Awarded on recommendation of the University of Toronto Mississauga Department of Biology, the Roberta Bondar Graduate Student Excellence Award recognizes outstanding Ph.D. candidate(s) at the Department of Biology who are UTM affiliated, in honor of their demonstration of outstanding research excellence and positive contributions to extracurricular activities that enhance community life at UTM.
Past Winners
- 2025: Areej Al-Dailami (Lange Lab)
- 2024: Sonia Evans (Phillips Lab)
- 2023: Timothy Fernandes (McMeans Lab)
- 2022: Matthew E. Bergman (Phillips Lab); Ahmed Hasan (Ness Lab)
- 2021: James Santangelo, (Ness & Johnson Labs)
- 2020: Ruth Lillian Rivkin (Johnson Lab); Arjan Banerjee (Stefanovic Lab)
- 2019: Lauren Barth (Sprules Lab); Celina Baines (McCauley Lab)
About Roberta Bondar
Dr. Roberta Bondar is a Canadian neurologist, astronaut, and environmental advocate renowned for her pioneering contributions to space science and environmental education who completed her PhD in neuroscience with the UTM Department of Biology. In 1992, she became the first Canadian woman, the second Canadian, and the first neurologist in space, serving as a payload specialist aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-42 mission. During this mission, she conducted over 40 experiments in the Spacelab, focusing on the effects of microgravity on living organisms and materials. Following her spaceflight, Dr. Bondar led an international space medicine research team in collaboration with NASA, studying the neurological impacts of space travel and drawing connections to conditions such as stroke and Parkinson's disease. Her work has been instrumental in understanding how the human nervous system adapts to low-gravity environments. Beyond her scientific endeavours, Dr. Bondar is an accomplished photographer and environmental advocate. She established The Roberta Bondar Foundation in 2009 to promote environmental education through art and has published several nature photography books. Her legacy continues to inspire advancements in science and environmental stewardship.