Bio

2023_Gillis_Promotion

I am currently an Associate Professor, Statistician, and Interdisciplinary researcher in the School of Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Physical Science at the University of Guelph.

I have spent the bulk of my training and career working on interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary teams which have focused on public health assessment, natural resource management, software design, and pedagogy. This has included collaborative projects with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Statistics Canada, Health Canada, Environment Canada, B.C. Cancer Agency, the Government of Brazil, the Saugeen Ojibway First Nations, McGill University, Laurentian University, and numerous departments within the UG including Integrative Biology, Cell Biology, the O.V.C.’s Biomedical Sciences, and the School of Engineering. Most recently I have been working with the Inuit of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador.

My research interests span statistics, computer science, biology, pedagogy, and community-engaged scholarship.

I am co-founder of Farm To Fork, a project which aims to improve the quality and quantity of food donated to food banks and pantries by connecting donors with the real-time needs of emergency food providers, co-creator of ICON, a transdisciplinary undergraduate classroom that brings students from across campus together to work on social challenges, co-founder of GuelphHacks and the Improve Life Challenge, multidisciplinary annual hackathons held at the University of Guelph, and co-creator of the Gryphons Care initiative.

I am a member of the steering committee for Royal City Science, as well as the Community Pet Care Project Advisory Council (which is developing tools to support families who are struggling to afford pet care). I am a member of the Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses. I am an affiliate faculty member of the Guelph Institute for Environmental Research, and the One Health Institute. I have served as a University of Guelph Senator, Vice-Chair of the Board of Undergraduate Studies, and as Faculty Co-Chair of the University of Guelph’s United Way Campaign.

Previously I sat on the steering committee for the SEED Guelph – which continues to innovate the emergency food system in Guelph. I was also a member of the Professional Advisory Committee for the Computer Science program at Sheridan College, the Right Mesh Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Director of the Physical Science and Engineering Education Research Centre in the College of Engineering and Physical Science at the University of Guelph.

In non-pandemic times you can find me in my office in the newly renovated Reynolds Building (room 3323), however, these days I’m working mostly remotely. If you’d like to chat, free to contact me to set up an appointment.

Pronouns: he/him/his