January 9, 2004

Canada's Billion-Dollar Controversy

A major attempt to attract research stars has netted few women, leading to charges of bias

By KAREN BIRCHARD

When Laura Nilson, working as a postdoctoral student at Princeton University three years ago, accepted a position to set up her own laboratory in the biology department at McGill University, she discovered that the Montreal institution had also nominated her for a Canada Research Chair -- part of a billion-dollar federal program to increase world-class research in Canadian universities.

"I was thrilled, especially when I got it," says Ms. Nilson, who was awarded a chair in