Ten University of Lethbridge researchers have landed $1.175 million in federal funding, part of a $289 million national investment announced July 21, 2026 in Edmonton. Their projects cover education, fine arts, business, liberal education and arts and science, and one project was ranked the best in the country.
Faculty of Education Dean Dr. Lisa Starr received $368,933 for her top-ranked study on gender transformation for young female teachers in Sierra Leone. Close behind was Faculty of Fine Arts Dean Dr. Heather Davis-Fisch, who got $413,116 to explore how English-Canadian theatre has long relied on text-based analysis, often sidelining performances from underrepresented communities.
The funding was announced by Karim Bardeesy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, on behalf of Minister Mélanie Joly. The Government of Canada is backing 1,788 projects across the country through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Lethbridge researchers secured money from Insight Grants, Insight Development Grants and Partnership Engage Grants.
ULethbridge Vice-President Research Dr. Dena McMartin said the success shows how students gain by learning from nationally funded experts. “When students come to study here, they are being educated and work alongside nationally funded researchers across multiple disciplines, many of which lead their fields in research initiatives,” she said, reinforcing the university’s role as a research hub for southern Alberta.
Other funded researchers are Dr. Kaylan Schwarz ($69,014), Dr. David Balcarras ($26,354), Dr. Katharina Stevens ($41,957), Dr. Abdlmutaleb Boshanna ($51,253), Dr. Rhiannon Mesler ($77,198), Dr. Monique Giroux ($34,275), Dr. Dan O’Donnell ($75,000) and Dr. Andrea Cuéllar ($48,825). Their work spans fields like AI ethics, sustainability reporting, academic freedom and Indigenous music traditions.
