Â鶹ÊÓƵ

Matthew Davis

Mechanical Engineering

Climate change remains a major global concern. There is scientific consensus that recent climate change is primarily driven by human use of high-carbon energy, with natural factors contributing minimally. A significant shift toward low-carbon energy will help minimize the impacts of climate change. However, over 70% of Canada's energy system is currently based on fossil fuels, and shifting to low-carbon energy may raise living costs, increase water, land and material use, disrupt financial institutions and risk energy security and reliability.

How can we transition to low-carbon energy while avoiding negative impacts? Motivated by this question, Matthew Davis is pursuing his PhD in Engineering Management, where his research lies at the intersection of energy systems engineering, computer science and operations research (the application of mathematics to aid decision-making). To address this challenge, Matthew is engineering the transition by developing high-fidelity energy system models that integrate technical, environmental and economic analysis to evaluate long-term transition pathways. These models simulate alternative futures and generate science-based evidence to guide decision-making in the public and private sectors, serving as a “virtual laboratory” to test outcomes before real-world implementation. By integrating engineering fundamentals with artificial intelligence, his research simulates thousands of highly detailed transition pathways for the Canadian energy system — including electrification, renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear energy — with the goal of developing a low-carbon transition that minimizes negative impacts on Canadian living standards, the economy and the environment.

Studying under Dr. Amit Kumar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Matthew is leading a research team in the development of next-generation energy models, building on his PhD. research. Over the course of his doctoral studies, he has co-authored 19 published peer-reviewed journal papers, 6 technical reports and 57 conference and stakeholder presentations and has mentored 20 researchers. He has also contributed to research and the development of modelling tools for government agencies, including the Government of Alberta, Government of Quebec, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and the British Consulate-General.

Ehsan Misaghi

Medical Genetics

Ehsan Misaghi is an MD/PhD Candidate at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ whose research focuses on improving diagnosis and treatment for those grappling with genetic eye disorders, with a particular emphasis on inherited retinal diseases. Working at the intersection of ophthalmology, molecular biology, genetics and artificial intelligence, he aims to connect scientific discovery with clinical practice, fostering a two-way exchange between research and patient care. His interdisciplinary background includes a dual undergraduate degree in biomedical and electrical engineering, a master’s in neuroscience, medical training and current research in ophthalmic genetics. His work has been recognized with multiple prestigious grants and awards.

Committed to both scientific inquiry and community impact, Ehsan has taken on leadership roles at national and international levels. He is the cofounder and codirector of the AI in Medical Systems Society (AIMSS), a national initiative advancing equitable access to health AI education and research. He is also an advocate for integrating patient voices into academic and scientific spaces and has co-organized several major conferences with this in mind. As an educator and mentor, he has been nominated by learners at multiple levels for teaching awards and is known for creating inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Ehsan is passionate about bridging discovery and care, working toward a future where both scientific rigour and human insight guide medical research. He hopes to help shape a healthcare landscape where innovation is inclusive, accessible and truly translational.

Dawn Wambold

Anthropology

Dawn Wambold is a PhD candidate with the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology in the Department of Anthropology and a citizen of the Métis Nation within Alberta. After spending over twenty years in the oil and gas industry, holding diverse roles as a gas plant operator, welding inspector, quality auditor and materials specialist, Dawn made a career transition in 2022 to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an archaeologist.

While working full time, Dawn completed her BA in Anthropology at Athabasca University, graduating with distinction in 2017. She went on to earn her MA from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ between 2017 and 2022, supported by SSHRC funding. Her MA research focused on the use of archaeology to tell the stories of Métis women involved in the winter bison hunts and explore their relationships with people, places and belongings. This work led her to further explore Métis relationality, with a particular focus on Métis connections to the landscapes and First Nations of southern Alberta during the 1800s. Both of these research projects contribute to Dr. Kisha Supernant’s Exploring Métis Identity Through Archaeology project.

Dawn approaches working with the belongings of Métis ancestors with great care and respect. The Métis concepts of wâhkôhtowin (relationality) and keeoukaywin (visiting) guide every aspect of her work, grounding her in her responsibilities to both her ancestors and her living community.

Mehri Baloochi

Business

Mehri is a PhD candidate in the Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management department at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Her research is driven by a deep fascination with the different ways that people navigate oppression. Particularly, she asks how oppression becomes normalized as a background condition of life for some people, while for others, it incites ongoing resistance and struggle.

She explores this theme in two contexts. First, in a study of the Iranian film industry, her work illustrates how oppressive practices become institutionalized through subtle mechanisms such as trust relationships. This work reveals how systems of power translate state-level control into everyday work practices, sometimes with practitioners unintentionally reinforcing their own constraints.

Second, she examines the Iranian women’s rights movement. This is a context in which visible resistance persists despite severe repression, defying theoretical expectations that anticipate withdrawal, silence or adaptation under such conditions. Rather than advancing through institutional openings or formal channels, this research shows that this movement endures through embodied acts of refusal, through bodies that disobey, that carry the memory of past defiance and that become living archives of resistance.

Through these studies, she seeks to expose how systems of oppression operate across organizational and societal levels, while revealing the enduring capacity of marginalized groups to assert agency and forge pathways toward transformation.

Carolyn Belanger

Native Studies

Carolyn Belanger is a registered nurse from amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta) located in Métis homelands and Treaty 6 territory. She began her career in a busy urban emergency department before focusing her practice on Indigenous health in both urban and remote communities. There, she witnessed the need for Indigenous health self-governance to translate the wisdom of Indigenous approaches to health and wellness into culturally relevant and contextually responsive healthcare services. In working toward Indigenous health equity, Carolyn gained a Master of Public Health from the University of British Columbia while continuing to stay connected to her community's evolving needs through frontline nursing, policy work and outreach volunteering. Inspired by those she serves, she is now pursuing a PhD in the Faculty of Native Studies at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ where she is encouraged to apply her own Métis worldview to her research which explores resurgent approaches to Indigenous health governance. In recognition of the vital and timely nature of Carolyn’s work, she is being supported by such prestigious awards as the 2025 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship and, through the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship, as well as the President's Doctoral Prize of Distinction. Carolyn looks forward to the ways in which the PhD process will further her capacity in advocating for Indigenous health equity through transformative self-governance.

Andrew Brotto

Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation

Andrew Brotto is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation under the supervision of Dr. Michael Stickland. He completed both his Bachelor of Kinesiology and Master of Science degrees at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, where his focus was on cardiorespiratory physiology and exercise science. Andrew’s doctoral research focuses on the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular and pulmonary interactions, with the goal of further understanding both fundamental pulmonary gas exchange and informing better clinical and therapeutic strategies for patients with chronic disease. His work examines mechanisms of both systemic and pulmonary vascular function and their respective relationships with exercise tolerance. Beyond his research, Andrew is committed to teaching and mentorship within the field of kinesiology and exercise physiology. He has supported undergraduate instruction and enjoys engaging with students to foster curiosity about human physiology and health sciences. His long-term goal is to contribute to both academic research and applied clinical practice, exploring ways to connect physiological research with practical applications in health and clinical care.

Thayanne Ciriaco

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Thayanne Ciriaco is a PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, specializing in Transportation Engineering. Her research addresses one of the most pressing challenges of our time, climate change, by advancing the design and integration of resilience hubs within transportation systems. These hubs, which provide community support before, during and after disasters, are central to Thayanne’s work on improving equitable access to emergency services and enhancing infrastructure resilience in Canada and internationally.

Working with the Resilient and Sustainable Mobility & Evacuation (RESUME) Group, Thayanne employs a multi-method, human-centred approach to study how diverse populations, especially underserved communities, access transportation during emergencies. Her work spans Canada, the U.S. and Australia, combining survey research, behavioural modelling and spatial analysis to inform evidence-based planning and policy. By connecting technical innovation with community needs, her research contributes to creating safer, more inclusive and climate-adaptive cities.

Originally from Brazil, she holds dual master’s degrees in Transportation Engineering from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the University of São Paulo, as well as a bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Alagoas. Her research excellence has been recognized through multiple awards, including the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Doctoral Entrance Scholarship and the Mary Louise Imrie Award. She has published in leading journals and delivered over 25 presentations in Canada and internationally.

Thayanne’s research not only advances academic understanding but also supports real-world resilience planning, helping decision-makers better prepare for future disasters and build stronger, more equitable communities. She exemplifies the Killam vision of combining intellectual distinction with a deep commitment to societal well-being.

Matthew Davis

Mechanical Engineering

Climate change remains a major global concern. There is scientific consensus that recent climate change is primarily driven by human use of high-carbon energy, with natural factors contributing minimally. A significant shift toward low-carbon energy will help minimize the impacts of climate change. However, over 70% of Canada's energy system is currently based on fossil fuels, and shifting to low-carbon energy may raise living costs, increase water, land and material use, disrupt financial institutions and risk energy security and reliability.

How can we transition to low-carbon energy while avoiding negative impacts? Motivated by this question, Matthew Davis is pursuing his PhD in Engineering Management, where his research lies at the intersection of energy systems engineering, computer science and operations research (the application of mathematics to aid decision-making). To address this challenge, Matthew is engineering the transition by developing high-fidelity energy system models that integrate technical, environmental and economic analysis to evaluate long-term transition pathways. These models simulate alternative futures and generate science-based evidence to guide decision-making in the public and private sectors, serving as a “virtual laboratory” to test outcomes before real-world implementation. By integrating engineering fundamentals with artificial intelligence, his research simulates thousands of highly detailed transition pathways for the Canadian energy system — including electrification, renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear energy — with the goal of developing a low-carbon transition that minimizes negative impacts on Canadian living standards, the economy and the environment.

Studying under Dr. Amit Kumar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Matthew is leading a research team in the development of next-generation energy models, building on his PhD. research. Over the course of his doctoral studies, he has co-authored 19 published peer-reviewed journal papers, 6 technical reports and 57 conference and stakeholder presentations and has mentored 20 researchers. He has also contributed to research and the development of modelling tools for government agencies, including the Government of Alberta, Government of Quebec, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and the British Consulate-General.

Ping Lam Ip

Sociology

Ping Lam Ip is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology. He received his MPhil and BSSc in sociology from Hong Kong Baptist University. His research interests include children, youth and family, crime and delinquency, social construction, social control and critical social theories. His doctoral dissertation will show how social scientists, governments, the mass media and the social service sector construct the narrative of “Internet addiction” and justify the discipline and punishment of young people's Internet use. Ip has published six peer-reviewed research articles in reputable journals, including Journal of Family Studies, Sexuality & Culture, Critical Criminology, The British Journal of Social Work and Asian Education and Development Studies. Five of these articles were published during his PhD studies at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, and he is the first author of three of them. Ip also co-authored six pieces of commentaries on recent social and political issues in Alberta and Canada, which were featured in The Conversation Canada and The Gateway. Some of these op-eds were reprinted by major news outlets, such as The Canadian Press and The Tyee. Moreover, he co-wrote six community research reports on building an affordable, accessible, flexible, high-quality and inclusive child care system in Canada and the social inequalities facing marginalized migrant families.

Jimmy Kang

Surgery

Dr. Jimmy Kang is a fifth year cardiac surgery resident at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. He is currently in the third year of his PhD in Experimental Surgery, where his research focuses on the development of tissue-engineered heart valves and strategies to mitigate the xenogenic immune response. His work has been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the Thoracic Surgery Foundation Resident Research Fellowship Award and the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship.

Heart valve disease affects millions and is one of the most common reasons for requiring heart surgery. Current valve replacements have major drawbacks. Animal valves used in replacements deteriorate over time, requiring repeat cardiac surgeries. Jimmy’s research aims to create a durable stem cell-based valve that lasts a patient’s lifetime. Early results show removing animal cells and replacing them with human stem cells reduces immune rejection from animal tissue and extends durability while having no adverse effects on the valve function. This innovation could eliminate the need for repeat heart surgeries, improving patient outcomes worldwide.

Dawson Konowalchuk

Chemistry

Dawson Konowalchuk is a PhD candidate in Organic Chemistry at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, working under the supervision of Professor Dennis G. Hall. Originally from Lorette, a small town on the outskirts of Winnipeg, Dawson earned his Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Chemistry at the University of Manitoba and completed his undergraduate thesis in the lab of Professor Rebecca L. Davis. During his doctoral studies, he also gained industry experience through an internship at Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Burnaby, British Columbia, working under the mentorship of Dr. Helen A. Clement and Dr. Kristen N. Burford. His current research focuses on developing new catalytic reactions for the selective construction of complex, three-dimensional molecules. In particular, he investigates how dihaloalkenes and strained carbocycles can be transformed into valuable chiral building blocks through cross-coupling chemistry. By combining light-driven processes with metal catalysis, Dawson aims to expand the toolbox of modern organic synthesis, providing new strategies for the efficient preparation of molecules with pharmaceutical relevance.

Si Ning Liu

Paediatrics

Si Ning Liu is a PhD student in the Department of Pediatrics at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ whose research aims to further understand the pathophysiology of neonatal sepsis. Under the supervision of Dr. Stephane Bourque and Dr. Hélène Lemieux, Si Ning’s thesis aims to elucidate how neonates balance the metabolic demands driven by growth and development in early life versus those required to mount an effective immune response against bacterial pathogens. Even with new and improved guidelines for the care and management of critically ill infants, mortality due to sepsis remains high and long-term sequelae often persist in those who recover. Her projects could identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of neonatal sepsis and mitigate its short- and long-term health consequences. Outside of her studies, Si Ning is an active bird watcher and enjoys wildlife photography.

Ehsan Misaghi

Medical Genetics

Ehsan Misaghi is an MD/PhD Candidate at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ whose research focuses on improving diagnosis and treatment for those grappling with genetic eye disorders, with a particular emphasis on inherited retinal diseases. Working at the intersection of ophthalmology, molecular biology, genetics and artificial intelligence, he aims to connect scientific discovery with clinical practice, fostering a two-way exchange between research and patient care. His interdisciplinary background includes a dual undergraduate degree in biomedical and electrical engineering, a master’s in neuroscience, medical training and current research in ophthalmic genetics. His work has been recognized with multiple prestigious grants and awards.

Committed to both scientific inquiry and community impact, Ehsan has taken on leadership roles at national and international levels. He is the cofounder and codirector of the AI in Medical Systems Society (AIMSS), a national initiative advancing equitable access to health AI education and research. He is also an advocate for integrating patient voices into academic and scientific spaces and has co-organized several major conferences with this in mind. As an educator and mentor, he has been nominated by learners at multiple levels for teaching awards and is known for creating inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Ehsan is passionate about bridging discovery and care, working toward a future where both scientific rigour and human insight guide medical research. He hopes to help shape a healthcare landscape where innovation is inclusive, accessible and truly translational.

Alexander Murray

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Alexander Murray received a BSc (with distinction) in Electrical Engineering from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2022, where he is currently pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering. His thesis research focuses on the physical limits of small antenna performance — namely, the effect of decreasing antenna size on the antenna’s bandwidth, as well as on the directivity of the antenna’s radiation. Alex has demonstrated exact equality between the two most longstanding formalisms for quantifying this antenna size-bandwidth trade-off, and from these formalisms has designed antennas meeting these physical limits. His research now aims to understand the limitations of these longstanding formalisms, and to test their prescriptions against antennas intentionally designed to circumvent the assumptions of said theories.

Christopher Picard

Nursing

Christopher T. Picard is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Trauma and Forensic Services with Island Health, past President of the National Emergency Nurses Association (NENA) and Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing (CJEN). His doctoral research in Nursing is focused on examining the use of routinely collected emergency department triage narratives as a novel source of epidemiological data. He is exploring how these rich, unstructured texts can inform the detection of emerging public health issues, enhance injury and disease surveillance and support real-time clinical and operational decision-making.

Christopher has over two decades of combined civilian and military healthcare experience; his clinical expertise spans emergency, trauma and critical care, with specialized interests in resuscitation, hemorrhage control, vascular access and the application of artificial intelligence and big data analytics in healthcare. Christopher is an active collaborator with organizations including the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC), the Canadian Emergency Department Research Network (CEDRN) and the Interdisciplinary Trauma Network of Canada (ITNC).

His contributions have been recognized nationally through awards for innovation, education and research, and he has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, textbook chapters and national practice guidelines and is committed to using his clinical practice, scholarship and leadership to advance emergency nursing and trauma practice through evidence-informed innovation and knowledge translation.

Jad-Julian Rachid

Paediatrics

Jad-Julian Rachid is a PhD student in the Department of Pediatrics working under the supervision of Dr. Stephane Bourque. His research focuses on how iron deficiency influences cardiovascular health during hypertensive pregnancies. Specifically, he aims to understand how these two common conditions combine to affect maternal heart function during pregnancy and how this may influence long-term health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease risk in the mother. A central focus of his research is on both the hemodynamic changes caused by iron deficiency and the biochemical role of iron within the mitochondria, investigating how mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to cardiovascular decline in this setting. Ultimately, his research aims to inform future therapies that target maternal heart health and improve outcomes for both the mother and child. Outside of research, Jad-Julian enjoys working on cars, playing golf in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.

Mohamed Saleh

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Mohamed Saleh is an engineer-in-training advancing innovative highway pavement systems. He holds a BEng from the University of Manchester, an MSc from Imperial College London and is currently a PhD candidate at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, focusing on developing resilient high-performance asphalt concrete tailored for cold regions. His data-driven research approach combines sustainability and durability by incorporating recycled materials, such as waste plastic fibres and asphaltenes from Alberta oil sands, into highway pavement to improve resistance to cracking and rutting while reducing environmental impact. The result is roads that can be constructed more quickly, last longer and need fewer costly repairs. His findings have been published in leading journals such as the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, Journal of Construction and Building Materials and ASTM International’s Journal of Testing and Evaluation.

Mohamed is also an award-winning researcher. Throughout his academic career, Mohamed has been recognized with over 30 awards and scholarships, including APEGA’s Ivan Finlay Leadership Award and the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship. His academic and professional trajectory is distinguished by global experience and practical impact. He worked as a design engineer for Ramboll UK on iconic projects, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup Al Rayyan Stadium in Qatar, where he applied advanced engineering principles to complex infrastructure challenges. Mohamed also contributes extensively to teaching and mentoring at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, inspiring the next generation of engineers while advancing research in sustainable materials and climate-adapted pavement.

Jaron Tan

Psychology

How do socio-emotional processes develop, and how do individual differences in self-regulatory capacities influence the development of these processes in children and adolescents? As a PhD student in Developmental Science at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Jaron aims to address these questions using a multi-method approach incorporating self-report, behavioral, eye-tracking and neural measures (e.g., electroencephalography). Born and raised in Malaysia, Jaron moved to the United States in 2020 to complete his Bachelor of Psychology degree at North Dakota State University. He went on to pursue his master’s degree at the same university, examining the relationship between error responsivity and emotion regulation in predicting anxiety in youths.

Now pursuing his doctorate in Canada, he aims to extend his work by exploring how social media use is linked to socio-emotional processes and internalizing symptoms in youths. With more and more adolescents spending time on social media platforms, it is important to understand how these digital environments may influence their socio-emotional development. While social media can offer benefits such as social support, excessive use has been linked to mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Jaron’s research seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms by which social media use shapes socio-emotional processes and contributes to the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms in early adolescence. His work has been recognized with multiple awards and scholarships, including the Graduate Students’ Association Rising Star Award and the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship.

Dawn Wambold

Anthropology

Dawn Wambold is a PhD candidate with the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology in the Department of Anthropology and a citizen of the Métis Nation within Alberta. After spending over twenty years in the oil and gas industry, holding diverse roles as a gas plant operator, welding inspector, quality auditor and materials specialist, Dawn made a career transition in 2022 to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an archaeologist.

While working full time, Dawn completed her BA in Anthropology at Athabasca University, graduating with distinction in 2017. She went on to earn her MA from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ between 2017 and 2022, supported by SSHRC funding. Her MA research focused on the use of archaeology to tell the stories of Métis women involved in the winter bison hunts and explore their relationships with people, places and belongings. This work led her to further explore Métis relationality, with a particular focus on Métis connections to the landscapes and First Nations of southern Alberta during the 1800s. Both of these research projects contribute to Dr. Kisha Supernant’s Exploring Métis Identity Through Archaeology project.

Dawn approaches working with the belongings of Métis ancestors with great care and respect. The Métis concepts of wâhkôhtowin (relationality) and keeoukaywin (visiting) guide every aspect of her work, grounding her in her responsibilities to both her ancestors and her living community.

Simone Willmann

Music

Simone Willmann is currently pursuing her PhD in Musicology specializing in music practices and the dynamics of elitism in musical culture. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice and Violin performance from Ambrose University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Passionate about student care and student-led initiative, Simone currently serves on several university councils as a Graduate Student Representative and prioritizes building care-centered communities in every area of her life. Alongside her academic work, she is a dedicated conductor, performer and leader who thrives on fostering partnerships and inspiring others through music and community engagement. She continues to perform and collaborate across Western Canada and serves as Music Director for the Badlands Passion Play, where she helped to present their 30th Anniversary shows this past summer.

Simone’s research explores how musicology, as practiced and taught within our universities, continues to privilege traditions, musical heritage and notions of excellence, often without accounting for their broader societal costs. Her work delves deeply into the impacts of social structures and class hierarchies within music performance spaces and institutions, reevaluating the enduring effects of historical baggage that still impact today’s practices. She has presented her research internationally and recently earned the MusCan George Proctor Graduate Paper Prize (2025) for her paper titled “Positioning Honesty, Positioning Scholars: Praxis of Acknowledging to Create Care-Centered Academic Practices.” Simone gratefully acknowledges support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), as well as the many mentors, collaborators and colleagues who have encouraged and challenged her throughout her journey.

Harry Wilton-Clark

Medical Genetics

Harry Wilton-Clark is an MD/PhD student in the department of Medical Genetics. He holds a BHSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Calgary, where his work focused on synthetic biology and the development of biosensors using genetically modified bacteria. Since joining the Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2020, his work has transitioned into understanding and treating rare neuromuscular disorders in children. His PhD is centered on the development of splice-modulating precision therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, focusing on mutations that currently have no effective treatments available for patients. In partnership with several patient families, his work is positioned to launch the first clinical trials for precision therapies applicable to patients with mutations in the N-terminal region of the DMD gene. Beyond the lab, Harry is passionate about outreach and knowledge translation. He is an outreach coordinator for the More Minds Initiative, which seeks to connect high school students with opportunities for scientific research, and he has been a conference organizer for both Medical Genetics Research Day and the Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Rare Disease Day.

Katarina Bogosavljević

School of Public Health

Dr. Katarina Bogosavljević is a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Public Health at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the Inner City Health and Wellness Program (ICWHP) based out of the Royal Alexandra Hospital. She obtained her PhD and MA in Criminology from the University of Ottawa and a BA Honours in Criminology with a minor in Dialogue and Communications from Simon Fraser University. Her dissertation explored the affective lives of people living with HIV under the criminalization of HIV nondisclosure and through the epidemic eras, with a focus on how people feel about not being told their partner’s serostatus before sex. Her research interests include qualitative and collaborative methods, critical policy studies, affect theory, the intersection of health, law and policy, narrative theory and critical victimology.

Ellen Forget

English and Film Studies

Ellen Forget completed their doctorate at the University of Toronto in the Faculty of Information and the Book History and Print Culture specialization. Their mixed-methods dissertation analyzes accessibility in contemporary independent publishing in Canada, how disabled readers access books and how access can be improved. Ellen is a graduate of the Master of Publishing and Editing Certificate programs from Simon Fraser University. Ellen is also certified in transcription for unified English braille through the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

As a Killam Postdoctoral Fellow at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Ellen is working on a project titled “A History of Tactile Writing and Reading” that explores the history of braille, raised type, moon and other tactile codes. Their work focuses on the intersection of disability studies and book history in addition to contributions from publishing studies, bibliography and digital humanities. Ellen’s primary research interests are braille, reading, accessibility, print disabilities, indie publishing, digital publishing/reading and digital research tools.

Azadeh Kordzadeh

Mechanical Engineering

Azadeh received her PhD in Chemical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in 2025. Since 2016, she has been applying molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanical calculations to study drug delivery carriers. Her research has focused on functionalized carbon nanotubes as polymer carriers for targeted drug delivery to cancer cells. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she investigated the effects of herbal inhibitors, such as saffron, on the virus by developing a bilayer membrane model of the viral envelope. More recently, she has been exploring the impact of herbal medicines on protein aggregation diseases, including Alzheimer's and diabetes. Azadeh believes that molecular dynamics simulation is a powerful tool that can overcome the limitations of experimental methods by enabling real-time, atomic-scale predictions of molecular behavior.

Wajiha Mehdi

Political Sciences

Wajiha Mehdi’s research centres on Muslims in South Asia, exploring how communities navigate contested urban spaces. She has expertise in community-based research with a special interest in anti-colonial and feminist participatory research models.

Fallon Mitchell

Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation

Fallon Mitchell is a postdoctoral fellow trainee working under the mentorship of Dr. Margie Davenport. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Windsor where her work focused on exploring and promoting exercise among older adults and people with a disability. As an Honorary Killam and CIHR Postdoctoral Fellow in the Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, her research will continue to advance knowledge of physical activity among under-represented populations. Currently, there is limited evidence to support and prescribe exercise for pregnant persons with a disability. This reflects a significant health challenge as pregnant persons with a disability are at an increased risk for adverse health outcomes, such as gestational hypertension and depression. By adopting a mixed methods approach, Dr. Mitchell will investigate physical activity behaviours and health outcomes among pregnant persons with a disability compared to persons without a disability. Examining the perspectives of diverse pregnant persons towards prenatal physical activity will contribute evidence to guide exercise among this population and develop effective interventions. Overall, Dr. Mitchell’s postdoctoral work will aim to reduce health inequities for pregnant persons with a disability.

Heather Brown

Education

Dr. Brown’s research program is grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approach that centers Autistic voices and identities. Her work bridges research, practice and lived experience to build more inclusive and affirming educational systems where neurodivergent individuals can thrive.

Broadly, her research examines how Autistic individuals experience learning, inclusion and belonging, particularly in K-12 and post-secondary settings. She employs participatory and mixed methods to explore both barriers and pathways to flourishing, working in close collaboration with Autistic students, educators, clinicians and community partners. Her research program focuses on three main areas:

Autistic Academic Achievement and Writing. Dr. Brown began her career studying the cognitive and communicative profiles of Autistic students, with a particular emphasis on written expression. She continues to lead SSHRC-funded research that integrates neurodiversity theory, writing studies, and lived experience to reimagine how Autistic writers are understood and supported.

Campus Belonging. Through initiatives such as the Living Library and Exploring Autism-Friendly Campus Spaces, she investigates how sensory environments, institutional practices, and social dynamics influence the post-secondary experiences of Autistic students. Her work aims to co-create campus spaces that foster genuine belonging while alleviating the burden of masking and self-advocacy.

Neuro-affirming Educational Practices. She designs and evaluates professional learning initiatives for educators that promote authentic autism acceptance and reduce exclusionary practices. These projects often involve co-designed workshops, peer-led training programs and school-wide supports developed in partnership with Autistic experts and grounded in evidence.

Dr. Brown’s scholarship has been published in leading journals, including Autism, Frontiers in Education, Human Development and The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. Her research program has attracted more than $2.3 million in external funding. She leads a dynamic team of graduate students and collaborators across Canada and internationally, and she takes particular pride in mentoring emerging scholars, especially those with lived experience of neurodivergence.

Through her work, Dr. Brown seeks to identify and amplify the factors that best support the success and well-being of Autistic individuals in education, at work and in daily life.

Frederick Colbourne

Psychology

Fred Colbourne is a professor in the Department of Psychology (Faculty of Science) at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. He is a member of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute. His research focuses on experimental treatments aimed at reducing injury and promoting behavioural recovery in models of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, work that has been primarily funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He has published over 125 peer-reviewed articles and is best known for his work on therapeutic hypothermia. He is the previous recipient of salary awards from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions and the Canada Research Chairs program. He was also previously awarded a Great Supervisor award from the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and a Graduate Mentorship Award from the Faculty of Science. He has helped train over 200 students in various career stages. He is especially pleased to have seen many of them go on into their desired careers in research, medicine and other areas.

Mahua Ghosh

Medicine & Dentistry/Medicine

Mahua Ghosh, MBBS, PhD, FRCPC, is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine and the program director for the Adult Endocrinology Residency Training Program at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Dr. Ghosh works on applied integration of social accountability concepts to bring about system level changes that advance endocrine training and promote knowledge mobilization. She utilizes medical education as the tool to improve access to care and to make an impact in the real world by empowering primary care providers and patients.

Following successful local implementation at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, she played a pivotal role nationally to introduce triage, virtual care and telephone consultation skills as core competencies for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accredited programs to prepare future endocrinologists to deliver high quality remote care to regions of Canada, where specialty service is not readily available.

One of the first endocrinologists in Alberta to design and deliver structured education for primary care providers in gender affirming care, Dr. Ghosh expanded her advocacy by developing objectives of training to facilitate care for marginalized populations. While she leads clinical trials at the Alberta Diabetes Institute to evaluate medical interventions, she is dedicated to improving the lives of people with polycystic ovarian syndrome through her collaborative research community.

Committed to service, she partners with local, national and international experts to advance evidence-based practices and improve health outcomes of people living with chronic conditions.

Farook Hamzeh

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dr. Hamzeh is a Professor of Construction Management at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. As a lean construction expert, his theoretical and applied research in Canada, the US and the MENA region are focused on improving the delivery of projects using technology, process improvement and human centered design and construction. His research covers a wide range of areas including Digital Twinning in Construction, Lean Construction 4.0, Production Planning and Control, Human Centered Digital Systems, Wearable Sensors, Last Planner System, Automation in Construction, Integrated Project Delivery, Design Management, Building Information Modeling, [Process modeling, optimization, and Simulation] and Construction Logistics. Dr. Hamzeh is an active member of the scientific community and has published more than 220 publications on Construction Management topics and is the co-author of the recently published book “Lean Construction 4.0: Driving a Digital Revolution of Production Management in the AEC Industry”.

Carla Peck

Elementary Education

Dr. Carla Peck is a professor of social studies education in the Faculty of Education and adjunct professor in the Department of History, Classics & Religion at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. She is the Director of Thinking Historically for Canada’s Future, a national SSHRC-funded Partnership Grant focused on K-12 history education in Canada (). Dr. Peck researches teachers’ and students’ understandings of democratic concepts, teachers’ and students’ historical understandings and is particularly interested in the relationship between students’ ethnic identities and their understandings of history. She has authored and co-authored numerous journal articles and book chapters and has co-edited several books including Teaching and Learning Difficult Histories in International Contexts: A Critical Sociocultural Approach, The Palgrave Handbook of Global Citizenship and Education, and Contemplating Historical Consciousness: Notes from the Field. Her latest book, with Dr. Alan Sears, is Rescuing Reason: How History Education Can Help Save Democracy (University of Toronto Press, forthcoming Spring 2026). Dr. Peck has provided professional development workshops for K-12 teachers in Alberta, across Canada and internationally and serves as a consultant on numerous boards and advisory groups for provincial, national and international history and civics organizations. She has been involved in various aspects of curriculum development in Alberta, Canada and internationally and is actively engaged in political advocacy for quality social studies and history education in Alberta. Dr. Peck received the Alberta Teachers’ Association Public Education Award (2022) and the Province of Alberta’s Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023) in recognition of this work.

Cheryl Poth

Education

Cheryl N. Poth is a global scholar in the interdisciplinary field of research methodology and professor in the area of educational psychology in the Faculty of Education. Her work brings a complexity lens to the innovative designs of mixed methods research that purposefully integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches to address “wicked” problems across health, education and community settings. She is the editor of the SAGE Handbook of Mixed Methods Designs and author of several research textbooks. Her scholarship involves SSHRC/CIHR-funded, community-engaged projects; competency-based training resources that build methodological expertise and equity-oriented editorial practices that broaden participation in publishing. Through mentorship and global collaborations, she equips scholars and students to generate rigorous, integrated evidence that informs meaningful change.