From developments in neurodegenerative disease studies to critical explorations of social media’s impact on gender, graduate student research at Brock is making waves in many fields.

The impact of interdisciplinary research by master’s and PhD students was celebrated Wednesday, April 9 during the 20th annual Mapping New Knowledges (MNK) Research Conference and Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (FGPSA) awards ceremony.

“MNK is one of our most exciting events of the year. It’s where we see the energy, creativity and hard work of our graduate students come to life,” says Suzanne Curtin, FGPSA Vice-Provost and Dean. “We’re proud to celebrate its 20th year as it’s a vital part of building a culture of academic exchange and recognizing the leadership and innovation that our graduate community brings to the university and beyond.”

Suzanne Curtin, Vice-Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs and Debbie Inglis, Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute Director, chatted about knowledge mobilization during MNK’s first fireside chat.

The conference opened in a packed Goodman Atrium with opening remarks and an awards ceremony highlighting outstanding contributions within Brock’s graduate community.

The morning also featured the first fireside chat on knowledge mobilization with Curtin and Debbie Inglis, Director of Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), that highlighted practical applications of graduate research.

The day continued with a series of research presentations, breakout sessions featuring specialized research topics and interactive discussions designed to foster collaboration among researchers from a wide array of disciplines. Graduate researchers also had opportunities to share their work with the community through poster presentations, with more than 50 students participating.

The FGSPA awards ceremony saw 14 graduate students and mentors honoured.

PhD in Psychology student Oya Pakkal was recognized with the Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award for her exemplary leadership and contributions to the advancement of graduate studies at Brock.

“I am so honoured to receive the Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award. To have my work in advancing equity for marginalized students recognized in this way feels incredibly meaningful,” says Pakkal.

The award is presented annually to a student, staff member or faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership within Brock’s graduate community.

“For me, leadership is about showing up for others and working to build academic spaces where everyone feels valued and supported,” Pakkal says. “I’m especially grateful to my supervisor Dr. Liz Shulman, as well as Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani and Dr. Naomi Andrews, for nominating me for this recognition and for their unwavering support throughout my advocacy and leadership journey in academia.”

The 2025 FGSPA award winners include:

Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award

• Oya Pakkal(MA ’23), PhD in Psychology

Michael Plyley Graduate Mentorship Awards

• Professor Anteneh Ayanso, Finance, Operations and Information Systems
• Professor Shauna Pomerantz, Child and Youth Studies

Suzanne Curtin-Christopher Yendt Graduate Collaboration Award

• Larissa Lobo, PhD in Applied Health Sciences

Jack M. Miller Excellence in Research Awards

• Nathaniel Iannarelli (BSc ’18, MSc ’21), PhD in Applied Health Science
• Jordan Masi (BSc ’22), Master of Science in Applied Health Science
• Jennifer Pirosko (BA ’03, BEd ’04), PhD in Education
• Lauren Berry, Master of Arts in History
• Long Vu, PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanities
• Jacob Wiebe (BSc ’23), Master of Biological Science
• Hamed Bakhshi, PhD in Chemistry
• Sophia Thierry (MA ’21), PhD in Psychology
• Lulu Larcenciel, Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies
• Moyosore Babalola, Master of Science in Management

Visit the 2025 MNK digital conference program for a full list of sessions, event details and presenter abstracts.