Svetlana Barkanova
Dr.
Program: Physics
Email: sbarkanova@mun.ca
Phone: 709 639-6554
Office: AS 3021
Research Interests
Theoretical Subatomic Physics; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in STEM
Teaching
Astronomy, Astrophysics, Modern Physics, Subatomic Physics, Quantum Mechanics
Representative scholarly contributions
Corina Andreoiu, Svetlana Barkanova, Gregory Christian, …, Ruben Sandapen (2026) – The 2027–2034 Vision for Nuclear Physics in Canada, with an outlook to 2041 (strategic community planning report, arXiv).
Contribution: Co-author of a strategic long-range planning document outlining priorities, opportunities, and national coordination across nuclear and subatomic physics research in Canada.
Mahumm Ghaffar, Aleksandrs Aleksejevs, Svetlana Barkanova (2025) – Higher order electroweak radiative corrections in lepton-proton scattering using covariant approach (arXiv:2507.22097).
Contribution: Two-loop (NNLO) electroweak radiative corrections for parity-violating lepton-proton scattering processes — crucial theoretical inputs for high-precision experiments like MOLLER, P2, and Qweak.
Svetlana Barkanova, Gwen Grinyer, Juliette Mammei, Carolyn Sealfon, Anastasia Smolina (2025) – Striving for Equity in Canadian Physics (arXiv:2511.21525).
Contribution: Proceedings article at the 8th International Conference on Women in Physics (ICWIP23) discussing data-driven equity trends and national initiatives (NSERC CSWE/CISE) to improve representation and inclusion.
Garrett Richards & Svetlana Barkanova (2025) – How to Do STEM Outreach Evaluation (arXiv:2512.20713).
Contribution: A methods paper developing evaluation tools and recommendations for assessing the effectiveness of STEM outreach programs, particularly in a Canadian context.
Current research projects and grants
1. NSERC Discovery Research Grant (Subatomic Physics)
Sponsor: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Research Focus: Multi-loop theoretical calculations for precision experiments in subatomic physics (e.g., electroweak radiative corrections and tests of the Standard Model via precision scattering processes).
2. NSERC Chair for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (Atlantic)
Sponsor: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) – Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE) program
Project Focus: Regional leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in STEM across Atlantic Canada.
3. Corporate Support for STEM Outreach (Memorial / Cenovus Collaboration)
Supporter: Cenovus Energy Ltd. (corporate partner)
Focus: Physics outreach targeting girls, Indigenous students, and youth in rural and remote communities