Professor Rowan Thomson honoured with Polanyi Prize for her valuable contribution to the field of physics

Professor Thomson's research explores the development of computational techniques and approaches to the interactions of radiation with matter. Applications of her work are being used in diagnostic imaging, radiation protection, radiobiology and cancer treatment. Thomson has led the development of BrachyDose, a fast and accurate simulation for brachytherapy that can help the investigation of the physics of many brachytherapy treatments.

"Winners of the Polanyi Prizes represent the best researchers our universities have to offer,” said Ontario Minister of Training Glen Murray. “They are one of the reasons our post-secondary institutions are the sources of innovation that fuel our economy and help create tomorrow's jobs.”

Prior to joining the faculty of Carleton University in 2010, Thomson was a postdoctoral fellow and research associate in the Carleton Laboratory for Radiotherapy Physics. In addition to the Polanyi Prize, she has been awarded the L'Oreal Canada/UNESCO Women in Science Postdoctoral Research Excellence Fellowship and the Ministry of Research and Innovation of Ontario Postdoctoral Fellowship.

“I was thrilled to find out that I won the award,” said Thomson. “In research, you take leaps of faith and to win an award like this just reinforces the value of those leaps.” 

About the Polanyi Prize:
Ontario established the Polanyi Prizes in 1987 to honour the achievement of John Charles Polanyi, a 1986 Nobel Prize Laureate in chemistry. Every year, up to five prizes are given to researchers who are in the early stages of their careers and are pursuing postdoctoral research at an Ontario university. 

View a video interview of Thomson after her win.