Six UCalgary PhD students receive Vanier scholarships for 2025

Six doctoral students from the University of Calgary have been awarded a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) is one of the most competitive awards available to graduate students in Canada. It is presented to Canadian and international doctoral students across three federal research funding agencies: 

• the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
• the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

This year’s marks the final round of the Vanier CGS under its current format before transitioning to a harmonized scholarship program.

“UCalgary continues to lead as Canada’s youngest top research university, recognized nationally for groundbreaking innovation and a vibrant graduate community,” says Dr. Tara Beattie, vice-provost and dean of graduate studies.

“Our Vanier Scholars exemplify the excellence that defines our institution, receiving not only vital funding but also national recognition for their outstanding research, academic performance and leadership.

"Their success reflects the exceptional training environment at UCalgary, where graduate students are empowered to make meaningful contributions to society.”

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS), named for Major-General Georges P. Vanier, Canada’s first francophone Governor General, is one of the country’s most sought after graduate awards. Funded by the Government of Canada, the scholarship provides $150,000 over three years to Canadian and international doctoral students who demonstrate both academic excellence and exceptional leadership.

The 2025 University of Calgary Vanier CGS winners include: 

Madison Fullteron, Medical Science

Supervisor: Dr. Sandra Davidson

Fullerton’s doctoral research focuses on eliminating cervical cancer through the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling, a private and accessible screening method that is particularly effective for reaching under-screened populations, such as newcomers to Canada. The project examines international approaches to HPV self-sampling and will train community health ambassadors in Alberta to engage newcomers, distribute self-sampling kits, and collect feedback through surveys and interviews. Insights from this work will help shape future cervical cancer screening strategies and support Canada’s goal of eliminating cervical cancer nationwide.

Syed Kazim Haider, Biomedical Engineering 

Supervisor: Dr. Colin Dalton

Haider’s research focuses on developing a low-cost, pain-free glucose monitoring patch for individuals with diabetes using microneedles — microscopic needles less than 1 mm long that cause minimal pain and skin damage. The concept leverages a patented, low-cost, automated micro-fabrication technique. The ultimate goal is to create an effective, user-friendly technology to accurately sense glucose that can be widely adopted, improving diabetes care by making glucose monitoring more comfortable and accessible for all.

Zainab Khan, Neuroscience

Supervisor: Dr. Naweed Imam S. Syed

Khan is investigating how anesthetic agents like sevoflurane affect brain development by examining genetic, cellular, and connectivity changes, particularly in the hippocampus, using advanced brain chip technology. This cutting-edge tool enables real-time monitoring of brain cell activity and connectivity, offering unprecedented insight into how anesthetics disrupt neural communication. The goal of this research is to uncover the underlying mechanisms of anesthetic-related brain changes and guide the development of safer anesthetic practices.

Arazdeep Minhas, Neuroscience

Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Adam Kirton

Minhas is investigating how children with severe brain conditions can engage with brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and how their unique brain responses, particularly to parental comfort, may serve as early markers of consciousness. Unlike adults, young children’s brains may contain developing networks that respond strongly to affection and parental presence. This research aims to harness these brain activities to develop tools that could one day help families reconnect and communicate with their unconscious children.

Sammy Sánchez, Anthropology

Supervisor: Dr. Ben M. McKay

Sánchez’s study applies a feminist political ecology framework to explore how land concentration and conservation policies impact women and youth in the Northwestern Colombian Amazon. Using participatory action research and feminist ethnography, it investigates their challenges accessing resources and their strategies for asserting rights and engaging in local economies. The research aims to inform advocacy for inclusive policies that strengthen the resilience of women and youth small farmers, offering key insights for social and environmental justice in this globally important region.

Jessica Scheufen, Neuroscience

Supervisor: Dr. Matthew Hill

Scheufen’s doctoral research focuses on how stress activates circuits in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and whether cannabis or endocannabinoids can modulate this activity to alleviate stress. By using electrophysiology on rat brain slices, the study seeks to pinpoint the exact brain circuits involved in the stress response. These findings could lead to more targeted and effective treatments, potentially identifying cannabis and endocannabinoids as novel therapies to improve the lives of millions affected by stress disorders.