Banting postdoctoral fellows are the best postdocs in the world. The recipients are top-tier postdoctoral talent, nationally and internationally. This award positions Banting Fellows to succeed as research leaders. Only seventy fellowships are awarded across Canada annually, valued at $140,000 over two years.

“We are excited and proud to welcome two Banting Fellows to the research community at UM,” says Dr. Digvir Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International) and Distinguished Professor. “The ability to attract Banting Fellows is very much due to the stellar calibre of our faculty members, who will be developing them for the next stage of their careers.”

The two Banting Fellows are:

Dr. Phil Grayson will undertake research titled “The functional and evolutionary consequences of within-species variability in DNA composition of an ancient jawless fish.” He completed his PhD in Biology (Organismic and Evolutionary Biology) at Harvard University, graduating in 2019. He will be working with Dr. Margaret Docker in the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science. Graysons’ Banting Fellowship is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Dr. Lauren Kepkiewicz will undertake research titled “Building relations across difference through food sovereignty in the Canadian Rockies.” She completed her PhD in Human Geography at the University of Toronto, graduating in 2018. She will be working with Dr. Annette Desmarais, Canada Research Chair in Human Rights, Social Justice and Food Sovereignty; in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, Faculty of Arts. Kepkiewicz’s Banting Fellowship is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Vanier Scholarships are awarded to Canada’s top doctoral students, each receiving $150,000 over three years towards their research.

“I was delighted to hear about the success of these four doctoral students in being awarded the Vanier scholarship. They competed at a national level against their peers and were recognized for their amazing achievements. I send my congratulations to them, as they continue to demonstrate their research excellence at UM.” says Dr. Kelley Main, Acting Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies. “I would also like to thank the faculty members who are part of the doctoral programs of these students for their support of the UM Vanier scholars.” 

The four Vanier Scholars are:

Daniel Schwade Arujo, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, will undertake a PhD in Applied Health Sciences. His research examines the metabolomics of frailty and cardiovascular health in older females, supervised by Dr. Todd Duhamel, with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Anne Manson, Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, will study how dietary fat influences sex differences in the formation of bioactive molecules in the heart, supervised by Dr. Harold Aukema, with funding from NSERC.

Felicia Masenu, Anthropology, Faculty of Arts, will study gender (in)equality and women’s movements in Ghana, supervised by Distinguished Professor Ellen Judd, with funding from SSHRC.

Karli Rapinda, Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Arts, will examine how language and type of substance impact substance use stigma and blame, supervised by Drs. Matthew Keough and Harold Wallbridge, with funding from SSHRC.

These four new Vanier Scholars join 37 others who have been awarded to UM doctoral students over the past 13 years, bringing the total to 41 UM Vanier Scholars. The scholarships are administered by Canada’s three federal granting agencies: CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC.

The Vanier program honours distinguished Canadian soldier and diplomat Major-General the Right Honourable Georges Philias Vanier (1888-1967), who served as Governor General of Canada from 1959 to 1967.

The Banting Fellowship honours Nobel Laureate Sir Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin, enabling people with diabetes to live long and healthy lives.

Rachel Nickel will be conducting his research in the Faculty of Science’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, under the supervision of Dr. Johan van Lierop. Her award is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. UM Today caught up with Nickel to chat about how the Vanier Scholarship will support her research titled: Understanding and using the new physics of shape-selective magnetic nanoparticles: New ammunition for attacking biofilms.

Tell us about your thesis and research topic.

My thesis is focused on understanding the role of magnetic nanoparticle shape in biomedical applications. The particles I study are ~50 nm—over 1,000 times smaller than a human hair. Because of their small size and magnetic properties, these nanoparticles have been investigated for their use in drug delivery, cancer treatment and magnetic resonance imaging. I’m interested in how they can be manipulated to destroy biofilms. Biofilms are slimy protective membranes produced by microbes and represent a significant source of infection when they occur on reusable medical devices. These biofilms are incredibly difficult to remove and traditional sanitation methods are ineffective.

My goal is to optimize a system of nanoparticles that attacks bacterial biofilms in three ways. First, an applied magnetic field will be used to drag the nanoparticles through the membrane, causing physical damage. Second, a drug loaded onto the surface of the nanoparticles will induce chemical damage. Third, the application of a high frequency magnetic field will cause the particles to heat. A small increase in temperature causes bacterial dispersal, while a large increase in temperature kills the bacteria. To optimize this system, I will focus on determining the best nanoparticle shape to achieve enhanced drug loading and heating ability.

What got you interested in your topic in the first place?

I was first drawn to this project because of its multidisciplinary, hands-on nature.  Between nanoparticle synthesis, characterization and application testing, I’m able to explore chemistry, physics and microbiology. My research provides insights into the fundamental physics of magnetic nanoparticles, yet is still connected to tangible real-world applications. 

What impact do you hope your research has?

I hope that my research will provide a foundation for clinical treatments using nanoparticles. I think that these systems have enormous potential and would love to see them implemented.

How has writing the thesis been going (if you’re at that stage of your research)?

I actually haven’t started writing my PhD thesis yet, but writing papers has been going well.

How long have you been at UM?

I started as an undergraduate, so I’ve been at UM for eight years.

What does it mean to you to receive a Vanier scholarship?

I feel incredibly fortunate to have received a Vanier scholarship. This award is special because it takes into account more than just academics. I’m thrilled to be a part of such an accomplished and diverse group of scholars across Canada.

What do you do with your time outside of your PhD work?

Outside of my PhD work, I volunteer as a figure skating official through Skate Canada. This year was actually my 10th year of judging! Otherwise, I enjoy cooking and baking: the lockdown has been great for my sourdough J

Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years from now?

I would love to be in a position where I can continue to develop magnetic nanoparticles for various applications. I enjoy the creativity and problem solving aspects of research, so I hope to continue to utilize those skills in the future.