Darren Lawless

Dr. Darren Lawless (Ph.D. and B.Sc. Inorganic Photochemistry, Concordia University) is an accomplished senior research and development executive. He is currently Assistant Vice-President, Research Innovation Partnerships at McMaster University. Previously, he was Dean of Applied Research and Innovation at Humber College. Prior to that, he served as Sheridan College’s first Dean of Undergraduate Research.

After completing a postdoctoral appointment at Argonne National Laboratories, he began his career as a bench chemist at Sterling Pulp Chemicals where he helped develop an innovative and patented membrane-based water treatment technology.

Dr. Lawless chaired NSERC’s Synergy Awards for Innovation selection committee and has served on other NSERC committees, such as the Innovation Enhancement Grants selection committee and Technology Access Centres site visit committees. During his time at Concordia University, he received Undergraduate Research Awards and a Post-Graduate Scholarship from NSERC.

Dr. Lawless has contributed to more than 50 Canadian and US patents and has over 40 papers published in numerous refereed journals, peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings.