Vice-President, Research and Innovation
Dr. Langis Roy 
Langis Roy received the B.A.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo, and the M.Eng. and Ph.D. Degrees in electrical engineering from Carleton University, Ottawa. He has been a faculty member in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Ottawa (1993-1999), Carleton University (1999-2015), and Ontario Tech University in Oshawa (2015-2025), where he also served as Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (2015-2021) and Deputy Provost (2020-2023). From 2005 to 2006, he was a Visiting Professor with the VTT Micro-modules Research Center, Oulu, Finland, and an Invited Professor with the INSA Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Toulouse, France. From 2009 to 2010, he was an Invited Researcher with IETR/Université de Rennes, Rennes, France, and in 2024 he was a Visiting Professor at the Université de Limoges XLIM Institute in France. He has co-authored over 150 scientific papers and holds three patents on radio-frequency system-on-package designs. His current interdisciplinary research interests include microwave components (electronics, integrated active antennas, metamaterials, reconfigurable circuits), wireless sensor and power harvesting technologies, and system integration (5G/6G, autonomous vehicles, biomedical/structural monitoring) with extensions into AI-assisted design and control.
Recognized as a highly approachable, engaged, and collegial leader, Langis has a record of success in working with colleagues, students and collaborators to make research and innovation come to life. He has conducted several research programs with major tech and automotive industry partners, and many of his students have won best paper awards and entrepreneurial competitions. He participated in the establishment of the Oshawa/Durham node of OVIN (Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network). He co-leads the Generative Reconfigurable Adaptive Communications Electronics (GRACE) France-Canada consortium and serves on several advisory committees for research funding, including NSERC, CFI, and FRQNT.
While at Ontario Tech, Langis contributed to the expansion of experiential/work-integrated learning across the university, and oversaw the transformation of the Office of Graduate Studies to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Langis looks forward to stimulating further growth and excellence of the research and innovation enterprise at Lakehead University.
Position Overview
The Vice-President Research and Innovation serves as the University’s chief research officer and encourages research activity by working with faculty to secure support for research and by fostering an environment where research can thrive at Lakehead Orillia and Lakehead Thunder Bay. As the head research and innovation, the Vice-President is responsible for leadership and strategic planning including developing and integrating strategic action plans to embed research throughout Lakehead, providing leadership to the Senate Research Committee, overseeing the development of research centres, and chairing a committee that reviews each Centre in accordance with Senate policy. Operational and financial management also falls under this portfolio. The Vice-President Research and Innovation is working with the President and Provost to smoothly realign the Faculty of Graduate Studies to more closely link graduate program development and strategic research planning – including redefining the role of the AVP (Research) to AVP (Research & Grad Studies) – and overseeing increased development of graduate research. Lastly, this position has an advocacy and external relations role that involves encouraging and supporting partnerships with both private and public sector organizations in the areas of research and/or innovation.