The following individuals have been nominated for positions on Science Atlantic’s Board of Directors. The vote will be held during the 2026 Annual Members Meeting, Nov. 6, 2026, hosted by Mount Alison University. There is one vote per Member Institution, exercised by the Dean/Institutional Representative or their proxy.
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Chair Elect
Nominated: James Gauld (Memorial University of Newfoundland)
Dr. James Gauld is Memorial University’s Dean of Science (St. John’s campus) and its Science Atlantic Institutional Representative since 2025. As well, he currently serves on Science Atlantic’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) Committee.
Regarding his dedication to the organization, James notes:
“I am strongly committed to enhancing the mission of Science Atlantic and working to build and support its EDIA efforts across Atlantic Canada.”
James’ introduction to Canada began when he held a Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship at Dalhousie University, Halifax (Nova Scotia). From 2001 to 2025, he was a faculty member at the University of Windsor, Windsor (Ontario), during which time he also had the opportunity to serve as an Associate Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and as Head, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
James completed his Bachelor of Science (BSc) at the University College of the Northern Territory and BSc Honours degree at the same institution, then named Northern Territory University (now Charles Darwin University) in Darwin, Australia. He obtained his PhD at the Australian National University, Canberra (Australia), under the supervision of Prof. Leo Radom, in computational chemistry, focussing on the properties and chemistry of selected small gas-phase radical cations.
Upon completing his doctoral studies, James held a postdoctoral fellowship at Uppsala University in Sweden, where he began his life-long interest in using computational chemistry approaches to study catalysis, and in particular, the properties and mechanisms of enzymes. His research centres on using computational chemistry to study the catalytic mechanisms and properties of enzymes, particularly those that are physiologically or disease important. The goals of his research include not only providing insights into how a specific enzyme functions, but also the origins of the rate-enhancing power of catalysts to aid in therapeutic drug development.
Directors-at-Large, Community (one vacant position, two candidates)
Nominated: Shannan Grant (Mount Saint Vincent University)
Dr. Shannan Grant, RD, MSc, PhD, is a Registered Dietitian and former tenured Associate Professor, whose journey is evidence that wonderful things can happen when you follow your passions. Originally from Cape Breton, NS, Shannan has deep roots in the Atlantic region that have and continue to shape her approach to education and advocacy.
Shannan first connected with Science Atlantic in 1998 as a student. Since then, she has been known to speak of this opportunity, along with regional scholarships and NSERC research funding, as transformative, for her and her family. Growing up in Cape Breton, pursuing post-secondary education was not a certainty. Her lived experience instilled a lifelong commitment to breaking down barriers for people pursuing STEM across Atlantic Canada.
Over the past 28 years, her relationship with Science Atlantic evolved from student attendee to faculty mentor, volunteer facilitator, and organizer, culminating in her co-designing and chairing the inaugural Science Atlantic Nutrition and Foods Conference (SANFC) in 2019. Shannan has a distinguished background in academia, governance, and clinical practice. After completing a decade as an Associate Professor at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), she transitioned to full-time, community-based clinical practice. Today, she serves as a Registered Dietitian with the Nova Scotia Nephrology Program, continuing to bridge basic scientific research, higher education, and frontline patient care.
In addition to her clinical work, Shannan brings noteworthy governance and administrative experience to her community. She contributes to public safety and regulatory oversight on the Complaints Committee for the Nova Scotia Regulator of Dietetics (NSRD), where she previously served as a board member. She also sits on the steering committee for the Alexa McDonough Institute for Women, Gender, and Social Justice (AMI), focusing on strategic planning, consensus building, and equity-focused policy work.
Driven by a passion for evidence-based practice and community engagement, Shannan also volunteers with local non-profits, most recently Wellness Wags, a Nova Scotia based organization that provides free service dogs to support neurodiversity, disability, and student well-being. Across all her roles, Shannan remains dedicated to ensuring Atlantic Canadians have access to relevant and robust science and fostering inclusive, person-focused pathways for the next generation of scientists.
Nominated: Michael Steinitz (St. Francis Xavier University, emeritus)
Michael Steinitz is an emeritus professor of physics and a member of Commission 13 (Physics for Development) of the International Union for Pure and Applied Physics. He is involved in the proposal for an African Light Source analogous to the Canadian Light Source.
Michael is a past president of the Canadian Association of Physicists and past chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovation (CIPI – an NSERC network of excellence).
Michael was one of the first inductees of the Science Atlantic Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the King Charles Coronation Medal.
