Transdisciplinary Connector Grants Awarded

Seventeen UCalgary Transdisciplinary Connector Grants were awarded in the February 2026 intake, with researchers from the Faculty of Arts leading a couple 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.  

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. 

Faculty of Arts – Led Projects 

• Exploring Year‑Round Closed‑Loop Urban Food Systems in Calgary 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Jenny Godley, PhD, Professor, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology 

• UCalgary More‑Than‑Human Neurodivergence Working Group 

  • Project Holder: Dr. James Ellis, PhD, Director, Calgary Institute for the Humanities 

  • Other Faculty of Arts contributors: Dr. Ami Tint, PhD (Psychology), Dr. Bruce Barton, PhD (School of Creative and Performing Arts), Dr. Qian Liu, PhD (Sociology), Dr. Kit Dobson, PhD (English) 

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

Faculty of Arts Collaborators 

• Improving health outcomes by consolidating and strengthening transdisciplinary community-academic partnerships through the Health Equity HUB 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Kathryn Birnie, PhD, Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine 

  • Faculty of Arts contributors: Dr. Jenny Godley, PhD (Anthropology and Archaeology) 

• Indigenous-Led Soil Policy for a Climate Resilient Canada: A Case Study in Creeburn CLEAR hub Living lab in Fort McKay, AB 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Luis Daniel Virla Alvarado, PhD, Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Engineering 

  • Faculty of Arts contributor: Dr. Sabrina Perić, PhD (Anthropology and Archaeology) 

• Integrating Biological, Clinical and Engineering Insights for Personalized Implant Design 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Vaishnavi Kale, PhD, Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Engineering 

  • Faculty of Arts contributor: Dr. Edwin Dickinson, PhD (Anthropology and Archaeology) 

• Combatting Epistemic Adversaries: lmproving Democratic Deliberation Through Serious Games 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Gregory Hagen, PhD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law 

  • Faculty of Arts contributor: Dr. Allen Habib, PhD (Philosophy) 

• A Transdisciplinary Framework for Designing Healthier Living Environment 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Sneha Jain, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape 

  • Faculty of Arts contributors: Dr. Christopher Sears, PhD (Psychology), Kathleen Reinhardt (Anthropology and Archaeology), Dr. Michael Antle, PhD (Psychology) 

• UCalgary Breaking Barriers Day 

  • Project Holder: Dr. Ranita Manocha, FRCPC, Clinical Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine 

  • Faculty of Arts contributor: Dr. Victoria Fast, PhD (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 February 2026 intake are already underway. Learn more about upcoming application deadlines and the Transdisciplinary Connector Grants program.