NSERC welcomes Professor Cynthia Goh, from the University of Toronto, as its new Scholar-Entrepreneur in Residence

General news

October 22, 2025

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor M. Cynthia Goh to fulfill the advisory position of Scholar-Entrepreneur in Residence for a one year term.

The Scholar-Entrepreneur in Residence will contribute new and innovative perspectives on NSERC’s programs, policies and processes. Professor Goh’s advice will inform NSERC’s efforts on how to better align partnered research funding with industry needs, strengthen entrepreneurship and impact, build skills for a competitive economy, and help accelerate commercialization.

Professor Goh is an entrepreneur and innovator whose work bridges scientific discovery and real-world applications. Her fundamental research on molecular interactions led to inventions including the technique of diffraction-based biosensing, and a platform approach for making nanoparticles in an inexpensive way, which were commercialized by companies she co-founded with her students. Axela Biosensors launched a medical diagnostics instrument based on diffraction and Vive Crop Protection uses the nanoparticle technology for precision delivery of agricultural actives. This partnership led to her becoming a 2021 NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation winner. She also co-founded Pueblo Science, a non-profit advancing science literacy for under-resourced communities worldwide, and other companies which targeted applications ranging from immunoassay tools, scientist-to-scientist e-commerce, and environmental coatings.

Professor Goh’s commitment to the training and education of scientist-entrepreneurs led to the creation of Entrepreneurship101 at MaRS, the flagship entrepreneur training program of the Mars Discovery District, and Techno, an intensive program that has helped launch over 140 science-based student-led start-ups. She has also provided mentorship to hundreds of scientist-entrepreneurs and has worked with numerous companies to advance scientific knowledge to applications that benefit Canada.

Professor Goh joins NSERC’s other Scholars in Residence: Mark Daley for Artificial Intelligence, and Dr. Mark Green for Indigenous Research.

“Our Scholars in Residence provide fresh perspectives with an outside lens, invaluable to strengthening NSERC’s contributions to Canada. I am excited to welcome Professor Goh to this formidable group and look forward to her insights on bringing science to real-world applications.”

“I’m looking forward to becoming part of this team. Collaboration has always been at the heart of my work, and I’m eager to contribute my experience while also learning from the diverse expertise here.”