Five UCalgary postdocs awarded innovation fellowship

The research of five UCalgary postdoctoral fellows is getting a boost thanks to Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards.

The awards, which are managed by the Faculty of Science, are handed out annually to postdocs who demonstrate a track record of innovation translating research results into societal impact. 

The 2025 recipients are:

Dr. David Borkenhagen, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

Borkenhagen’s research is evaluating the effectiveness of a community-based initiative in youth mental health collaborating with research partners in Iceland where a similar program was previously implemented. 

Supervisor: Dr. Paul Arnold. MD, PhD

Dr. Mona Parizadeh, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

Parizadeh is developing and leading a digital Research Computing Bootcamp that applies open-access and equity principles, supporting immigrant and international researchers, promoting inclusive participation in national research systems, and regularly evaluating participant satisfaction to improve impact.

Supervisor: Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta, PhD

Dr. Tahereh Rashnavadi, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

Rashnavadi is developing a novel analysis tool used to enhance treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy research 

Supervisor: Dr. Pierre Levan, PhD

Dr. Kaylee Rich, PhD, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Rich is developing new methods to gain biological insights from complex datasets, with applications in infectious disease and precision medicine. More info on Rich's work can be found below. 

Supervisor: Dr. Jeroen de Buck, PhD

Dr. Anastasiia Stepanchuk, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

Stepanchuk is developing novel spectral pathology methods (ex. molecular tissue analysis) to study neurodegeneration, such as dementia. All while starting a social enterprise based in neuroscience, psychology and culture including participants from neurodivergent groups, multicultural communities and the elderly.

Supervisor: Dr. Peter Stys, MD

In depth: Researching bacterial infection in dairy cattle

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine postdoctoral researcher Dr. Kaylee Rich's research focuses on combating mastitis in dairy cattle, a widespread bacterial infection that poses significant challenges for the dairy industry. Working under the supervision of Dr. Jeroen de Buck, PhD, Rich is developing innovative approaches to prevent and treat this costly disease without relying on prophylactic antibiotics. 

Mastitis, commonly caused by staphylococcal infections, has become increasingly difficult to treat due to growing antibiotic resistance. Rich's research takes a new approach by examining the complex bacterial communities within the mammary gland microbiome. 

"Rather than focusing solely on the bacteria causing infection, I'm investigating the beneficial bacteria that coexist in the mammary gland," Rich explains. "The goal is to identify strains that could potentially alter the microbiome, like a natural probiotic, in ways that help prevent infection or reduce the severity of disease.” 

Her work involves analyzing dairy farm samples where, in collaboration with researchers at McGill University, she analyzes the genomes of bacterial isolates to understand the genetic factors that make a difference in the severity of an infection. 

Finding these beneficial genetic factors presents a significant computational challenge. "We're dealing with thousands of genes across hundreds of samples, which create massive, complex datasets," Rich notes. "Traditional analysis methods require tons of computing power—even using the university's computational servers—and they typically focus only on genes we already know about." 

To address this bottleneck, Rich has developed a machine learning approach that dramatically reduces both the time and computational resources needed for analysis. "My method makes it possible to discover novel gene combinations that we might have missed using conventional approaches," she explains. "This is crucial because the most important genetic patterns for preventing disease might be completely unknown to us right now." 

From pathogen research to prevention strategies 

Rich brings valuable experience from her doctoral work at UCalgary in Dr. James Wasmuth's, PhD, laboratory, where she studied pathogens and their interactions with host organisms. This background has been instrumental in her current research approach. 

“We're looking at the number of immune cells as an indicator of infection presence and severity," Rich says. "By comparing the bacteria present in samples from animals with signs of infection to those without, we can identify previously unknown gene patterns associated with infection severity, as well as probiotics that could help protect against severe infections." 

Her research aims to discover groups of genes that could be developed into diagnostic tests, potentially revolutionizing how the dairy industry monitors and manages mammary gland health. 

Her research represents a crucial step toward reducing antibiotic dependence in livestock agriculture while maintaining high standards of animal welfare and milk production quality—a goal that aligns perfectly with current priorities in sustainable agriculture and antimicrobial stewardship. 

Innovation through collaboration 

The Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowship is awarded to postdoctoral fellows with a track record of innovation activities that translate research results into societal impact. Each recipient’s work exemplifies this mission through a collaborative approach with industry partners and a focus on developing practical solutions for real-world challenges. 

The application deadline for the fellowship is in May of each year. Find out more.