Announcement: 2026 Arts & Science USRA Recipients

Each academic year, six Arts & Science students receive an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) and spend their summer conducting research on a scholarly project of interest to them. The USRAs are designed to cultivate and support research partnerships between undergraduate students and faculty members, and to give students an introduction to high-level research and an opportunity to explore their interests.

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2026 Arts & Science Undergraduate Student Research Awards:

Matthew Cianchetti, Artsci Level II

Research Project: Navigating Contradictory Public Policy: Understanding how Toronto’s Outreach Support Workers Respond to the Displacement of Homeless Encampments
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Rob Wilton, Professor of Social Geography
Project Description: This research project examines the challenges posed by the displacement of encampments and constrained public resources on Outreach Support Workers’ (OSWs) ability to connect encampment residents with appropriate services. Through conducting interviews with OSWs, the project aims to discuss these challenges and contextualize them within a broader theoretical framework. 

Luisa Coskun, Artsci Level II

Research Project: Looting at Pacatnamú: Monitoring the Detrimental Effects of Illegal Looting at the Archaeological Site of Pacatnamú, Peru.
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Giles Spence Morrow, Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Project Description: Applying on-site research methods, such as drones and walking surveys, to track the ongoing detrimental effects of illegal looting at the archaeological site of Pacatnamú, Peru. The synthesis of this data will be used to build a framework that protects the targeted areas and the repatriation of illegally obtained goods.

Lilah Dagenais, Artsci Level II

Research Project: A Type of Institution: Understanding Global Student Mental Health within the University Environment
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. James Gillett, Associate Professor in Health Aging and Society
Project Description: This project examines how university students understand the university as a source of mental health support and stress. Using qualitative interview data from the World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) initiative—a Harvard-led, multi-country research consortium—I will analyze how students narrate university life across national and cultural contexts. 

Ali Panju, Artsci Level III

Research Project: Associations Between Childhood Movement Behaviours and Adiposity in South Asian Children
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Gita Wahi, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics
Project Description: This project uses longitudinal data from the South Asian Birth Cohort, a 10-year prospective cohort study, this project examines whether early-childhood movement patterns characterized by physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep are associated with adiposity in later childhood among South Asian children. This work may help identify modifiable early-life factors that could reduce excess adiposity and long-term cardiometabolic risk in a high-risk population.

Nicole Sia, Artsci Level II

Research Project: Investigating the Determinants Impacting Gynecological Procedure Wait Times in Canada
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Anastasios Papanastasiou, Assistant Professor in Economics
Project Description: This project will investigate the association between various determinants and the wait times in Canada for different gynecological procedures. Through quantitative analysis of data and development of regression models, this project will aim to inform evidence-based strategies to improve wait times and alleviate the burden on obstetric and gynecological departments.

Sofia Sikka-Patel, Artsci Level II

Research Project: Progesterone and Muscle Protein Synthesis in Naturally Menstruating Females
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Stuart Phillips, Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Skeletal Muscle Health
Project Description: This project examines how progesterone influences muscle protein synthesis in response to weightlifting in naturally menstruating females. By addressing this significant gap in research regarding female-specific muscle physiology, I aim to improve our understanding of hormonal effects on skeletal muscle health to inform evidence-based training strategies for women throughout their lifespan.

Click here to learn more about the Arts & Science Undergraduate Student Research Awards and the work of past Artsci student recipients.