Dr. Jaime Kaufman, PhD, jointly leads the W21C Research and Innovation Centre with Jill de Grood. Together, Jaime and Jill support the strategic direction of the initiative, promoting W21C’s value proposition as an organization dedicated to research, innovation, and education. They support day-to-day W21C operations and processes, and lead specific portfolios.
Jaime completed a PhD in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the University of Calgary, specializing in bacterial genetics, with additional post-doctoral research experience in large-scale data analysis for microbial community composition of the human microbiome.
She began her career in W21C as Program Manager for the W21C Collaborative Research and Innovation Opportunity (CRIO) team grant. In this role, she was responsible for a wide range of activities, including: grant management and reporting, resource allocation, hiring and performance management, and budget development and oversight. She then moved on to manage strategic programs for W21C, acting as a liaison with funding and implementation partners (federal and provincial government, industry, health sector, philanthropists, clinicians, and academics). Over the years Jaime has been involved in planning and development within the broader Research and Innovation Centre, working with W21C leadership to identify and develop strategic priorities, and to secure funding for the W21C and related initiatives.
As Director of Research and Innovation, Jaime’s primary goal is to deepen and expand internal University of Calgary relationships and partnerships. She continues to align the W21C with the institutional programs and priorities of the University of Calgary as we pursue the path to becoming an entrepreneurial university (“Growth through Focus”). Jaime oversees the Communications portfolio. She also continues to manage frontline research staff and provides oversight for multiple research projects for internal and external stakeholders in academia, industry, and the public sector.
