Dugan O'Neil

Dr. Dugan O'Neil, Vice-President, Research and Innovation (VPRI), has been reappointed to a second, five-year term, effective July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031.

O’Neil’s many accomplishments during his first term include overseeing research continuity through the COVID-19 pandemic and return to campus, and the development and publication of SFU’s 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan. Over his first term, O’Neil also secured critical financial support from government and industry and advanced major initiatives, including the university’s inaugural AI strategy, developing SFU’s Core Facilities such as the Clean Hydrogen Hub and WearTech Labs, and significant upgrades to the Cedar Supercomputing Centre, now home to Canada’s largest public supercomputer. Over the past 10 years, sponsored research income has grown at SFU by 144 per cent, reaching $286 million in fiscal 2024/25.

As SFU's current VPRI, O'Neil leads SFU’s strategic research initiatives and champions SFU’s innovation strategy. His work focuses on helping the university respond to new opportunities and working with faculty, students and staff to secure research and innovation partnerships within the community and industry. He also works closely with members of SFU’s 10 faculties to ensure they recruit the best and brightest, and have the resources required to conduct excellent cutting-edge research in all its forms. A core element of SFU’s research approach focuses on knowledge mobilization, by facilitating opportunities to transfer the results of research to society. This helps SFU students, faculty and staff to utilize research and innovation to create a positive social, economic and environmental impact on the world stage.

Together with the Associate VP of Research and the Associate VP of Knowledge Mobilization and Innovation, O'Neil works to increase the reach and awareness of SFU’s internationally competitive research enterprise.

In his second term, O’Neil will continue bringing SFU’s vision to life through transformative research and innovation projects, collaboration with industry, government and communities and work that positions B.C. and Canada to lead on the world stage.