Three researchers at Trent are receiving a financial boost for newly launched research projects in Kinesiology, Trent’s School of Education and the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing.

Dr. Kevin Boldt, Dr. Denise Handlarski, and Dr. Abeer Omar are the 2021 recipients of Theall Research Fund grants, funding that is dedicated to supporting the development of young research programs at Trent.

“We are proud to be an institution that fosters innovative and emerging research by young experts in their fields,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice chancellor at Trent University. “A healthy post-secondary institution is one that has a healthy pipeline of research talent, as these individuals bring fresh perspectives and skills that bolster public knowledge, the intellectual advancement of Trent’s undergraduate and graduate students, as well as long-standing research programs.”

This funding also has the potential to open doors for other financial support for Professors Boldt, Handlarski and Omar.

“Researchers who receive grants early on in their careers are more likely to access larger pools of funding in the future,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, vice president of Research & Innovation. “In particular, these grants can be very useful when applying to federal funding programs, including NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR.”

2021 Theall Research Fund Projects

Understanding Benefits of Hot Yoga: Dr. Kevin Boldt, assistant professor in Kinesiology, is investigating the perceived benefits of hot yoga, one of the most popular forms of the practice among the general population. The study of yoga from a physiological perspective is limited and the underlying mechanisms leading to adaptation to yoga are not well understood. Professor Boldt will look into whether performing yoga in the heat provides additional benefit to performing yoga at room temperature.

Addressing the Loneliness Epidemic: Dr. Denise Handlarski, assistant professor at Trent’s School of Education, is synthesizing research on how religious and cultural institutions and groups are evolving to address the loneliness epidemic. Professor Handlarski seeks to understand how a world in which traditional religion is in sharp decline meets a world in which profound loneliness is on the rise.

Overcoming Language Barriers in Healthcare: Dr. Abeer Omar, assistant professor in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, is investigating the use of voice-to-voice translation with non-English speaking patients in healthcare settings. Professor Omar will study the feasibility of using smart voice-to-voice (VTVT) devices in addressing the issue of language barriers and accessing health services for non-English-speaking immigrants, refugees and residents in Canada.

More Funding Opportunities for Early Researchers

In an effort to advance research programs at Trent, the Office of Research and Innovation has launched the Early Career Researcher Award, an annual award worth $5,000 recognizing up to two early-career, promising researchers at Trent and designed to help accelerate early-stage career faculty in building a sustainable research program. Nominations for award candidates are due March 1, 2022.

Email research@trentu.ca for more information about this award, including eligibility.