Memorial Researchers Receive Significant Federal Funding Boost

Memorial University continues to excel in its research endeavors, with over $6 million in federal funding awarded in March to advance their research on a variety of critical topics, including waste management, soil health, and climate change. Among the departments, Psychology stood out with several students securing Tri-Council funding.  

Federal Support for Research Excellence  

This announcement was made by Pablo Rodriguez, minister of Transport of Canada and Quebec lieutenant, on behalf of Francois-Phillipe Champagne, minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Mark Holland, minister of Health. In total, over $1.7 billion was designated for researchers and students nationwide, with Memorial University receiving a substantial portion. 

“Today we celebrate the inspiring work of our incredibly talented researchers and their teams,” said Dr. Tana Allen, Vice-President (Research). “The ongoing support of the federal government allows our researchers to be innovative as they seek solutions to global problems and provide essential training for the next generation. Warmest congratulations to those receiving support as you take your projects to the next level.”  

From our department, the following students received Tri-council funding: 

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council  

• Tori B. Carter (SSHRC, $17,500)- Exploring Sport Officials Mental Health in Canada  

• Laura Couturier (SSHRC, $17,500)- A Longitudinal Study of Weight Stigma and Health-Related Behaviors in Young Adulthood: The Role of Shame, Social Safeness, and Self-Compassion 

• Brooke B. Hiscock (SSHRC, $17,500)- The Mental Well-Being of Indigenous Women: Socioeconomic Factors and Help-Seeking Behaviors. 

• Brianna E. George (SSHRC, $17,500)- The Mental Well-Being of Indigenous Women. 

• Amy J. Parsons (SSHRC, $60,000)- Exploring the Experiences of Psychiatric Weaponization Among Alberta's Frontline Healthcare Workers who Have Disclosed Psychiatric Diagnoses in the Workplace- An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis 

• Kerri Mozessohn (SSHRC, $17,500)- Grandma Doesnt Need to Know: Measuring Support from Friends and Family for Identifying as a Recovering Addict 

Canadian Institutes of Health Research   

• Shona Campbell (CIHR, $17,500)- Mechanism of Chemotherapy-Induced Inhibition of Wake-Promoting Orexin Neurons: Implications for Chemotherapy Induced Fatigue. 

• Grant Kelly (CIHR, $17,500)- Assessing the Mechanisms Behind, and the Human Relevance of, an Observed Adipocyte-Induced Partial Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells.  

• Evan Mackenzie (CIHR, $17,500)- AGEility: Mapping the Age-Related Changes in Corticospinal Tract Integrity and Lower Limb Functioning.  

“Seeing the number and quality of applications from students and post-doctoral research fellows for research funding this past cycle was inspiring,” said Dr. Amy Warren, associate vice-president (academic) and dean, School of Graduate Studies. “With many of them ultimately getting awarded research funding, it is further evidence of their outstanding skills as researchers and as leaders within Memorial. We are fortunate to have all these researchers choose Memorial, and they are a model of success in research graduate programs. The team at the School of Graduate Studies collectively congratulates all the recipients on their awards.” 

Faculty Funding 

In addition to these achievements, the university received a boost in June from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Counsil (NSERC), when $9.1 million was awarded to support 45 researchers across 16 disciplines. Among the key recipients from the Faculty of Science was Dr. Jaqueline Blundell from the Psychology department, who secured $235,000 for her project titled The Long Shadow of Fear. 

A Commitment to Innovation  

The investment from the Government of Canada will support Memorial’s scholars and scientists as they continue to address pressing global issues. The funded projects underscore the university’s dedication to innovation and training the next generation of researchers, while making significant contributions to various fields.  

Stay Informed    

For more details and a complete list of Memorials funded researchers, visit the Gazettes website. For more detailed information on individual projects and researchers, stay tuned for upcoming stories in the Gazette and explore Memorial’s Research Strategy 2023-28 to learn more about ongoing initiatives.