抖阴APP导航

Three University of Calgary graduate students have won the (CIHR) Strategic Master鈥檚 Award, a brand-new recognition for 2024. 

The award is given to those in recognized master鈥檚 programs whose research involves pandemic preparedness and health emergencies, genetics, gender or Indigenous Peoples' health.

The funds awarded, up to $17,500 per graduate student, will provide financial support that allows them to fully focus on their research. The 抖阴APP导航 students were among 15 recognized, and all three are hopeful the award will make it possible for them to start something truly special in their health research. 

Janine Nel, Kinesiology master鈥檚 student

Janine Nel, BSc鈥�21, is working on her Master of Science in Kinesiology. Her research studies the impact of physical activity on brain health and how exercise could affect one鈥檚 chances of developing dementia. 

Nel works under the supervision of Dr. Cindy Barha, PhD, in the Barha Lab and is investigating how exercise guidelines can be tailored to individuals. She says this research will be particularly important for women and racial and ethnic minority groups, as traditionally research like this has revolved mostly around Caucasian men.

鈥淥ur research benefits those most vulnerable to cognitive decline, including women and individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, who face an elevated risk for developing dementia,鈥� Nel says. 鈥淏y developing personalized exercise guidelines, our goal is to provide these individuals with effective strategies to maintain their cognitive health as they age. 

鈥淯ltimately, this research aims to improve their quality of life and provide meaningful, long-lasting benefits to both individuals and their families.鈥�  

Nel says she hopes to make a big impact with the award and disseminate her findings nationally through published papers for the research community. 鈥淭his award 鈥� recognizes the dedication and care I鈥檝e invested in my academic career and local community and highlights the importance of the research we鈥檙e conducting,鈥� she says. 鈥淏eyond that, it鈥檚 about the opportunity to make a real difference in people鈥檚 lives. 

鈥淭his support will enable me to explore how we can promote cognitive health in more-accessible ways and develop strategies to disseminate our findings so they can reach and benefit those who need them most. I鈥檓 committed to using this opportunity to advance research that can lead to meaningful, positive change.鈥�

Shayla Claringbold, Community Health Sciences master鈥檚 student

Shayla Claringbold is an Igulungmiuk and Cree-M茅tis master鈥檚 student in the , specializing in population public health. Her research studies stigma as a social determinant of sexual and reproductive health in Canadian Inuit communities. 

鈥淚nuit communities are uniquely northern, they are remote, they鈥檙e isolated and so social forces within these communities might exert a greater impact on individuals when compared to a city environment,鈥� says Claringbold.

She will be interviewing public-health workers across Inuit Nunangat (the Inuit homeland across northern Canada) to figure out where stigma is coming from, how it is experienced and how systems can adapt to reduce stigma. 

鈥淚n smaller communities, it鈥檚 a one-stop shop for all the services, so whether it鈥檚 abortion services or gender-affirming care or getting tested for sexually transmitted blood-borne infections, a lot of the times it鈥檚 the same team that will be helping you,鈥� says Claringbold. 鈥淚f people can avoid shame by not going into the clinic at all then maybe they are not accessing those services.鈥�

The award will allow her to commit herself fully to her research. 鈥淔or me, it was validating because it makes me feel like what I鈥檓 studying is not only worth my own time, but also it means something to the broader research community,鈥� says Claringbold. 鈥淪o, it feels like the intention I put behind the subject and my approach and my choice was recognized.鈥� 

Aliza Jaffer, Medical Sciences master鈥檚 student

Aliza Jaffer, BHSc鈥�23, is a master鈥檚 student in the Medical Sciences program, specializing in medical imaging, and was also the second-place and people鈥檚 choice winner of the 2024  Competition. 

She is part of the  at the Alberta Children鈥檚 Hospital, conducting research under the supervision of Dr. Catherine Lebel, PhD, and working closely with Dr. Kathryn Manning, PhD. Her research studies brain function in infants whose mothers experienced anxiety and/or depression during pregnancy. Jaffer analyzes child-brain MRI scans to see how changes in the brain can translate to behaviours across the first three years of life and hopes her research can make a difference for families and possibly even contribute to health-care policy.

鈥淚 believe the greatest impact of my research will be on children and their families since my project aims to identify factors that may reduce potential consequences of maternal mental health challenges on child-health outcomes,鈥� says Jaffer. 鈥淚 think these findings are also valuable for policymakers, health-care professionals and researchers, as they can guide the development of effective intervention strategies to address concerns regarding early childhood development.鈥�

Jaffer says she is excited by the opportunities the award could open up for her.

鈥淚t felt incredibly gratifying to be recognized for the dedication I have shown to my research at the University of Calgary over the past few years. I am deeply grateful for the acknowledgement and the opportunity it provides to advance my work,鈥� she says.

Awards and scholarships are pivotal to 抖阴APP导航 graduate students鈥� academic journeys,鈥� says Dr. Tara Beattie, PhD, dean and vice-provost (Graduate Studies). 鈥淗aving awards, such as this one, available to support these scholars in concentrating on their research is invaluable.

鈥淭his announcement is a well-deserved recognition of the progressive work of these amazing students in their efforts to respond to societal challenges and provide dynamic solutions to further impact our community in years to come.鈥�

For more information on the award, visit the .