Dr. Lisa Kalynchuk joined the University of Victoria in 2017 as Associate Vice-President, Research and Innovation and was appointed Vice-President on July 1, 2019.

In October 2021, she launched Aspiration 2030 – UVic’s bold new vision for transformative research and creative works that supports the university’s commitment to climate, reconciliation, and a better path forward for people and the planet. Under Dr. Kalynchuk’s leadership, UVic is investing in interdisciplinary collaboration, increasing support for the next generation of researchers, cultivating a vibrant ecosystem of innovators and entrepreneurs, and developing a global network of engaged partners.

Dr. Kalynchuk holds a BSc from the University of Alberta, and an MA and PhD in Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia. She undertook postdoctoral training at McGill University and spent five years as an assistant professor at Dalhousie University before joining the University of Saskatchewan, where she completed two terms as a Canada Research Chair in Behavioral Neuroscience. She currently holds a joint appointment between the Division of Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Social Science (Psychology) at the University of Victoria.

Dr. Kalynchuk is passionate about interdisciplinary health research that extends beyond the bench to the patient bedside. In 2019, she created the UVic Health Initiative (UHI), recognizing that many of society’s pressing challenges are directly or indirectly related to health or wellbeing. Her own research focuses on the effects of chronic stress, depression and other neurological diseases on the brain and behavior.