The following Lakehead University faculty have been recognized as Distinguished Researchers (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC).

1988

• Dr. R.H. Mitchell, Department of Geology 
• Dr. I. Nirdosh, Department of Chemical Engineering 

1989

• Dr. A. Hughes, Department of Chemistry 

1990

• Dr. A. Day, Department of Mathematics 

1991

• Dr. S. Easa, Department of Civil Engineering 

1992

• Dr. N. Weir, Department of Chemistry 

1993

• Dr. V.V. Paranjape, Department of Physics 

1994

• Dr. D. Holah, Department of Chemistry 

1995

• Dr. A. Mirza, Department of Civil Engineering 

1996

• Dr. M. Lankester, Department of Biology 
• Dr. V.R. Puttagunta, Department of Chemical Engineering 

1997

• Dr. D. Morris, Biology/Forestry 
• Dr. K. Rotenberg, Department of Psychology 

1998

• Dr. G. Borradaile, Department of Geology 

1999

• Dr. A. Mallik, Department of Biology 

2001

• Dr. L. Garred, Department of Chemical Engineering 

2002

• Dr. U.S. Panu, Department of Civil Engineering 

2003

• Dr. S. Kinrade, Department of Chemistry
• Dr. Bruce Muirhead, Department of History

2005

• Dr. Phil Fralick (NSERC), Department of Geology 
• Dr. Tom Dunk (SSHRC), Department of Sociology 

2006

• Dr. Ron Harpelle (SSHRC), Department of History 
• NSERC – Not Awarded 

2007

• Dr. Todd Dufresne (SSHRC), Department of Philosophy 
• NSERC – Not Awarded 

2008

• Dr. Syed Islam Serajul (SSHRC), Department of Political Science 
• Dr. Abdelhamid Tayebi (NSERC), Department of Electrical Engineering 

2009

• Dr. Lori Chambers (SSHRC), Department of Women's Studies 
• Dr. Deli Li (NSERC), Department of Mathematical Sciences 

2010

• Dr. Nasir Uddin (NSERC), Department of Electrical Engineering 

2011

• Dr. Chris Southcott (SSHRC), Department of Sociology

2012

• Dr. Sonja Grover (SSHRC), Faculty of Education
• Dr. Aicheng Chen (NSERC), Department of Chemistry

2013

• Dr. Han Chen (NSERC), Faculty of Natural Resources Management

2014

• Dr. Mary Lou Kelley (SSHRC), School of Social Work
• Dr. Peter Hollings (NSERC), Department of Geology

2015

• Dr. Baoqiang Liao (NSERC), Department of Chemical Engineering
• Dr.  Alexander Serenko (SSHRC), Faculty of Business Administration

2016

• Dr. Wilson Wang (NSERC), Department of Mechanical Engineering

2017

• Dr. Pamela Wakewich (SSHRC), Departments of Sociology and Women's Studies

2018

• Dr. Michel Beaulieu (SSHRC) Department of History 

2020

• Dr. Alla Reznik, (NSERC) CRC in Chair in Physics of Radiation Medical Imaging, Department of Physics and Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute
• Dr. Antony (SSHRC) Puddephatt, Department of Sociology

2021

• Dr. Mitchell Albert, (NSERC) Lakehead University - TBRHRI Chair in Molecular Imaging and Advanced Diagnostics, Department of Chemistry, TBRHRI
• Dr.  Edward Rawana, (SSHRC) Department of Psychology, Centre of Education and Research on Positive Youth Development

2022

• Dr. Monica Flegel, (SSHRC), Department of English.
• Dr. Pedram Fatehi (NSERC), Department Chemical Engineering and Director, Biorefining Research Institute.
• Dr. Michel Bedard (CIHR), Department of Health Sciences and Director, Centre for Research on Safe Driving.

2023

• Dr. Vicki Kristman, (CIHR), Department of Health Sciences, EPID@Work Director and Senior Scientist.
• Dr. Scott Hamilton, (SSHRC), Department of Anthropology

2024

• Dr. Pauline Sameshima, (SSHRC), Faculty of Education.
• Dr. Andrew J. Dean, (NSERC), Department of Mathematical Sciences