Telfer Annual
Research Report 2024-2025
Research that Matters
It is my honour to present this year’s research report under the theme “Research that Matters.” Over the past year, our community has demonstrated, once again, that research produced in universities is far more than an academic exercise. At its best, it is a powerful force to improve decisions, systems, and everyday life for people, communities, and organizations. At Telfer, Research that Matters means pursuing knowledge with clear purpose. It is research that responds to real challenges, informs better decisions and strengthens the communities and systems we rely on. This approach reinforces our commitment to a greener, healthier, happier, wealthier and more prosperous future for Canada and the world. It also speaks to who we are as a business school and the type of leadership we’re cultivating – leadership grounded in evidence, guided by purpose, and devoted to creating a lasting impact.
For us, this is the essence of evidence-based management. Research that matters is driven by a commitment to meaningful change and is often done in partnership with those who use and are affected by the knowledge we generate. It reflects our curiosity, our courage and our willingness to engage with complex, real-world challenges alongside organizations, community groups, patients, traditional Indigenous knowledge keepers, and other collaborators. Frequently interdisciplinary in nature, this work crosses traditional boundaries in business research, bringing together diverse perspectives to generate insights that are actionable and enduring. The researchers below exemplify this work in their respective disciplines.
- Mathieu Bouchard investigates new approaches to education and mobility that respond to evolving social and environmental realities with his studies on micro schooling and sustainable transportation.
- Justin Boutilier develops actionable analytics for social good, using data to help decision-makers improve services and outcomes for vulnerable populations.
- Myriam Brouard explores how binge watching and fan communities influence people’s media experiences with her research on consumer behaviour.
- Mohamed Chelli examines financial decision-making, helping workers achieve financial independence and retire early.
- Jennifer Dimoff offers evidence to guide organizations in creating more compassionate workplaces with her work on mental health and pregnancy loss.
- Saouré Kouamé explores how urban spaces can better support older adults as active community members with his research on aging well amidst city life.
- Lysanne Lessard focuses on designing systems that reflect the experiences and needs of patients, their families, caregivers, and providers with her work on person-centered healthcare.
- Errol Osecki sheds light on how people navigate complex financial information in their daily lives, with his work on financial influencers and financial literacy.
This report captures only a fraction of the research happening at Telfer. Behind every highlighted project stands a broader community of scholars, students, and partners whose work contributes to Telfer’s collective success. To learn more about the exciting work led by Telfer professors, I invite you to explore the Telfer Knowledge Hub, which showcases additional researchers and projects. Their efforts, alongside those featured here, are essential to the vibrant research culture we are building.
To further support and recognize research that moves beyond academic conversations, Professor Charlotte Karam and PhD student Patil Yessayan led our Knowledge Mobilization Pilot Initiative, which evaluated Telfer’s strengths in knowledge mobilization and identified our need for additional capacity building. We have also introduced a new Knowledge Mobilization Grant and Knowledge Mobilization Excellence Award. Mike Mulvey, whose work on accessible travel demonstrates research with real-world impact, is the inaugural recipient. These initiatives strengthen the infrastructure that enables our research to extend into practice, support communities, and shape policy.
I am inspired daily by the rigorous and relevant work carried out by our faculty and students. Together, we continue to push boundaries, challenge assumptions, and build knowledge that makes a meaningful difference – today and for the future.
Success in Numbers
We are proud to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of Telfer’s vibrant and inclusive research community. Year after year, our researchers continue to broaden their impact and contribute new knowledge for businesses, classrooms and beyond.
Award-Winning Research
Beyond the statistics of research funding, every grant and every award tells a story. With every new project, Telfer researchers demonstrate their passion and dedication to creating knowledge and tools that will help build a better Canada.
In 2024–2025, we continued to achieve a high rate of success on the numerous funding applications submitted.
Telfer researchers were awarded 12 grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), three from the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and two from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
The Telfer Research Office is also pleased to congratulate the six School of Management Research Grants (SMRG) recipients, as well as the recipients of our emerging and established researcher awards.
External Funding
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Internal Funding & Awards
MEET OUR NEW PROFESSORS
Telfer’s professors develop high-impact research programs that inform innovative pedagogy. Their knowledge and expertise reach beyond the lab and the classroom, shared every day with our future leaders. In 2024–2025, we welcomed eight new professors to our vibrant research community.
Using analytics to overcome health-care challenges: Meet new Professor Justin Boutilier
Bridging Management and Social Innovation: A Journey of Qualitative Research and Community Impact: Meet new Professor Mathieu Bouchard
Studying sports event governance: Meet new Professor Milena Parent
Better Understanding the State of Flow: Meet new Professor Raymond Lavoie
Exploring workplace safety using big data: Meet new Professor Rengong (Alex) Zhang
Looking at the intersection of corporate governance, financial management and environmental sustainability: Meet new Professor Syrine Sassi
Exploring the rise of emerging markets and blockchain technology: Meet new Professor Timothy Hannigan
Research Chairs, Professorships
and Fellowships
Research chairs, professorships and fellowships are an essential support that allows professors to advance a discipline. They are allocated on the basis of research programs and the contributions that professors make to research, teaching and practice.
Philanthropic support allows Telfer to implement and inform bold new innovations that accelerate finding solutions to build a better Canada. Donor-funded FPCs also support the development of enduring research infrastructure such as our labs, centres and institutes, allowing our researchers to have a broad impact on the communities they serve.
Over the last number of years, Telfer professors have received several research chairs, fellowships, and professorships to chart the path of excellence in their fields.
Discover our research chairs, professorships, and fellowships
KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION
Knowledge mobilization initiatives allow our research impact to reach beyond academia into the public consciousness. Our researchers are committed to turning discoveries into solutions that address real-world challenges. Through partnerships, conferences, op-eds and more, they work to share their expertise and effect tangible change that will help build a better Canada.
Distinguished Speaker Series in Thriving Organizations and Societies
Annual Telfer Conference in Accounting, Auditing and Accountability
SDG Week Canada
Healthier Consumption Annual Research Camp
The IDeaS 2025 Workshop
