Future-focused Vanier scholars at UCalgary bridge health gaps and power a greener Canada

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS), launched by the Government of Canada in 2008, is one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for doctoral students. With a value of $50,000 per year for three years, the Vanier CGS supports exceptional students in the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, engineering and health. The scholarship aims to bolster Canada’s reputation as a global centre of research and higher education by attracting and retaining top doctoral talent.

Two of this year’s Vanier recipients from the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering are making significant contributions in engineering. 

Chantelle Anderson, MSc'24, a first-year PhD student in biomedical engineering, is committed to improving health-care access for Indigenous communities. With a background as a first-generation student inspired by her parent’s legacy of perseverance, Anderson's research focuses on developing innovative diagnostic tools that leverage imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to address disparities in skin health care for Indigenous youth. 

Philip Adebayo, a third-year PhD student in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, is dedicated to enhancing sustainable heating systems for cold climates. His research blends geothermal and solar energy to advance practical paths toward Canada’s net-zero emissions target.

These scholars exemplify the Vanier CGS's vision of leadership and academic excellence, advancing their fields in ways that can impact future health care and sustainability.

Leveraging AI to bridge gaps in Indigenous health-care access

Anderson is leveraging the Vanier CGS to advance critical research on atopic dermatitis (AD) among Indigenous children and youth. Anderson’s work centres on hyperspectral imaging combined with AI and machine learning. Hyperspectral imaging is an advanced technology that captures a wide range of wavelengths beyond what the human eye can see. The wavelengths in these images can reveal specific details about an object, like its composition. 

When combined with AI and machine learning, hyperspectral imaging has the potential to help doctors get a clearer view of skin issues. In this case, it’s being used to improve how we detect, track and diagnose AD — a long-lasting, irritating skin condition that affects Indigenous youth at higher rates. Through this research, she aims to bridge systemic gaps in health care by developing non-invasive diagnostic tools tailored to marginalized populations.

Anderson’s journey to UCalgary has been deeply influenced by her husband's family, a proud group of UCalgary alumni, including her father-in-law, a professor emeritus. For Anderson, who is an Indigenous student and the first on her side of the family to pursue higher education, this path has been both challenging and profoundly meaningful. 

“Receiving this award demonstrates my commitment and shows my community that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible,” she says.

Anderson's research team, led by Dr. Guido Van Marle, PhD, from the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, forms the core of her academic community, embodying a shared commitment to health equity. Together, they navigate challenges and celebrate achievements, like Anderson’s Vanier award. 

She recalls the initial shock of winning, accompanied by a brief but humbling moment of self-doubt. “It took me a minute to realize that I was worthy of this honour," she says. "I had put in the work, and I was now being recognized for my efforts."

With a passion for innovative health-care solutions, Anderson hopes her work will inspire Indigenous youth and open new pathways to equitable health care access across Canada. Reflecting in her approach to life and learning, she shares wisdom from her Elders: “The moment you stop listening and learning, you stop living. I want to live. I want my community to live. It’s time to listen and learn.”

Advancing sustainable energy in cold climates: Philip Adebayo’s vision for a greener future

Adebayo is using his Vanier scholarship to tackle one of Canada’s most pressing energy challenges: sustainable heating solutions in cold climates. His research focuses on modelling and optimizing a solar-assisted ground source heat pump (GSHP) system — a technology that combines shallow geothermal and solar energy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from residential and commercial heating.

In Canada’s colder regions, energy consumption for heating is substantial, contributing significantly to GHG emissions. The major challenge impeding the wider adoption of GSHP systems is the initial cost associated with longer ground heat exchanger (GHE) required in cold climates with heating dominant building energy loads and lack of space in urban areas. 

Undersized GHE can cause ground thermal imbalance triggered by an unbalanced building cooling and heating loads. Continuous ground temperature drops over long-term use can significantly affect system performance. 

Adebayo’s work aims to address this by blending solar energy with GSHP technology to maintain efficiency and ground thermal balance even in extreme winter conditions. 

“This research is about creating a practical path toward Canada’s 2050 net-zero emissions target,” he says. Collaborating with Telsec Property Corporation, Adebayo is testing this hybrid system’s potential to provide sustainable heating for buildings in southern Calgary. Through numerical simulations, his work seeks to provide insight into subsurface heat transfer and system’s long-term performance.

Winning the Vanier CGS was an “immense honour,” says Adebayo. The award not only acknowledges his dedication to impactful research, it also provides vital resources that will allow him to delve deeper into the challenges of sustainable energy. “Receiving this scholarship is both humbling and motivating — it validates the years of hard work and perseverance,” Adebayo says, adding he sees the Vanier as a powerful endorsement of his vision to make meaningful strides in the development of renewable energy systems, energy independence and environmental sustainability.

Adebayo credits his supervisor, Dr. Aggrey Mwesigye, PhD, from the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, for invaluable guidance, and appreciates UCalgary’s collaborative culture. 

“The supportive community and open communication here have truly enriched my academic experience,” he says. With the Vanier CGS and UCalgary’s research environment, Adebayo is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to sustainable energy solutions.

To learn more about our exceptional scholars and awards, visit the Exceptional Scholars web page.