Recognizing postdoctoral excellence in the UCalgary Faculty of Arts

During National Postdoc Appreciation Week (Sept. 15-19, 2025), the Faculty of Arts is proud to spotlight three exceptional postdoctoral scholars whose research exemplifies excellence and real-world impact. Their work in history, psychology and political science advances knowledge internationally, secures competitive fellowships and addresses pressing societal challenges.

These scholars reflect the faculty’s strategic priority of research and creativity and the commitment to connection, community and culture. Through collaborative inquiry, global partnerships and community engaged scholarship, they show how Arts scholarship transforms lives and fosters inclusive and impactful academic work.

Dr. Anna Bettini, PhD (History)

Dr. Anna Bettini, Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of History, is the Canadian researcher on a three-and-a-half-year EU Horizon project led by Dr. Bravo-Moreno titled A Novel Approach to New Family-Forms, Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Transnationalism.

Working with colleagues in Spain, Denmark and Israel, she is conducting ethnographic research that brings forward the perspectives of parents, children, clinicians and NGOs. The project aims to understand how assisted reproductive technologies are reshaping ideas of family and belonging across borders. By highlighting lived experiences alongside medical and policy perspectives, the project sheds light on the social, cultural, and ethical sides of reproductive care today. Along with academic publications, the team will also produce a documentary film to share findings with a wider audience.

Bettini has also been awarded a SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2025-2027) as the principal investigator of her project Farming the Sun: A Comparative Study of Agrivoltaics in Tuscany and Alberta’s Rural Landscape. In collaboration with Dr. Francesco Zanotelli (University of Florence) and Dr. Kate Lawless (University of Calgary), the project examines how rural communities respond to agrivoltaics—a technology that combines solar panels with farming—and how farmers, governments, and energy companies make sense of the energy transition.

Learn more about Bettini's research

Dr. Marissa Nivison, PhD (Psychology)

Dr. Marissa Nivison, postdoctoral associate in the Department of Psychology, has been awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, one of Canada’s most prestigious awards for postdoctoral scholars. Funded by the Government of Canada, the fellowship provides $70,000 annually for two years to support research with strong potential for real-world impact.

Her work examines how early childhood caregiving shapes adult attachment and influences mental health, relationships and well-being. With her Banting Fellowship, Nivison will create the world’s first comprehensive data repository of Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) studies. By bringing together findings from across the field, the resource will help scholars and clinicians apply research in ways that support individual and community well-being.

Collaborating with UCalgary’s Dr. Sheri Madigan, professor of psychology and leading expert in clinical and developmental psychology, has been central to Nivison’s approach. For her, the fellowship is both recognition of the progress she has made and motivation to deepen understanding of how early experiences leave lasting legacies.

Learn more about Nivison's research

Dr. Noam Titelman, PhD (Political Science)

Dr. Noam Titelman joined the Department of Political Science in September 2025 as the inaugural Mark Grosjean Postdoctoral Fellow. His research focuses on voting behaviour and perceptions of democratic fairness, examining how citizens evaluate political processes and outcomes, and how those perceptions shape trust in democratic institutions.

Titelman’s work seeks to identify the social and political conditions that strengthen or weaken democratic stability. By analyzing patterns of participation and attitudes toward fairness, his research contributes to a clearer understanding of the challenges facing democracies worldwide. Alongside advancing academic debates, his work informs public dialogue on how to foster inclusive and resilient democratic systems.

He brings a strong international background to this fellowship, with prior appointments at Sciences Po in Paris, the London School of Economics and the Central European University. He is also recognized as a public intellectual in Chile, where he has played an active role in discussions on democratic reform and civic engagement.