Rene Harrison

Biography

Rene Harrison is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at U of T Scarborough with graduate appointments in the Departments of Cell & Systems Biology, and Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology at the St. George campus.

Professor Harrison is a cell biologist, and the goal of her research is to understand how specialized cells function in normal and diseased states. The expertise of her research lab is the cytoskeleton where they use advanced molecular and cell biology approaches to identify fundamental mechanisms driving cell specialization and disease. Professor Harrison is a well-respected scholar, very active in scientific research and in mentoring young researchers. Professor Harrison has supervised over 30 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows while at U of T Scarborough. Her research is supported by grants from the Canadian Space Agency, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and has served as a panelist or external reviewer on grant review committees for these agencies.  She has a strong record of high impact publications, invited seminars and presentations. She has been awarded a CIHR New Investigator award, an Ontario Early Researcher award and an Honoured Alumni of the Year award from the University of Manitoba.

Professor Harrison is an experienced administrator having served as Associate Chair of Research & Graduate Studies in the Department of Biological Sciences at U of T Scarborough (2013-2016 & 2017-2018), and committee Chair of U of T Scarborough Mentoring, Equity & Diversity (2019-2021) and the Biological Sciences Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (2020-21). As Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (2022-2025), Professor Harrison is responsible for the development and implementation of new graduate programs, and oversees locally administered graduate programs.  The Vice-Dean liaises regularly with the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), and coordinates the flow of graduate student funding. The office also administers local grad & Postdoctoral Fellows' scholarships and fellowships as well as travel awards. The Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies also has oversight on all graduate program reviews.

For administrative matters pertaining to the Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies' portfolio, including scheduling, contact: Suma Philip, Executive Assistant to the Vice-Deans.