Postdoctoral Research Archives - Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS)

Canadian non-profits face barriers to advancing equity, �첥��Ƶ study shows

vinish — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:16:52 +0000

Despite widespread commitments to equity and intersectionality, many Canadian non-profits face barriers to translating these frameworks into everyday practice, according to new research from �첥��Ƶ. The study led by Ashlee Christoffersen, a postdoctoral researcher hosted by the Department of Politics in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, aims to fill gaps in understanding how equity-seeking non-profit organizations in Canada apply inclusive frameworks. The research shows that while 2020 sparked renewed attention to equity in some organizations, many changes were short-lived or largely performative. Lack of diversity remained widespread, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles. The findings also reveal that internal practices often lag behind in advocacy efforts and equity work frequently falls disproportionately on staff from marginalized communities.

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AI drone developed by �첥��Ƶ student targets urban litter

vinish — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:09:22 +0000

�첥��Ƶ Lassonde School of Engineering student Garnet Maxwell has created a drone that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and map litter, offering cities a faster, more precise approach to waste management. City waste management departments across Canada face a costly bottleneck: before cleanup crews can be deployed, workers must manually survey litter, walking predetermined routes with clipboards to estimate quantities and types of trash. The process takes hours, costs thousands in labour and produces inconsistent results, as surveys can be subjective and variable.

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�첥��Ƶ expands innovation ecosystem with Lab2Market Validate program

vinish — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:36:49 +0000

�첥��Ƶ’s YSpace continues to expand its innovation ecosystem through strategic partnership with Lab2Market (L2M) to deliver the Lab2Market Validate Ontario Cohort. This initiative provides graduate researchers with the resources and mentorship needed to transform their research ideas into market-ready innovations. This four-month program offers graduate students and their faculty supervisors a structured path to assess the commercial potential of their research with $10,000 in funding support.

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Provost’s 2024 Black and Indigenous postdoctoral fellows to advance research on global challenges

vinish — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:10:18 +0000

Scholars Adeola Adedapo and Todd Blayone have been named the recipients of the 2024 Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars and will lead research projects focused on clean drinking water and Indigenous-AI relations.

An annual award established in 2021, the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program seeks to attract outstanding scholars who will push the boundaries of knowledge in necessary ways. The fellowship includes a salary of $70,000 provided each year for a two-year term. Award recipients can dedicate their time to pursuing a proposed project while working alongside a supervisor and other mentors.

“These extraordinary scholars represent the next generation of cutting-edge research at York. They are tackling deep and demanding problems in their postdoctoral research projects, from Indigenous sociocultural resurgence to sustainable solutions for drinking water management,” Alice MacLachlan, vice-provost and dean Graduate Studies said. “Both fellows represent the scholarly excellence and social engagement we aim to foster in our graduate and postdoctoral research community. It is an honour to host them at York, and to witness the next chapter in their research trajectories.”

The Provost’s fellowship program seeks to address the under-representation of Black and Indigenous scholars in many disciplines and fields of research and associated careers. The initiative aims to enchance supportive mentorship and network-building opportunities for under-represented scholars. Recipients of the fellowship are provided with collegial resources, supervision, mentorship and funded time to help them achieve their chosen career goals. The fellowships promote the inclusion, integration and nurturing of diverse backgrounds, pieces of knowledges and ways of researching, thinking, communicating and relating to providing equitable access to opportunities for emerging scholars.

_{A photo of Adeola Adedapo}

Adedapo is completing his PhD in chemistry at the University of Pretoria. His research project is an investigation of nanoplastic accumulation in drinking water supplies with a lens on risk assessment and sustainable development. He will be supervised by Stephanie Gora in the Civil Engineering Department of the Lassonde School of Engineering.

“It is an honour to receive the Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship for Black and Indigenous Scholars at �첥��Ƶ,” Adedapo said.

“My gratitude goes to �첥��Ƶ for its commitment to fostering diversity and excellence, and to my host supervisor, Prof. Stephanie Gora, for her unwavering support. This unique opportunity will allow me to contribute to advancing sustainable solutions for drinking water management while mentoring the next generation of scientists/engineers. I am excited to embark on this journey of impactful research and intellectual growth as a Black scholar.”

Blayone completed his PhD in digital media studies at the Technology University of Dublin. His research area of interest is Indigenous-AI relations. He will be supervised by Sean Hillier, of the Faculty of Health and Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages (CIKL).

“I am honoured to join �첥��Ƶ as the 2025-26 Provost's Indigenous Postdoctoral Fellow (Métis Nation of Ontario) with the supervisory support of Professor Sean Hillier,” Blayone said.

^{A photo of Todd Blayone}

“My two-year plan of work features several integrated projects positioned at the intersection of machine intelligence and Indigenous sociocultural resurgence. The foundations are interdisciplinary, incorporating social psychology, computer science, Indigenous studies and hands-on technical exploration. Importantly, I adopt a pragmatic ‘opportunity perspective’ catalyzed by human agency, open-source ecosystems and hacktivist culture. The guiding question is: how is (and how might) emerging intelligent systems (e.g., human + GenAI) be used to facilitate and investigate Indigenous sociocultural resurgence at the level of individuals and small groups?”

Learn more about the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars at �첥��Ƶ by visiting the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ website.

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Postdoctoral Researchers Applying for External Funding to be Held at �첥��Ƶ

vinish — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:42:46 +0000

In general, to receive the required institutional signature to apply for external funding supporting postdoctoral researchers, the Faculty of Graduate Studies requires all application materials to be submitted to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator at least 10 business days before the competition deadline. Please note that the required signature cannot be obtained through your anchor Faculty’s research office.

The institutional authority for postdoctoral fellowships is the Vice-Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS). If you intend to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship, or if you are a current postdoc at York looking to apply for grant funding, please reach out to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator in FGS as soon as possible to notify us of your plans and discuss specific requirements. This outreach will help you confirm which institutional approvals are required before you submit your application to the relevant funding agency. Depending on the funding opportunity, the following may be required:

An institutional letter of support signed by the Vice-Provost and Dean of FGS – Must be requested at least 10 business days before the competition deadline
An signed by the Vice-Provost and Dean of FGS – Must be requested at least 7 business days before the competition deadline in order to satisfy ORS deadline requirements

Institutional Letter of Support

Requirements vary based on the funding opportunity and are determined by external funder requirements and institutional policy. Many postdoctoral fellowship applications require an institutional letter of support that must be signed by the Vice-Provost and Dean of FGS. If your application requires an institutional letter, you will need to send a copy of the application to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator for review and must have confirmation of any commitments from �첥��Ƶ. Specific opportunities may involve additional requirements.

Additional Details on Applications Requiring ORS Approval

An must be filled in and signed by the postdoctoral researcher on page 2 as the applicant. No department chair’s signature is required. The Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator will facilitate the Dean’s signature.
Many funding applications from postdoctoral researchers do not include institutional commitments from York. If the application includes institutional commitments (cash or in-kind resources committed by a unit at York above and beyond the regular operating infrastructure available to you as a postdoc), the commitments must be confirmed in writing (on the ORS Checklist or by e-mail) by the source (i.e., the supervisor’s Dean’s Office, Research Centre or Institute Director). Questions about institutional commitments should be directed to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator.
The proposed supervisor must provide an emailed confirmation to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator that they agree to hold the cost centre (the account at York with the funding) in their name should the application be successful.
- The email confirmation should also include a statement that they support the application and will provide the applicant with the necessary supports to carry out the proposed research.
A complete copy of the application, together with a completed and fully signed ORS Checklist, must be submitted to the ORS by e-mail to researchapps@yorku.ca for review and institutional approval by the deadline set by ORS (typically 48 hours before the competition deadline).

For competition-specific information on external fellowship opportunities, please visit the Guide for Supervisors Supporting Applications for Externally-funded Postdoctoral Fellowships.

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York Postdoctoral Fellow receives close to $30,000 SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis Grant

vinish — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:01:34 +0000

Congratulations to John Doyle-Raso on receiving a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Knowledge Synthesis Grant of $29,859 under the Evolving Narratives of Cultures and Histories program for his project “Colonial genocide in intercultural and interdisciplinary perspective”.

Doyle-Raso is the principle investigator on a team that also includes Osgoode’s Heidi Matthews, LAPS’ Ian Stedman, AMPD’s Joel Ong and three graduate research assistants.

“Colonial genocide is the focal point of the project at York,” Doyle-Raso says. “I am a contemporary historian, interested in researching ongoing histories and their current significances, particularly through interdisciplinary methods. Colonial genocide is an ongoing issue with complex and far-reaching significances, and researchers using a range of interdisciplinary methods have written extensively about it.”

Part of the methodology of the project are systemic reviews of three countries case studies—which will be directly supported by the grant. Indigenous peoples in Canada, Namibia and Rwanda have had a limited role in designing accountability mechanisms, Doyle-Raso notes in the grant application.

“In each case, legal and cultural proceedings have been shaped by the agendas of domestic and international political elites. This grant will promote greater stakeholder understanding of the challenges facing policy development around accountability for colonial genocide,” the application states.

_{^{A photo of John Doyle Raso}}

Knowledge syntheses are comprehensive analyses of literature and other forms of knowledge on a particular question or issue. All types of knowledge synthesis approaches, tools and protocols, such as scoping reviews, systematic reviews and narrative syntheses, are encouraged under this funding opportunity. Knowledge Synthesis Grants are intended to support the synthesis of existing research knowledge and identify knowledge gaps. This call is particularly focused on the state of research produced over the past 10 years.

Doyle-Raso says the team will draw on their various linguistic and disciplinary areas of expertise to analyze literature from the past decade.

The SSHRC program was set up in 2019 to mobilize, examine and synthesize social sciences and humanities research on Evolving Narratives of Cultures and Histories, one of 16 global future challenges identified through SSHRC’s Imagining Canada’s Future initiative.

These complex issues, which were identified by SSHRC after an extensive foresight exercise, reflect key challenges that Canada and the world are likely to face in the coming decades. All of the challenges cross multiple sectors and research disciplines and require broad collaboration to address.

According to SSHRC, the effects of colonialism, racism and slavery continue to inform understandings of, and engagements with, cultures and histories. For example, in Canada, reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis requires settlers and newcomers to reconsider dominating historical and cultural narratives and respectfully engage with Indigenous Knowledge systems, cultures and traditions.

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York Postdoc publishes book on how NGOs implement intersectionality in their work

vinish — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 18:41:51 +0000

To achieve social justice, organizations and their policies need to apply an intersectional approach, rather than addressing inequalities separately, research has shown. However, intersectionality is a challenging theory to apply, as policy makers and practitioners often have to navigate the confines of divided policy areas.

A new book written by Dr. Ashlee Christoffersen, a Banting Postdoctoral Researcher at �첥��Ƶ examines the use of intersectionality in UK policy and practice with a specific focus on non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), outlining five distinct interpretations of intersectional practice and their applications.

“This research program developed from my experience of working, as a white, settler Canadian, migrant, practitioner in a Black-led LGBTQ community development organization in London, UK,” Christoffersen says. “I represented the organization on a London-wide network bringing together different kinds of equity-seeking NGOs.

Because of the policy context in the UK at the time, “practitioners around me were grappling with how we could work intersectionally.” She says she sought to better understand how practitioners could, in order to share learning across equality organisations and networks UK-wide and internationally.

The book is based on her PhD research, completed at the University of Edinburgh. However, she says, it also connects to the Banting fellowship that she is now doing similar research here at York, in comparison to the UK.

Her research was the first empirical study internationally to explore how both practitioners and policymakers themselves understand how to operationalize intersectionality and the first in-depth exploration of intersectionality’s applications in the UK.

_{Image of Ashlee Christoffersen's book cover}

Her research concluded that there is not one, but five, applied concepts of intersectionality used in equality organizing and policy—an integral insight because some of these advance intersectional justice while others actually serve to further entrench inequalities.

As a result of her research, Christoffersen says she is currently supporting the Canada-based International Institute for Sustainable Development around applying intersectionality in policymaking for climate change adaptation.

“I think the lessons learned can be applied to NGOs elsewhere though they will be more relevant in some contexts than others,” Christoffersen says. “The NGO sector in Canada faces similar challenges and contexts.”

The book, The Politics of Intersectional Practice: Representation, Coalition and Solidarity in UK NGOs will be published by Bristol University Press in Canada and the US on June 25.

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Government of Canada announces increases to scholarships and fellowships

vinish — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 19:38:50 +0000

The Government of Canada has announced significant new investments to increase the value and number of scholarships and fellowships for master’s and doctoral students along with postdoctoral fellows.

Announced as part of , the increased money will be funded through Canada’s federal granting agencies—the , the and the .

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health announced Friday that students receiving scholarships and fellowships from the funding agencies will see increased award values take effect September 1. The annual value of all current and new master’s and doctoral student scholarships will increase to $27,000 and $40,000, respectively and current and new postdoctoral fellowships will increase to $70,000.

“By increasing the value of scholarships and fellowships provided by the government’s research granting councils, the Government of Canada is reaffirming its support for Canadian research talent. This will ensure the next generation of scientific leaders remain here in Canada, where their work has the potential to lead to a better quality of life and improved health for us all,” Minister Holland said.

In addition to the increased award values, the government, in their budget proposed to increase the number of scholarships and fellowships provided, building to approximately 1,720 more graduate students and fellows benefitting each year

The Vanier and Banting programs will continue under their current parameters, $50,000 and $70,000 per year respectively.

Additional details will be communicated to award holders in July 2024.

The Government of Canada’s research agencies and funded partners—the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) promote innovation in research and reward academic excellence by offering a number of valuable and prestigious scholarships and awards.

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Three York scholars named Banting Postdoctoral Fellows for 2023–24

vinish — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:21:00 +0000

Saba Asaad, Stephen Melly and Lynn Yu Ling Ng have been named among this year’s recipients of the prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded by the government of Canada. The program aims to attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, develop their leadership potential and position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow.

Valued at $70,000 per year for two years, the fellowship allows ambitious scholars to conduct their research and devote substantial time to work without the financial pressures that might typically arise. The successful applicants were reviewed against three equally weighted selection criteria: 1) Applicant’s research excellence and leadership in the research domain; 2) Quality of applicant's proposed research program; and 3) Institutional commitment and demonstrated synergy between applicant and institutional strategic priorities.

Saba Asaad, EECS, Lassonde (NSERC)

Asaad’s research project, titled “Over-the-Air Federated Learning via Benchmark Wireless Network,” develops algorithmic and analytic frameworks to address essential issues arising in the implementation of federated learning (FL) in practical wireless networks. Asaad’s project proposes an alternative method, over-the-air FL, which leverages the superposition property of multiple access channels to realize the predefined aggregation policy directly over-the-air.

“Federated learning was first designed for ideal communication networks. However, in realistic edge-learning scenarios the edge-devices, connected to the parameter server via wireless links, face several challenges due to uncertain wireless conditions and limited resources,” explains Asaad.

The approach that is taken by the project can be leveraged in the development of a large variety of services that deal with the concept of distributed learning.

_{A picture of Dr. Saba Asaad}

Stephen Melly, Mechanical Engineering, Lassonde (NSERC)

Melly’s proposed research, titled “Development of the computational constitutive model for super-soft 4D bioprinted materials,” aims to formulate computational models that capture the complex mechanical characteristics of super-soft materials. This research has the potential to enhance our understanding of super-soft materials in 4D bioprinting using virtual experiments, facilitating advancements in the field and the development of reliable and customized artificial tissues that match the specific needs of individual patients.

“Successful design and fabrication of engineered tissues necessitate a comprehensive grasp of the mechanical characteristics of super-soft materials. This guarantees the efficacy of biomedical applications, as differences in mechanical properties between the engineered tissues and the surrounding biological tissues may result in complications like rejection,” shares Melly.

The cutting-edge project fills the growing demand for accurate computational models that describe the complex mechanical behaviors of super-soft tissues.

_{A picture of Dr. Stephen Melly}

Lynn Yu Ling Ng, Department of Politics, LA&PS (SSHRC)

Ng’s project, titled “Care for All is Care that Pulls Us Through,” employs an advanced critical intersectional approach to analyze care work and the presence of distinct forms of structural inequality (e.g. age, race, gender, class, nationality), which influence migrant care workers (MCWs) and their capacity to care for elderly persons. The project’s guiding questions are: 1) How do MCWs make sense of caring for the elderly and for themselves, and how do they strive to protect these visions of care?; and 2) How can these imaginaries of care be accounted for and integrated into care and labour migration policy?

“Eldercare is rarely framed from the perspective of MCWs beyond the common identity debates of race, gender, and class. Neither has much attention been given to their rich migratory experiences and expert knowledge of care work,” reveals Ng.

The anticipated outputs can be a valuable source of information for policy development in the field of eldercare.

_{A picture of Dr. Lynn Yu Ling Ng}

For more information about the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship please visit the .

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Spring Conference 2024

vinish — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 15:04:21 +0000

Collaborative, Constructive, Considerate: Fostering Dialogue on Best Practices in Graduate Supervision in Canada

As part of our 60th-anniversary celebrations, the Faculty of Graduate Studies at �첥��Ƶ, in partnership with , is pleased to announce a one-day fully online Graduate Supervision Conference geared specifically for graduate supervisors.

Date & Time: Friday, May 31^st, 2024 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (EST)

Location: Online (Zoom Webinar)

Registration is free, and is now open!

QUICK LINKS

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Read �첥��Ƶ's Land Acknowledgment

Central to graduate student success and retention is the educative role of the supervisor and supervisory committee. Struck with a central task of inspiring, mining and refining graduate student scholarship, the act of graduate supervision involves key components of self-reflection, capacity-building efforts and attention to the relational. Strong supervisory efficacy is not innate, nor is it sufficiently acquired through an osmotic transfer from one’s own experience of being supervised. It benefits from a scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL) approach, from intentional pedagogical practices, mutuality, and reflexivity and from the fostering of dialogue regarding best practices.

Developed with graduate supervisors in mind, �첥��Ƶ's 60th Anniversary Graduate Supervision Conference, in partnership with Memorial University of Newfoundland, seeks to foster dialogue amongst graduate supervisors regarding best practices in graduate supervision. Join us as we welcome experts regarding the pragmatics of supervision, mediating conflict and the requisite principles that are now guiding Ontario universities. Following a lunch break, we welcome two panels featuring award-winning supervisors reflecting on the themes of the conference in a Fireside chat, followed by a sampling of graduate supervisory supports across the Canadian university landscape. The conference will close with a go-forward plan to develop national principles for graduate supervision in Canada. We hope you’ll join us!

» Conference Agenda – Day of Event «

Speaker/Panelist(s):

Dr. Alice MacLachlan, Vice-Provost & Dean, Graduate Studies (�첥��Ƶ)
Dr. Philippe-Edwin Bélanger, CAGS President & Director of Student Services at Institut national de la recherche scientifique INRS, Quebec City
Dr. Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, Associate Dean, Academic & Conference Chair, Graduate Studies (�첥��Ƶ)

Dr. Alice MacLachlan

Vice-Provost & Dean, Graduate Studies (�첥��Ƶ)

Alice MacLachlan is Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies at �첥��Ƶ, where she is also a professor in the Department of Philosophy. She writes and teaches in moral, political, and feminist philosophy, focusing on philosophical issues arising in the aftermath of conflict, the complex politics of civility, and the changing nature of family. She is a founding co-editor of Feminist Philosophy Quarterly.

Dr. Philippe-Edwin Bélanger

CAGS President & Director of Student Services at Institut national de la recherche scientifique INRS, Quebec City

Philippe-Edwin Bélanger has served as Director of Graduate Studies and Student Success at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) since 2012, where he is responsible for academic program management, administrative support for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, the registrar’s office, student services, and financial support. In September 2023, he took on the role of Director of the International Office at INRS.

Trained in political science and public administration, Mr. Bélanger has conducted research on the impact of family policy in the province of Québec. From 2002 to 2012, he served at Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies, overseeing the organization’s scholarship programs and partnerships between France and Québec. As a member of the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation du Québec’s commission on university education and research from 2008 to 2011, he contributed to Pour une vision actualisée des formations aux cycles supérieurs, an advisory opinion presented to Québec’s Minister of Higher Education highlighting various concerns associated with graduate studies.

A highly active member within Québec and Canadian professional associations, Philippe-Edwin Bélanger was president of the Association des administratrices et des administrateurs de recherche universitaire du Québec (Québec Association of University Research Administrators) in 2013. During that time, he defended the importance of maintaining public investment in university research. Between 2014 and 2018, he served as president of the Association des doyens des études supérieures au Québec (Québec Association of Deans of Graduate Studies). In this role, he collaborated with the Québec Ministry of Higher Education, the Research Funds of Québec, and the Francophone Association for the Advancement of Knowledge to create the first survey in the province of Québec on Ph.D. competencies for the purposes of enhancing programs, improving the professional integration of graduates, and highlighting the contribution of doctoral students to the development of society. Philippe-Edwin served as treasurer of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) from 2017 to 2019, and he was elected president of the association in December 2022. In September 2021, he was honoured to receive the prestigious Career Achievement Award from the Université du Quebec in recognition of his longstanding contributions to the advancement of higher education.

Dr. Cheryl van Daalen-Smith

Associate Dean, Academic & Conference Chair, Graduate Studies (�첥��Ƶ)

Cheryl van Daalen-Smith is an Associate Professor in the Schools of Nursing and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies. She serves as the Associate Dean – Academic at �첥��Ƶ's Faculty of Graduate Studies. She is leading the development of a graduate supervision support hub at YorkU and is the conference chair.

Session Title: Connections to Quagmires: Setting Up for Successful Supervision. Presentation (.ppt)

Description: From the first consideration of a graduate supervisory relationship until the final dissertation defense (and beyond), there are dozens of opportunities to make the connection wonderful for both the advisor and the student, and for getting seriously bogged down, even without addressing the scholarly activity itself. This presentation shares examples and direct advice about how to create and sustain a rewarding supervisory connection for both persons. This presentation introduces 25 considerations from the wider context of supervision, from types of supervision and expectations that go with them, to timeliness of responses, socializing with students, changing supervisors, and conflicts of interest. A few will be elaborated in detail. A question-and-answer period will enable the exploration of additional topics. 

Speaker/Panelist(s):

Dr. Bruce Shore, BSc, TchDip, MA, PhD

Moderator: Dr. Cheryl van Daalen-Smith

Dr. Bruce Shore, BSc, TchDip, MA, PhD

Bruce M. Shore is an Emeritus Professor of Educational Psychology in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University, and former Department Chair and Dean of Students. His research is on inquiry-based learning at all levels of education, and academic and social characteristics of giftedness. He has been recognized for his graduate advising and other teaching by the Faculty of Education Distinguished Teaching Award, the university’s David Thomson Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Supervision, the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and by the Canadian Committee for Graduate Students in Education Mentorship Award.

Bruce is the author of the conference’s key publication: and we are thrilled to offer the handbook at a discounted price for conference registrants. Details below.

Book Discount Code

30% with code UCPNEW
Note: revised discount code.

How to Order

To order the book:

Book Image

Session Title: When Grad Things Happen: Power, Pressure & Personalities.

Description: The combination of power, pressure, and personalities within the graduate supervisory relationship can result in constructive or at times destructive graduate school experiences and outcomes. In this session, Heather will share practical strategies for resolving concerns in the moment - strategies which can also help prevent conflict – based on her experiences responding to complaints and conflict in higher education. She will highlight some key graduate conflict hotspots and share advice to faculty from grad students, while challenging faculty to consider their role in managing grad school conflict.

Speaker/Panelist(s):

Heather McGhee Peggs, LLB

Moderator: Dr. Mary Goitom, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, Development Studies

Heather McGhee Peggs, LLB

Heather is an ombuds, a former litigator, and the author of (UTP, 2023) and companion online course . She practiced law at Stikeman Elliott LLP in Toronto, served as Assistant Ombudsperson at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), and developed the Graduate Conflict Resolution Center at the University of Toronto. Heather currently leads the front-line complaint services team at Patient Ombudsman – supporting informal resolution of complaints about healthcare experiences across Ontario. She is a passionate advocate for fairness and early resolution - helping individuals and organizations develop the capacity to resolve concerns earlier and more effectively.

Heather is the author of the book featured in the conference's Keynote Session, and we are thrilled to offer the text and companion course to conference registrants at a discounted price. Details below.

Book Discount Code

25% off with code Peggs25

Course Discount Code

$100 off the course if you register before June 30, 2024, with code springresolution. Register at

How to Order

To order the book

Book Image

_Moderator

Dr. Mary Goitom

Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, Development Studies

Mary Goitom is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, and Graduate Program Director for the Development Studies Program (DVST) at �첥��Ƶ. Dr. Goitom’s research explores migration, mobilities, diasporic connections, transnational processes and social relations. Her work is centered on community-based research and is grounded in Ethiopian epistemologies and larger African traditional knowledge systems. Dr. Goitom’s work explores the nexus of identity and futurity (imagined world-building), transnational social fields in relation to the constitution of settlement, citizenship, well-being, agency, and resilience.

Session Title: Ontario’s Principles of Graduate Supervision: An Initiative and Strategy for Supporting Graduate Supervision // Principes d’encadrement des étudiant·e·s des cycles supérieurs d’Ontario : Une initiative et une stratégie en soutien à l’encadrement aux cycles supérieurs.

Session Materials:

Description: In 2023, the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies (OCGS) developed and adopted the , outlining our expectations for ensuring a positive and successful graduate student experience. In this session, we will discuss how the various institutions are implementing the principles, how this provincial-level document may help bring positive change in this space, and how we can now move towards generating and sharing provincial-level resources to support inclusive supervision and mentorship. This session will also provide an opportunity to learn from supervisors about the challenges and opportunities in instituting supervisory expectations and responsibilities.

Speaker/Panelist(s):

Dr. Suzanne Curtin, Dean, Graduate Studies (Brock University)
Dr. Jeff Casello, Associate Vice President, Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (University of Waterloo)
Dr. André M. Beauchemin, Vice-Provost Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Professor (University of Ottawa)

Moderator: Dr. Ian Wereley, Executive Director, Canadian Association for Graduate Studies

Dr. Suzanne Curtin

Vice-Provost and Dean, Graduate Studies (Brock University)

Suzanne Curtin is currently the Vice-Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs at Brock University. Prior to this appointment, she was the Associate Dean, Students in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary. During that time, she was responsible for New Supervisor Orientation, revised the Best Practices for Supervisors, Best Practices for Graduate Students, created Best Practices for Supervisory Committees, and a range of other guidelines, policies, and practices related to supervision. This past year, she chaired the OCGS working group that developed the Ontario Principles of Graduate Supervision.

Dr. Jeff Casello

Associate Vice President, Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (University of Waterloo)

Professor Casello has been active in university leadership since 2010 when he was invited to serve as the Associate Dean Undergraduate Studies in the Faculty of Environment. Since 2016, Jeff has led the University’s graduate studies and postdoctoral portfolios, supporting the 90 graduate programs, 6,000 graduate students and 400 postdoctoral scholars.

As a professor, Jeff’s interests lie in urban transportation systems and their impacts on healthy and economically viable urban areas. As such, he teaches and conducts research on the planning, design and operation of systems that promote efficient, balanced transportation, enhance regional economic competitiveness and support social mobility. His research engages graduate students in applied projects that improve local transportation systems (in Waterloo, Kingston, Philadelphia and Mexico City), while providing the foundation for scholarly output. At Waterloo, Jeff received the Distinguished Teacher Award, the highest teaching honor at the University.

Dr. André M. Beauchemin

Vice-Provost Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Professor (University of Ottawa)

André Beauchemin joined the University of Ottawa in 2004 after receiving his PhD from the Université de Montréal and completing a NSERC postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. He is a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, and Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of Ottawa since 2022. He also served as graduate program director and as Vice-Dean, Graduate Studies and Entrepreneurship prior to his current position. He has received both teaching and research awards. Currently, his research team includes ca. 10 PhD, MSc and BSc students, a research associate, with research projects focused toward biologically active nitrogen-containing molecules, aiming to facilitate the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

_Moderator

Dr. Ian Wereley

Executive Director, Canadian Association for Graduate Studies

Ian Wereley, PhD (he/him) serves as Executive Director of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS). He completed a PhD in History at Carleton University in 2018, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Calgary Institute for Humanities from 2018-2019. Ian greatly enjoys being an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of History at Carleton University, where he teaches an undergraduate course on the global history of oil. Since 2019 he has served as the Adjunct Curator of the History of Energy at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, Ottawa.

12:00 pm – 12:45 pm (EST) Lunch and Screen Break

Session Title: Collaborative, Constructive, Considerate: A National Fireside Chat with Graduate Supervisory Award Winners.

Description: In this fireside chat, join diverse supervision award winners from across the country where they will reflect upon their experiences, with a focus on ways in which their supervisory practices reflect collaborative, constructive and considerate supervision practices. Responding to thought-provoking questions including how these colleagues tailor their mentorship for International Students, what they wished they knew then that they know now and how supervision has changed them, this fireside chat intends to promote reflection of our own practices when standing beside graduate students. Time for questions will be built in.

Speaker/Panelist(s):

Dr Benjamin Berger (�첥��Ƶ)
Dr. Brent Snook (Memorial University of Newfoundland)
Dr. Fanie Pelletier (Université de Sherbrooke)

Moderator: Dr. Rhonda Joy, Associate Dean, Graduate Programs and Research (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Dr. Benjamin Berger

Professor and York Research Chair in Pluralism and Public Law at Osgoode Hall Law School

Benjamin L. Berger is Professor and York Research Chair in Pluralism and Public Law at Osgoode Hall Law School. Professor Berger served as Associate Dean (Students) from 2015-2018. After graduating from his LLB as the gold medallist, he served as a law clerk to the Rt. Honourable Beverley McLachlin, former Chief Justice of Canada.  He holds an LLM and JSD from Yale University, where he studied as a Fulbright Scholar. His areas of research and teaching specialization are law and religion, criminal and constitutional law and theory, and the law of evidence. He has published broadly in these fields and is the author or editor of multiple books. He is the recipient of multiple teaching awards and, in 2015, was awarded the Canadian Association of Law Teachers Prize for Academic Excellence, in recognition of his contributions to research and law teaching. Professor Berger is a Member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada and serves as Vice President of the Justice Studies Centre of the Americas.  

Dr. Brent Snook

Brent Snook is a University Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. His research involves an examination of the reliability and validity of investigative practices. Currently, he is examining the most effective way to ensure adults and youth understand their interrogation rights and is developing and testing investigative interviewing techniques (e.g., note-taking). His applied work involves the implementation of the PEACE model of interviewing in North America. He also serves as an expert witness on interviewing and memory contamination in court and provides legal advice on the integrity of evidence derived from interviews and interrogations. He is the recipient of The Rennie Gaulton Undergraduate Teaching Award (student nominated, Department of Psychology), the President’s Award for Outstanding Graduate and Postgraduate Supervision and the Geoffrey Marshall Mentoring Award (Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools).  

Dr. Fanie Pelletier

Fanie Pelletier, Canada Research Chair in Human Impacts on Wildlife, is a Professor in the Department of Biology, Université de Sherbrooke. She is a fellow of the College of the Royal Society of Canada and has received several awards, including the prestigious NSERC E.W.R. Steacie award for early researchers in Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of vertebrates including life-history evolution, reproductive strategies, and population dynamics. She has used innovative methods to demonstrate how human activities affect wild populations. She is also a member of the terrestrial mammals specialist subcommittee for the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), as well as the co-director of the Quebec Center for Biodiversity Science (QCBS).

_Moderator

Dr. Rhonda Joy

Associate Dean, Graduate Programs and Research (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Rhonda Joy brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her roles as Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Research, as well as Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University. With a strong focus on graduate programs and research, Rhonda has made significant contributions within the faculty and beyond, engaging with the university and wider community. Her leadership within the counseling psychology program, including serving as chair, highlights her commitment to fostering academic excellence and student success. Drawing from over 20 years of experience as a guidance counselor and educational psychologist, Rhonda's passion for supporting students at all stages of their development shines through in her teaching, research, and service endeavors. Particularly interested in career development, Rhonda integrates experiential learning and reflective practices into her teaching, enriching the educational experience for her students. Her involvement in innovative research projects, such as Career Integrated Learning (CIL), underscores her dedication to empowering students to recognize and articulate their competencies gained through classroom learning. Rhonda's multifaceted contributions to academia and student development exemplify her unwavering commitment to excellence and growth within the educational landscape.

Session Title: Amuse-Bouche: Canadian Graduate Supervision Support Examples.

Description: Styled akin to an appetizer tasting, this lightning-round panel welcomes presentations from four universities regarding innovative supports that aim to foster best practices in graduate supervision. Links to resources are provided and time for questions will be built in.

Speaker/Panelist(s):

Andrew Kim ()
Aziza Kajan ()
Susan Cox and Matthew Smithdeal ( - University of British Columbia | )
Dr. Fanie Pelletier ()

Moderator: Dr. John Peever, Vice-Dean, Students (School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto)

Andrew Kim

Andrew Kim is Director, Graduate Enrolment Services for the School of Graduate Studies. He holds a BSc in biochemistry and an MBA, both from Memorial University. He is a past board member of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) and of the Association for Graduate Enrollment Management (NAGAP), and is the founding President of NAGAP’s Canadian Chapter. Andrew’s work in graduate education and enrolment management is acknowledged through multiple industry awards, including the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) SEM Award of Excellence. He has published and presented widely on topics related to graduate student success.

Aziza Kajan

Aziza Kajan (she/her), Director of the Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision (CGMS), is a Registered Social Worker and a University of Toronto alum. Prior to her role with the University of Toronto, her interest in the graduate community and the graduate experience began at �첥��Ƶ in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. She has otherwise spent the majority of her career providing psychotherapy to various populations in diverse healthcare settings. Aziza’s work with CGMS is driven by several key philosophies and principles, including self-determination, informed choice making, and being person centered. 

Dr. Susan Cox

Susan Cox is a Professor and Director of the PhD and MSc Programs in the School of Population and Public Health. She also holds the Chair in Biomedical Ethics in The W Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics at UBC. Her current research focuses on inclusivity and well-being in the context of graduate supervisory relationships and living well with dementia. Both projects employ innovative and arts-based approaches to knowledge mobilization and exchange.  

Matthew Smithdeal

Matthew is a PhD candidate in the Department of Philosophy working in the philosophy of psychology and psychiatry. Their research focuses on understanding how biogenetic explanations of neurodivergence contribute to an increase in stereotyping and dehumanization of neurodivergent individuals, as well as exploring possible Research-based Theatre interventions to mitigate these negative beliefs and attitudes. They are also involved in a number of initiatives and projects related to the intersection of well-being and equity and diversity issues that graduate students encounter within academia. 

Dr. Fanie Pelletier

_Moderator

Dr. John Peever

Vice-Dean, Students (School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto)

John Peever is a Professor in the Department of Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto, the Vice-Dean, Students at the School of Graduate Studies and the President of the Canadian Sleep Society.  His research examines how and why we sleep with a particular focus on identifying the brain mechanisms that control REM sleep and how their dysfunction underlies neurological disorders such as narcolepsy and REM sleep behavior disorder. Dr. Peever is also a strong advocate for promoting the public awareness of sleep health and fostering the development of graduate education.  Outside of work he is a hobby farmer, beekeeper and horsemen.

Session Title: Envisioning National Principles on Graduate Supervision: A CAGS Working Group Initiative.

Description: In this go-forward closing discussion, join the incoming president of CAGS and CAGS’ executive director to envision mobilizing a working group initiative led by CAGS towards the establishment of Canadian graduate supervision principles. Consideration of the establishment of a national Supervision Community of Practice will be proposed.

Speaker/Panelist(s):

Dr. Fahim Quadir, Vice-Provost and Dean, School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (Queen's University)
Dr. Ian Wereley, Executive Director, Canadian Association for Graduate Studies.

Moderator: Dr. Cheryl van Daalen-Smith

Dr. Fahim Quadir

Vice-Provost and Dean, School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (Queen's University)

Fahim Quadir is Dean and Vice-Provost of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs as well as Professor of Global Development Studies and Political Studies at Queen’s University. Prior to Queen’s he served as the Interim Dean and Associate Vice-President Graduate in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at �첥��Ƶ. The recipient of many awards and fellowships, including Fulbright, Killam, SSRC, and SSHRC, Dr. Quadir held academic positions at several other universities in the USA, Canada, and Bangladesh and has edited/co-edited five books and published extensively in various peer-reviewed journals on cosmopolitan citizenship, South-South cooperation, emerging donors, aid effectiveness, good governance, civil society, democratic consolidation, transnational social movements, human security and regional development. In 2007, he was presented with the �첥��Ƶ-Wide Teaching Award for teaching excellence from the full-time faculty category. As recognition of his continued effort to evolve teaching and research into a transnational academic enterprise, he was given �첥��Ƶ’s inaugural Internationalization award in 2003. He is President-Elect and Vice-President for the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS). Dr. Quadir served as the chair of the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies (OCGS) and is currently serving on the Board of OCGS.

Dr. Ian Wereley

Executive Director, Canadian Association for Graduate Studies

Session Title: Planning for the Next National Graduate Supervision Conference.

Speaker/Panelist(s):

Dr. Brent Snook (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Moderator: Andrew Kim (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Dr. Brent Snook

_Moderator

Andrew Kim

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Spring Conference 2024

Collaborative, Constructive, Considerate: Fostering Dialogue on Best Practices in Graduate Supervision in Canada

QUICK LINKS

» Conference Agenda – Day of Event «

Dr. Alice MacLachlan

Dr. Philippe-Edwin Bélanger

Dr. Cheryl van Daalen-Smith

Dr. Bruce Shore, BSc, TchDip, MA, PhD

Heather McGhee Peggs, LLB

Dr. Mary Goitom

Dr. Suzanne Curtin

Dr. Jeff Casello

Dr. André M. Beauchemin

Dr. Ian Wereley

Dr. Benjamin Berger

Dr. Brent Snook

Dr. Fanie Pelletier

Dr. Rhonda Joy

Andrew Kim

Aziza Kajan

Dr. Susan Cox

Matthew Smithdeal

Dr. Fanie Pelletier

Dr. John Peever

Dr. Fahim Quadir

Dr. Ian Wereley

Dr. Brent Snook

Andrew Kim

Connect with FGS