June 2026 Transdisciplinary Connector Grants Awarded

Eighteen UCalgary Transdisciplinary Connector Grants were awarded in the June 2026 intake, with researchers from the Faculty of Arts leading two of the funded project teams and several more contributing to project teams led by other faculties. 

The Transdisciplinary Connector Grants program is designed to promote initiatives that enable UCalgary teams to explore societal questions, challenges and opportunities that demand a transdisciplinary approach.  

Faculty of Arts-led projects 

Two of the project holders are researchers from the Faculty of Arts, bringing together partners from across campus and beyond to address complex challenges through innovative, transdisciplinary approaches. 

• A Transdisciplinary Framework for Community-Led Climate Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment in the Western Arctic 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Samantha Thrift, PhD, department head, Department of Communication, Media and Film 

  • Faculty of Arts contributors: Dr. Ulises Charles-Rodriguez, PhD, Department of Department of Geography, Dr. Katherine Lawless, PhD, Department of Communication, Media and Film 

• Co-Creating Relational Pathways Toward Indigenous Food Sovereignties in Treaty 7 Territory 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Jennifer Leason, PhD, professor, Department of Political Science 

  • Faculty of Arts contributors: Dr. Chelsea Rozanski, PhD, Department of Political Science 

Arts researchers on other teams 

In addition to leading research projects, scholars from the Faculty of Arts hold supporting roles on seven other research teams, contributing their expertise and highlighting how the faculty plays an integral role in strengthening transdisciplinary research networks across UCalgary’s campus. 

• Electricity Policy Nexus bootcamp for researchers 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Sara Hastings-Simon, PhD, associate professor, Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment 
  • Faculty of Arts contributors: Dr. Erica Myers, PhD, Department of Economics, Dr. Lisa Young, PhD, Department of Political Science, Dr. Blake Shaffer, PhD, Department of Economics 

• Building Community and Connection Through Locally Developed Language Resources 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Jennifer Markides, PhD, associate professor, Werklund School of Education 
  • Faculty of Arts contributor: Dr. Saulesh Yessenova, PhD, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology 

• A Transdisciplinary Podcast on Health Equity 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Pamela Chu, PhD, associate professor, Cumming School of Medicine 
  • Faculty of Arts contributors: Dr. Adam Murry, PhD, Department of Psychology, Dr. Ariel Ducey, PhD, Department of Sociology 

• Vibrant Cities Hub: Consolidating a Transdisciplinary Platform for Inclusive, Sustainable, and Resilient Urban Futures 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Seiran Heshami, PhD, assistant professor, Schulich School of Engineering 
  • Faculty of Arts contributor: Dr. Byron Miller, PhD, Department of Geography 

• A Virtual Human Twin Program for Hereditary Cancer Surveillance 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Javier Alfaro, PhD, assistant professor, Cumming School of Medicine 
  • Faculty of Arts contributor: Dr. Safaneh Mohaghegh Neyshabouri, PhD, Department of Philosophy 

• Bridging Migration, Displacement, Climate, Conflict, and Health: A Transdisciplinary Symposium to Launch the Lancet Migration North American Regional Hub at the University of Calgary 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Gabriel Fabreau, PhD, associate professor, Cumming School of Medicine 
  • Faculty of Arts contributors: Dr. Malinda Smith, PhD, Department of Political Science, Dr. Pallavi Banerjee, PhD, Department of Sociology 

• A Call to Action: Mobilizing Transdisciplinary Collaboration to Advance a Learning Health System for Older Adults with Cancer and their Families 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Fay Strohschein, PhD, postdoctoral associate, Faculty of Nursing 
  • Faculty of Arts contributors: Dr. Jenny Godley, PhD, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, Dr. Hsin Hsiu, PhD, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, Dr. Stefania Bertazzon, PhD, Department of Geography 

Through these Connector Grants, Faculty of Arts scholars are helping explore societal questions, challenges and opportunities that demand a transdisciplinary approach.  

Projects funded in the June 2026 intake are already underway. Learn more about upcoming application deadlines and the Transdisciplinary Connector Grants program.