Queen’s University Provost, Dr. Alan Harrison, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael Kawaja as Associate Dean, Life Sciences and Biochemistry in the Faculty of Health Sciences. This appointment is for an initial five-year period from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2017.

Dr. Kawaja completed his undergraduate studies in biology at Acadia University and his doctoral degree in anatomy at the University of Western Ontario in 1989.  He subsequently undertook two MRC-funded postdoctoral positions, first at the University of California in San Diego and second at the Samuel Lunenfeld Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.  In 1993 Dr. Kawaja commenced his MRC-funded scholarship position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Queen's University. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1999, and to Professor in 2004.

Dr. Kawaja has held numerous operating grants from CIHR (MRC), Heart and Stroke Foundation, Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, and Ontario Mental Health Foundation.  He has also held a Premier’s Research Excellence Award.  He has served as a panel member of CIHR Scholarships, CIHR Neuroscience, Alzheimer Society of Canada, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Ontario Mental Health Foundation, and Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Early Researcher Awards.  His research focuses on gaining a greater understanding of the reparative mechanisms in the mammalian central and peripheral nervous systems, as a consequence of injury and disease.

Dr. Kawaja is a highly regarded educator, having twice (2008, 2010) won the “Most Engaging Lecturer” from Queen’s Life Science students.

In making this announcement, the Provost expresses sincere gratitude to Dr. Kenneth Rose, who held the position of Associate Dean Life Sciences and Biochemistry from 2007 to 2012, for his outstanding service to the Faculty and the University.