Dr. Robin Craig has joined the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) as the associate vice-president of the research grants and scholarships directorate.
A department of the federal government, NSERC provides funding to scientific and innovative projects across Canada.
Craig previously served as the inaugural director of Recherche & Innovation Boréal, the applied research arm of Collège Boréal in Sudbury, a position she had held since 2019.
NSERC made the announcement on Aug. 29.
“With more than 10 years of experience in the administration of research and innovation programs, Dr. Craig brings to NSERC a significant knowledge of the research ecosystem and the federal funding agencies,” noted the council in a statement.
“Robin is passionate about multidisciplinary research collaborations, and throughout her career, has prioritized inclusive training and mentorship to further the career goals of students and highly qualified personnel."
Prior to joining NSERC, Craig was the inaugural director of Recherche & Innovation Boréal at Collège Boréal, where she led the strategic development of the college’s applied research and innovation portfolio. In this role, she established the college’s research services office and developed an extensive network of research partnerships with industry and community organizations to enhance knowledge transfer, commercialization, and create experiential learning opportunities.
Craig has served on several advisory committees including NSERC’s College and Community Innovation Program Evolution Advisory Committee, and the Governing Council of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
In addition, she has served on the Executive of the Heads of Applied Research of Ontario, le Comité consultatif du Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS)-Volet Laurentienne, and Bioenterprise Canada’s Northern Ontario Advisory Committee.
Before joining Collège Boréal, Robin held academic and administrative positions at Laurentian University starting in 2007. As a member of the Office of Research Services, she contributed to the university’s research intensity and visibility by supporting faculty and students in the coordination of research funding proposals and knowledge mobilization activities. In this role, she also advised senior leadership regarding strategic research initiatives and facilitated the work of the institution’s Research Ethics Board.
Subsequently, she served as senior manager of programs and knowledge translation at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) Institute of Indigenous People’s Health.
Craig has a PhD and Master’s in French from Western University and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto.
