Trent University is advancing national research capacity, welcoming three new emerging scholars from around the world supported by Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards. 

Three researchers have received a combined $380,000 through the new national initiative supporting outstanding postdoctoral fellows and doctoral students pursuing research in Canada. The funding will support projects at Trent spanning artificial intelligence, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and environmental genomics.

"Supporting emerging scholars to build their careers at Trent means investing in research that is responsive to local communities," said Dr. Stephanie Rutherford, interim vice president of Research & Innovation at Trent.

"The Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards attract outstanding researchers whose work will contribute to the environmental, social, cultural, and economic well-being of the Peterborough and Durham regions, and advance research strengths at Trent."

Dr. Julie Bannon, postdoctoral fellow in Psychology - Leveraging NLP to understand language use across the lifespan

Dr. Julie Bannon has received a 2026 Canada Impact+ Postdoctoral Research Training Award from NSERC and will join Trent's Department of Psychology at the Durham GTA campus to work with Dr. Raheleh Saryazdi. Building on her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology at McMaster University and postdoctoral research at University of California, Davis, Dr. Bannon is using natural language processing (NLP) to examine how speech changes across the lifespan and in interactions between humans and artificial intelligence. Her research aims to improve understanding of communication and support new approaches for identifying and addressing language-related disorders. 

Zhenzhen He, Environmental & Life Sciences Ph.D. - Ancient environmental DNA reveals long-term microbial responses to Arctic climate change:  

Arriving from Uppsala University, where she completed her master's degree after earning an undergraduate degree at the University of Edinburgh, Zhenzhen He will investigate how Arctic microbial communities have responded to climate change over thousands of years using ancient environmental DNA. Working with Trent's advanced DNA sequencing infrastructure, her work as a Ph.D. candidate will contribute to the University's Strategic Research Plan focused on healthy and sustainable environments and communities. 

Radhika Rani, Environmental & Life Sciences Ph.D. - Synergies in food production and greenhouse mitigation in cities

Radhika Rani joins Trent as a Ph.D. candidate after completing an award-winning master's degree at University of New Hampshire and earlier studies at Punjab Agricultural University. Working in Dr. Kira Borden's lab, Radhika will examine how sustainable farming practices can improve soil carbon storage, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen food production in urban and peri-urban agriculture. Supported through a national sustainable agriculture research initiative, the work will include field studies at Trent Farm and across the Greater Toronto Area, helping address food security and environmental sustainability in rapidly growing urban regions. 

Learn more about Trent’s Psychology and Environmental & Life Science Ph.D. programs.