At the University of Victoria, we take immense pride in our exceptional researchers whose dedication shapes academia and societal progress. Last fall, the academic community celebrated ten researchers, with seven receiving the prestigious 2023 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and three earning Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships. As we enter the new year, anticipation grows for the impactful research journeys of these seven Vanier Scholars and three Banting Fellows in the coming three years.
Their pursuits encompass reshaping colonial narratives through a trans anti-colonial lens, cultural legal guardianship nurturing the law of life, and employing data-driven science for rockfish conservation. They address global concerns like Zanzibar's informal waste management and study harm reduction-based approaches to alcohol, as well as regional issues such as cell development and genetic heart variants affecting the Gitxsan First Nation.
Additionally, three postdoctoral graduates were honoured with the 2023 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, focusing on sustainable global food chains, bridging service gaps for marginalized youth and advocating for Indigenous sovereignty in state relations.
These recognitions are part of a larger announcement made by Canada's federal granting agencies Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) which named 166 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipients and 70 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship awardees. The federal program is designed to build world-class research capacity by recruiting top-tier postdoctoral researchers at an internationally competitive level of funding.
The dedication of these scholars embodies academic excellence and societal contribution. As we celebrate their achievements, we eagerly anticipate the transformative influence their research will have in our university community and beyond.
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipients
Hailey Davies, Biology
Davies focuses on fish welfare, noise pollution's impact on marine life, and rockfish conservation through bioacoustics and education. Read about Davies' tenure as a Vanier Scholar and her efforts in conserving Pacific rockfish.
Shannon Ogden, Mathematical Sciences
Ogden researches extremal graph theory, exploring infinite graph behavior and identifying patterns within mathematical structures. Discover more about Ogden's research using graph theory, creativity and advocacy in education.
Sybil Goulet-Stock, Psychology
Goulet-Stock examines alcohol harm reduction strategies, studying alcohol guidelines and health warning labels, and exploring the potential of cannabis substitution. Learn how Goulet-Stock's lifelong interest shapes her career.
Lusungu Kayani-Stearns, Geography
Kayani-Stearns investigates Zanzibar's waste management challenges to inform circular policies in urban areas. Explore Kayani-Stearns' passion for cities and urban sustainability.
Jamey Jesperson, History
Jesperson's research focuses on trans Indigenous history and re-authoring colonial histories through a trans anti-colonial lens. Learn about Jesperson's research to re-story colonial histories with a trans anti-colonial lens.
Kim Senklip Harvey, Indigenous Law and Governance
Senklip Harvey sees her role as a director, actor, TV writer and researcher as a means to empower Indigenous communities through 'Lawful Cultural Guardianship' with storytelling to nourish the law of life. Read about how Senklip Harvey weaves legal storytelling with culture and law.
Nicole York, Division of Medical Sciences, Cell Biology
York researches the ankyrin-B protein's role in cardiomyocyte (or heart muscle cell) development and its impact on heart cell structure and function within the Gitxsan community. Discover how York leads with a focus on the heart.
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients
Rachel Friedman, Geography and Political Science
Friedman's research focuses on the social and environmental impacts of Canadian food imports to inform corporate accountability policies. Explore Friedman's research on sustainable food chains for global well-being.
Morgan Mowatt, Indigenous Governance
Mowatt aims to empower Indigenous knowledge in governance, specifically addressing Canada's jurisdictional impasse, and how relations between Indigenous nations and the Canadian state continue to be framed in ways that undermine Indigenous sovereignty. Learn how Mowatt advocates for Indigenous sovereignty in state relations.
Dr. Andrea Mellor, Social Dimensions of Health
Mellor's research centers on creating safer care spaces for marginalized populations to enhance access to substance use and mental health services for youth. Read about how Mellor is closing the service gap for youth.
