Dr. Ian Orchard
Ian Orchard completed his B.Sc. in Biological Sciences at the University of Birmingham, England in 1972, followed by a Ph.D. at the University of Birmingham in 1975. He was then recruited to York University, Canada as a Research Associate, funded through an NSERC Negotiated Development Grant. This grant established a Centre of Excellence in Invertebrate Neurosecretion, with a faculty position guaranteed by the University at the end of the grant. In 1980, Orchard was awarded an NSERC University Research Fellowship (the first year of its creation), and then in 1982, Orchard left York to become an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology, University of Toronto. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1985 and Full Professor in 1989. In addition to maintaining his outstanding research program, Orchard has contributed significantly in administrative areas, progressing from Associate Chair, Graduate Affairs Zoology, through Associate Dean and Vice Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science, on to Vice-Provost Students, and eventually Vice-President, University of Toronto and Principal University of Toronto Mississauga. He concluded his administrative career at the University of Waterloo as Vice-President and Provost.
Orchard has made profound and significant contributions to the field of invertebrate neuroscience and neuroendocrinology, and is regarded as a world leader in this discipline. Initially defining the neurophysiological properties of insect neurosecretory cells, he subsequently developed model systems to illustrate the roles of both amines and peptides as neurochemical messengers. Over the past few years, he has focussed particularly on the medically important bug, Rhodnius prolixus. This bug takes enormous blood meals from humans, and during the subsequent excretion of excess salts and water (diuresis), the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, is transmitted to the human host where it causes Chagas disease. Orchard’s lab examines short-term events which occur following the natural stimulus of a blood meal, including the neurohormonal control of diuresis, and the cessation of diuresis. Blood gorging is also the stimulus for growth, development, and reproduction, and so his lab also studies these longer-term events, and the involvement of similar families of amines and neuropeptides. Orchard has published more than 200 research articles, and these have been cited over 9000 times. He has an H index of 52 and an i10 index of 204. He was awarded a D.Sc. by the University of Birmingham, conferred to candidates who are “judged to have distinguished themselves by substantial contributions to learning which have established their position as authorities in their field of study”.
Orchard has trained a large number of highly qualified personnel, 18 of them continuing on into faculty positions. He was awarded a Distinguished Professorship by the University of Toronto, and the 2013 Research Excellence Award at UTM. He also received the Vivek Goel Faculty Citizenship Award, UTAA Excellence Awards, 2014; and in 2022 he received the Paul Fox Award from the UTM Alumni Association in recognition of dedicated service to the university and community.
Orchard lab web page: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/orchard-lab/
Orchard has made profound and significant contributions to the field of invertebrate neuroscience and neuroendocrinology, and is regarded as a world leader in this discipline. Initially defining the neurophysiological properties of insect neurosecretory cells, he subsequently developed model systems to illustrate the roles of both amines and peptides as neurochemical messengers. Over the past few years, he has focussed particularly on the medically important bug, Rhodnius prolixus. This bug takes enormous blood meals from humans, and during the subsequent excretion of excess salts and water (diuresis), the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, is transmitted to the human host where it causes Chagas disease. Orchard’s lab examines short-term events which occur following the natural stimulus of a blood meal, including the neurohormonal control of diuresis, and the cessation of diuresis. Blood gorging is also the stimulus for growth, development, and reproduction, and so his lab also studies these longer-term events, and the involvement of similar families of amines and neuropeptides. Orchard has published more than 200 research articles, and these have been cited over 9000 times. He has an H index of 52 and an i10 index of 204. He was awarded a D.Sc. by the University of Birmingham, conferred to candidates who are “judged to have distinguished themselves by substantial contributions to learning which have established their position as authorities in their field of study”.
Orchard has trained a large number of highly qualified personnel, 18 of them continuing on into faculty positions. He was awarded a Distinguished Professorship by the University of Toronto, and the 2013 Research Excellence Award at UTM. He also received the Vivek Goel Faculty Citizenship Award, UTAA Excellence Awards, 2014; and in 2022 he received the Paul Fox Award from the UTM Alumni Association in recognition of dedicated service to the university and community.
Orchard lab web page: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/orchard-lab/