A convocation ceremony at McMaster University almost a decade ago has left a lasting impression on Ravi Ravindran, a professor from Ryerson’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. During the ceremony, a graduate student was presented with an award for best doctoral thesis. At the time, graduate studies at Ryerson were in their nascent stage, but a seed was planted for Ravindran.

This year, the inaugural C. Ravi Ravindran Outstanding Doctoral Thesis award was presented to Meera Paleja, from Ryerson’s psychology PhD program. Paleja’s dissertation, which was successfully defended earlier this fall, provides new direction and perspective into our current understanding of how different regions of the brain interact to support memory formation. Her research may be used to further examine the nature of memory impairment in clinical populations, such as those with Alzheimer’s disease.

“There is an ongoing effort at Ryerson to elevate graduate studies to higher levels of quality, societal relevance and impact,” Ravindran said. “Inspired by my family’s sincere desire to contribute to this growth at Ryerson, and the convocation ceremony at McMaster, I decided to establish an award to recognize excellence in doctoral research.”

During his distinguished career at Ryerson, Ravindran has been recognized as an outstanding researcher and professor. He was the inaugural recipient of the Sarwan Sahota-Ryerson Distinguished Scholar Award. He was also the first Ryerson faculty member elected as president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and as president of the American Society for Metals International.

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity and vision of the Ravindran family for establishing this award,” said Jennifer Mactavish, dean, The Yeates School of Graduate Studies. “It not only recognizes and nurtures excellence at the doctoral level across the university but symbolizes the substantive importance of graduate students in advancing the breadth and scope of SRC activity at Ryerson.”

The award will be presented on an annual basis to recognize a doctoral dissertation for originality, contribution to enhanced knowledge in the area of study and mobilization of that knowledge to social, cultural, economic, and/or industrial advances of national significance.