Five USask scholars named distinguished professors
The honorary title of distinguished professor is an award that celebrates lifetime achievement in research, scholarly, and artistic work. Four University of Saskatchewan (USask) professors and one professor emeritus were selected to receive the honorary title this year.
By BROOKE KLEIBOERThis year’s distinguished professors are Dr. Claire Card (PhD), Dr. Daniel Chen (PhD), Dr. Miroslaw (Mirek) Cygler (PhD), Dr. Curtis Pozniak (PhD), and Dr. Barbara von Tigerstrom (PhD).
“Congratulations to this year's distinguished professors, who have each made a lasting impact in their fields through their teaching, research, and scholarly contributions,” said Dr. Patricia McDougall (PhD), USask interim provost and vice-president academic. “These scholars exemplify the many ways excellence is expressed in academics and research. They have been leaders, collaborators, and innovators in their disciplines, industry, classrooms, and labs. They now join a legacy of scholars whose impactful work spans local to global communities and reflects the core mission of the University of Saskatchewan.”
Professors emeriti and current USask faculty members who hold academic qualifications corresponding with an appointment at the rank of full professor are eligible for appointment to the distinguished professor position. Recipients of this lifetime award become distinguished professors emeriti upon retirement. This year’s recipients were selected by a committee made up of senior leaders, faculty and community members, who undertook an extensive review of all submitted nomination packages.
“From innovative teaching practices to impactful research and dedicated service, this year’s nominees reflected the depth and diversity of talent across the University of Saskatchewan faculty community,” said Dr. Scott Walsworth (PhD), USask vice-provost, faculty relations. “This year’s high calibre of nominations made the selection process exceptionally difficult. After careful and thorough consideration by a dedicated selection committee, five professors were selected for this highest honour within the professorial ranks in recognition of their exceptional contributions. I am pleased to congratulate each of this year’s distinguished professors.”
Dr. Miroslaw Cygler (PhD), College of Medicine
Cygler is a professor emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology at the College of Medicine and an internationally renowned leader in structural biology. He received his PhD in crystallography in 1976, following earlier graduate training in theoretical physics, and has devoted more than five decades to advancing molecular medicine through structural science. He joined USask in 2011 as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Molecular Medicine Using Synchrotron Light, a position he held through two highly successful terms.
Cygler’s research program leverages the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron to elucidate the structural basis of enzymatic function, host–pathogen interactions, and protein–carbohydrate recognition. His work has revealed key molecular mechanisms used by bacterial pathogens to subvert host defenses, advanced understanding of iron–sulfur cluster assembly, and identified novel carbohydrate processing enzymes with implications for antibiotic, anticancer, and precision therapeutic development. He has authored more than 270 peer‑reviewed research papers and 33 review articles, with over 23,000 citations worldwide and an h-index of 73.
Beyond his research contributions, Cygler has played a foundational role in building Canada’s structural biology infrastructure. He was instrumental in the development of the CLS and the Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility, founded the PRISM research centre, and established major protein characterization facilities at USask. His scientific leadership, mentorship, and community building have left a lasting legacy for health research in Saskatchewan and internationally.
Read more about the 2026 distinguished professors on USask's news website.