External Relations in the Faculty of Science. In these roles, he led initiatives to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, promote a culture of innovation, maximize the impact of McMaster’s research centres and institutes, and launch commercialization seed funds. He also contributed significantly to the development of McMaster’s Strategic Research Plan.

Parise joined McMaster as a faculty member in 2005 after completing his master’s and PhD at the university and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Ottawa Health Research Institute.

An internationally recognized expert in human muscle stem cell biology and aging, Parise has supervised nearly 100 students and published 135 peer-reviewed papers. His research excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Early Researcher Award from the Government of Ontario and the Young Investigator Award from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.

He has held continuous funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for over two decades and has also received support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

Gianni Parise

Gianni Parise is McMaster University’s Vice-President, Research, responsible for leading and advancing the university’s robust research enterprise. In this role, he oversees a broad ecosystem that supports researchers in securing funding, building partnerships with industry and government, driving commercialization and innovation, and enhancing the national and global reputation of McMaster’s research efforts.

Parise also serves as Chair of the Board of McMaster Innovation Park (MIP), where he plays a key role in accelerating innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship both on campus and across the region.

With more than 20 years of experience in research, academic, and institutional leadership at McMaster, Parise most recently served as Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science. He has also held positions as Acting Deputy Vice-President, Research and Associate Dean of Research and External Relations in the Faculty of Science. In these roles, he led initiatives to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, promote a culture of innovation, maximize the impact of McMaster’s research centres and institutes, and launch commercialization seed funds. He also contributed significantly to the development of McMaster’s Strategic Research Plan.

Parise joined McMaster as a faculty member in 2005 after completing his master’s and PhD at the university and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Ottawa Health Research Institute.

An internationally recognized expert in human muscle stem cell biology and aging, Parise has supervised nearly 100 students and published 135 peer-reviewed papers. His research excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Early Researcher Award from the Government of Ontario and the Young Investigator Award from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.

He has held continuous funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for over two decades and has also received support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

Martin Horn

Martin completed his PhD at the University of Toronto, coming to McMaster in 1995 to join the Department of History. He was a long-standing member of the department’s executive committee, before serving as graduate chair in the department for a number of years. Outside of the department he is a past-president of the McMaster University Faculty Association.

Martin is a specialist in European international relations including the two world wars of the 20th century and teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate level. His own research lies at the intersection of business, finance, diplomacy and the interaction of states with non-governmental actors. He is the author of three books, the most recent of which was J.P Morgan & Co. and the Crisis of Capitalism: From the Wall Street Crash to World War II (2022).

As Associate Dean (Graduate Studies and Research) in the Faculty of Humanities, Martin was responsible for overseeing graduate admissions, curriculum development, graduate recruitment and retention, while promoting community among the Humanities graduate community. He also assisted the research endeavours of Humanities faculty, while collaborating with the Office of Vice-President, Research in developing the research effort of Humanities within and outside the university.

Martin supports the vice-president, research on all research initiatives, with a specific focus on identifying funding opportunities and prospective cross-disciplinary collaborations and maximizing the potential of the University’s research centres and institutes. He works with the vice-president to promote and maintain a culture of innovation; create conditions for increasing the University’s overall quality and quantity of research activity; and engage the University community and external partners on potential funding opportunities.

Martin Horn

Martin completed his PhD at the University of Toronto, coming to McMaster in 1995 to join the Department of History. He was a long-standing member of the department’s executive committee, before serving as graduate chair in the department for a number of years. Outside of the department he is a past-president of the McMaster University Faculty Association.

Martin is a specialist in European international relations including the two world wars of the 20th century and teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate level. His own research lies at the intersection of business, finance, diplomacy and the interaction of states with non-governmental actors. He is the author of three books, the most recent of which was J.P Morgan & Co. and the Crisis of Capitalism: From the Wall Street Crash to World War II (2022).

As Associate Dean (Graduate Studies and Research) in the Faculty of Humanities, Martin was responsible for overseeing graduate admissions, curriculum development, graduate recruitment and retention, while promoting community among the Humanities graduate community. He also assisted the research endeavours of Humanities faculty, while collaborating with the Office of Vice-President, Research in developing the research effort of Humanities within and outside the university.

Martin supports the vice-president, research on all research initiatives, with a specific focus on identifying funding opportunities and prospective cross-disciplinary collaborations and maximizing the potential of the University’s research centres and institutes. He works with the vice-president to promote and maintain a culture of innovation; create conditions for increasing the University’s overall quality and quantity of research activity; and engage the University community and external partners on potential funding opportunities.

Leyla Soleymani

Dr. Leyla Soleymani holds a Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices, and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University. She received her M.Sc. from the University of Southern California, and her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. To address the world’s problems in healthcare, Leyla’s research combines innovations in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, and biochemistry. She is currently developing rapid diagnostic and antimicrobial platforms for improving the management of diseases and quality of healthcare. Leyla is the co-founder of startup company FendX Technologies, Inc.

In her role as Associate Vice-President, Research (Commercialization & Entrepreneurship), Leyla supports McMaster’s research community in initiatives that increase the impact and value of their research, by advancing economic development locally, nationally and internationally.

Leyla Soleymani

Dr. Leyla Soleymani holds a Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices, and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University. She received her M.Sc. from the University of Southern California, and her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. To address the world’s problems in healthcare, Leyla’s research combines innovations in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, and biochemistry. She is currently developing rapid diagnostic and antimicrobial platforms for improving the management of diseases and quality of healthcare. Leyla is the co-founder of startup company FendX Technologies, Inc.

In her role as Associate Vice-President, Research (Commercialization & Entrepreneurship), Leyla supports McMaster’s research community in initiatives that increase the impact and value of their research, by advancing economic development locally, nationally and internationally.

Sukhvinder Obhi

Dr. Sukhvinder Obhi, director of the Social Brain, Body & Action Lab, has spent nearly two decades working with public and private stakeholders to advance collaborations. Sukhvinder completed his Ph.D. at University College London, was a visiting graduate fellow at Harvard Medical School and was a postdoctoral fellow at Western University. His research focuses on the neural and cognitive bases of social behaviour, with an emphasis on power, status, agency and volition. He also conducts research on various issues related to social diversity, many of which have application to the professional domain of leadership in socially diverse contexts.

As Associate Vice-President, Research (Society & Impact), Sukhvinder helps facilitate research initiatives that generate societal advances across diverse domains and populations, supporting partnership development and mobilization efforts.

Sukhvinder Obhi

Dr. Sukhvinder Obhi, director of the Social Brain, Body & Action Lab, has spent nearly two decades working with public and private stakeholders to advance collaborations. Sukhvinder completed his Ph.D. at University College London, was a visiting graduate fellow at Harvard Medical School and was a postdoctoral fellow at Western University. His research focuses on the neural and cognitive bases of social behaviour, with an emphasis on power, status, agency and volition. He also conducts research on various issues related to social diversity, many of which have application to the professional domain of leadership in socially diverse contexts.

As Associate Vice-President, Research (Society & Impact), Sukhvinder helps facilitate research initiatives that generate societal advances across diverse domains and populations, supporting partnership development and mobilization efforts.

Kathy Charters

Kathy provides strategic leadership to the University’s research administration team, advises on trends and developments in research funding and opportunities; and provides subject matter, finance and budgeting expertise to the University’s senior leadership. Responsible for client services, Kathy oversees a number of initiatives designed to provide our research community with the most effective and efficient services and support.  Kathy is the primary liaison for our external funding agencies and works to ensure stewardship of the University’s research funds by adhering to ethical standards of conduct in compliance with University and funding agency policies.

Kathy has been involved in research administration at McMaster for more than two decades, serving in a number of progressive positions. Prior to assuming this role, Kathy was the executive director of the Research Office for Administration, Development and Support (ROADS) for eight years.  She has extensive experience in all aspects of research administration – both on pre- and post-award activities. Recognized internally and externally for her ability to modernize procedures and processes, Kathy plays an integral role in the University’s finance and research finance activities.

Kathy Charters

Kathy provides strategic leadership to the University’s research administration team, advises on trends and developments in research funding and opportunities; and provides subject matter, finance and budgeting expertise to the University’s senior leadership. Responsible for client services, Kathy oversees a number of initiatives designed to provide our research community with the most effective and efficient services and support.  Kathy is the primary liaison for our external funding agencies and works to ensure stewardship of the University’s research funds by adhering to ethical standards of conduct in compliance with University and funding agency policies.

Kathy has been involved in research administration at McMaster for more than two decades, serving in a number of progressive positions. Prior to assuming this role, Kathy was the executive director of the Research Office for Administration, Development and Support (ROADS) for eight years.  She has extensive experience in all aspects of research administration – both on pre- and post-award activities. Recognized internally and externally for her ability to modernize procedures and processes, Kathy plays an integral role in the University’s finance and research finance activities.