Dalhousie University Faculty of Graduate Studies

10/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our annual Killam Celebration today as we welcomed our newest Killam award recipients and celebrated the lasting impact of the Killam legacy at Dalhousie!

A special shoutout to our incredible Killam Predoctoral Scholars, MSc candidate Anna Gleason and PhD candidates Lindsay Johnston and Saisha Rankaduwa, who shared "Beyond Brilliant" presentations on their research. Their talks explored everything from how vitamin B12 shapes marine microbial communities, to the conditions that allow toxic bacteria to thrive in urban lakes, to how the brain processes language during conversation. We also heard from Killam Memorial Chair Dr. Frank Rudzicz, whose research is harnessing artificial intelligence to improve health-care delivery and advance other prosocial goals.

We can't wait to see where the next year of discovery and innovation takes our Killam community!

Curious about Killam awards at Dal? Learn more: https://buff.ly/DAnHsJT

08/24/2026

Deadline extended! Apply by Friday, September 4, 2026 at 4 p.m. (AT)

Are you a PhD student at Dal? Apply for our inaugural MicroResearch program to turn local questions into evidence-informed action through hands-on research training, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Applications close tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 21) at 4 p.m.!

Learn more: https://buff.ly/3tdNAS0

08/20/2026

Are you a PhD student at Dal? Apply for our inaugural MicroResearch program to turn local questions into evidence-informed action through hands-on research training, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Applications close tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 21) at 4 p.m.!

Learn more: https://buff.ly/3tdNAS0

07/29/2026

The latest content from our 2026 OpenThink cohort is now live!

This month, our researchers explore topics ranging from how childhood trauma is measured (and what current approaches may be overlooking), to the factors that inspire social entrepreneurs to transform ideas into meaningful impact.

Follow along throughout the year as these 15 ambitious Dalhousie PhD students share their research with audiences beyond academia: https://buff.ly/lgNUny2

06/26/2026

Meet our 2026 Dal OpenThink cohort — 15 ambitious Dal PhD students ready to share their research beyond academia through public engagement! https://buff.ly/LzcvQDl

06/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Full Faculty Council Meeting today and joined us in celebrating the recipients of the Dalhousie Doctoral Thesis Awards, the Governor General’s Gold Medals and the FGS Distinguished Service Awards! 🎉

Huge congratulations to all of this year's impressive student recipients ⬇️

Dalhousie Doctoral Thesis Award:
-Dr. Melanie Smith, Sociology (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences)
-Dr. Anu Adamson, Chemistry (Engineering, Medical Sciences & Natural Sciences)

Governor General's Gold Medal:
-Cora Fletcher, Political Science (Humanities & Social Sciences)
-Tamina Kirsch, Chemistry (Sciences & Engineering)

And to our incredible faculty and support staff recipients ⬇️

FGS Distinguished Service Award:
-Lea Gawne, Administrative Assistant of Graduate Studies, Department of Chemistry (Support Staff)
-Dr. Jill Hayden, Professor, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology (Faculty)

(Pictured left to right: Faculty of Graduate Studies Dean Christian Blouin, Dr. Jill Hayden & Tamina Kirsch)

05/06/2026

We'd like to extend a huge congratulations to all of this year's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Essay Competition award winners and runners-up celebrated last week! 🎉

Special shoutout to the incredible graduate students who impressed the selection committee with their essays, including Master of Social Work student and this year's Irving and Jeanne Glovin Award Winner, Mia MacKenzie, as well as the following runners-up:

⭐️ Irving and Jeanne Glovin Award: Fatemeh Mahdizadeh Karizaki and Sarah Norris (PhD candidates in Health)

⭐️ Mushkat Memorial Essay Prize: Elizabeth S. Cameron (PhD student in Sociology) and Christopher Sanford Beck (MA student in Philosophy)

Learn more about the awards and watch recordings of the celebration: https://buff.ly/UbYVmTE

04/30/2026

In late March, Dalhousie held its 15th annual Impact Awards, celebrating high-achieving Dal students and their endeavors outside of course work. 🎉 We'd like to extend a huge congratulations to all of this year's award recipients, including those within the Faculty of Graduate Studies:

⭐️ Outstanding Graduate Student Award: Timi Idris (Health)

⭐️ Sustainability Award (presented by Build Nova Scotia) & Student Entrepreneur of the Year (presented by Pomerleau): Nicoletta Dini (Medicine)

⭐️ International Student of the Year: Patricia Porto de Barros Ayaz (Arts and Social Sciences)

⭐️ Faculty Leadership Impact Awards:
🔹 Tyler Schmidt-Schaun (Agriculture)
🔹 Maya Bellamy (Arts & Social Sciences)
🔹 Juliet Rowe (Health)
🔹 Annika Benson (Medicine)
🔹 Not pictured: Mahmoud Istanbouli (Architecture & Planning)

⭐️ Intramural & Sports Club Award (not pictured): Kate Frost (Science)

Read the article and see the full list of awardees: https://buff.ly/cOxjFAd

04/07/2026

Last week, Dal’s annual 3 Minute Thesis competition showcased 13 student researchers and their brilliant work. Materials engineering PhD student Claire Floras won for her rapid-fire presentation on extending lithium‑ion battery lifetimes. Congratulations, Claire! 🎉

Dalhousie’s fast‑paced 3MT finals spotlighted student innovation, with materials engineering PhD student Claire Floras rising to the top by translating complex battery science into a compelling, judge‑winning pitch.

03/26/2026

⏲️ Blink and you’ll miss it!

Join us for the 3 Minute Thesis finals — Dal’s annual battle of brains and brevity — this coming Tuesday (March 31) at 6 p.m. Watch 13 brilliant finalists race the clock to share their research in just three minutes.

Hosted by CBC’s Brett Ruskin, the event features big ideas, cash prizes, a spot at the regional competition and your vote for the People’s Choice Award. Can’t attend in person? Catch the livestream on YouTube!

Event details, finalists & livestream link: https://buff.ly/GNZbPEB