The Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship

Transdisciplinary Academic Co-Leads

Supporting the integration of transdisciplinary scholarship at UCalgary across our campuses and within our communities 

UCalgary is excited to announce the appointment of 16 Academic Co-Leads at the Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship (ITS)

The role of an ITS Academic Co-Lead is to advance and expand transdisciplinary scholarship at UCalgary.

Academic Co-Lead Roles and Responsibilities

In collaboration with the campus community and external partners/actors, the role is to:  

Amplify the mission of ITS as it relates to describing transdisciplinarity for UCalgary, building new capacity for transdisciplinary scholarship, amplifying existing capacity for transdisciplinary scholarship, and identifying and mitigating barriers to transdisciplinary scholarship. 

Action high-priority transdisciplinary scholarship activities, events, and initiatives. This includes developing large-scale, self-sustaining efforts on challenges and opportunities that demand a transdisciplinary approach. 

Support the integration of diverse knowledge systems across disciplines and communities. 

Engage scholars, students, and trainees in transdisciplinary scholarship within our campus and beyond.  

Academic Co-Lead Appointment Details

Position Terms

The position requires close collaboration with: colleagues, the Office of the Vice-President (Research), and the Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship.   

  • Appointment Term: 0.1 FTE position over 3 Years (from May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2027).  

Area of Focus

Each Academic Co-Lead works within one of five Areas of Focus: 

  • Cities and Societies 
  • Digital Worlds 
  • Energy Futures 
  • Health and Life 
  • Democracy, Justice, and Sustainability 

Each area of focus includes a team of Academic Co-Leads and a Senior Specialist in transdisciplinary scholarship.

Program Lead

Steven Bryant, Ph.D. 
Academic Lead, Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship 
steven.bryant@ucalgary.ca    

Meet the ITS Academic Co-Leads: Cities and Societies

Ways to design, plan, and build sustainable, healthy communities to ensure all societal members thrive. Considers technology, innovations in smart cities, transportation, infrastructure, biodiversity, healthy cities and populations, and designing for equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Dr. Victoria Fast

Dr. Victoria Fast

Associate Professor 
Faculty of Arts
Department of Geography  
victoria.fast@ucalgary.ca  
View bio

Josh Taron

Josh Taron

Associate Professor 
School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape 
jmtaron@ucalgary.ca
View bio

Dr. Ajwang’ Warria

Dr. Ajwang’ Warria

Associate Professor 
Social Work 
ajwang.warria@ucalgary.ca  
View bio

Meet the ITS Academic Co-Leads: Digital Worlds

How data can be used to expand and create connections to inform a world with no boundaries. Considers how we can harness new technologies and themes of extended reality, human connection and enrichment, intelligent tools, security, ethics, regulations and law, and socio-culture transformation.

Dr. Marina Gavrilova

Dr. Marina Gavrilova

Acting Associate Dean (Research)
Faculty of Science 
mgavrilo@ucalgary.ca
View bio

Dr. Mohammad Keyhani

Dr. Mohammad Keyhani

Associate Professor
Haskayne School of Business 
mohammad.keyhani@haskayne.ucalgary.ca
View bio

Dr. Tyler Williamson

Dr. Tyler Williamson

Associate Professor
Cumming School of Medicine  
tyler.williamson@ucalgary.ca
View bio

Meet the ITS Academic Co-Leads: Energy Futures

The evolving energy system, how potential scenarios might develop over time, and the technological, economic, social, and political opportunities and challenges. Considers climate and environment, energy use and sources, politics and policy, economics, and the socio-cultural role of energy. ​

Dr. Sabrina Perić

Dr. Sabrina Perić

Associate Professor 
Faculty of Arts,, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology 
speric@ucalgary.ca 
View bio

Dr. Douglas Robb

Dr. Douglas Robb

Assistant Professor
School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape 
douglas.robb@ucalgary.ca 
View bio

Dr. Gregory Welch

Dr. Gregory Welch

Professor 
Faculty of Science 
gregory.welch@ucalgary.ca 
View bio

Meet the ITS Academic Co-Leads: Health and Life

Child health and wellness, cancer, inflammatory and chronic diseases, brain and mental health, cardiovascular health, bone and joint health, public health, and others. Considers biomedical engineering, health informatics, nursing, and themes of biodiversity and health and wellbeing for people, animals, and the environment. Builds on UCalgary's network of health research institutes. 

Dr. Elena Di Martino

Dr. Elena Di Martino

Professor
Schulich School of Engineering  
edimarti@ucalgary.ca
View bio

Dr. Jenny Godley

Dr. Jenny Godley

Professor
Faculty of Arts  
jgodley@ucalgary.ca
View bio

Dr. Nicole Letourneau

Dr. Nicole Letourneau

Professor
Faculty of Nursing 
nicole.letourneau@ucalgary.ca
View bio

Meet the ITS Academic Co-Leads: Democracy, Justice, and Sustainability

Transforming institutions, governments, societies, and spaces to be equitable, inclusive, and diverse. Considers justice, democracy, freedom, autonomy, pluralism, anti-racism, and decolonization - through a lens of sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. *Intersects all focus areas.

Dr. Aleem Bharwani

Dr. Aleem Bharwani

Professor 
Cumming School of Medicine 
ambharwa@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Tonya Callaghan

Dr. Tonya Callaghan

Associate Professor 
Werklund School of Education 
tdacalla@ucalgary.ca 
View bio

Dr. Patrina Duhaney

Dr. Patrina Duhaney

Assistant Professor 
Faculty of Social Work 
patrina.duhaney@ucalgary.ca 
View bio

Dr. Marjan Eggermont

Dr. Marjan Eggermont

Professor (Teaching) 
Schulich School of Engineering 
meggermo@ucalgary.ca 
View bio

ITS Fall Gathering 2023

ITS appoints 16 academic co-leads

June 28, 2024 

New appointments will support expanding transdisciplinary scholarship at UCalgary 

Sixteen UCalgary faculty members have joined the Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship (ITS) as the inaugural cohort of academic co-leads.

Read more

The Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship

The Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship

ITS is a connection point, from research institutes to individual scholars, designed for the learning and development of transdisciplinary scholarship across our UCalgary campuses and in partnership with communities. We aim to support the advancement of the global ecosystem of transdisciplinary research impact, scholarship leadership, and community mobilization activities using a collaborative approach informed by multiple perspectives.