USask spotlights Postdoc Appreciation Week by celebrating two award-winning scholars
SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is proud to celebrate Postdoc Appreciation Week by recognizing the outstanding achievements of two post-doctoral scholars whose research is making a significant impact across disciplines.
Dr. Crystal Giesbrecht (PhD) and Dr. Fernanda Mascaren (PhD) have each received prestigious fellowships, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship and the Misiwêskamik International Postdoctoral Fellowship, respectively, highlighting their contributions to research and innovation.
Postdoc Appreciation Week is an international celebration held each September to acknowledge the vital role post-doctoral scholars play in advancing knowledge and driving discovery. At USask, this week serves as an opportunity to spotlight the exceptional work of researchers like Giesbrecht and Mascarenhas, whose efforts are shaping the future of their fields.
Giesbrecht, who completed her PhD at the University of Regina, has been awarded the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, a highly competitive two-year Tri-Agency award valued at $140,000. Her research focuses on intimate partner violence (IPV), specifically examining the personality traits of male perpetrators, rates of repeat offences, and the effectiveness of treatment and case management protocols. Giesbrecht brings over a decade of experience as director of research at the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS) and now works with USask’s Dr. Keira Stockdale (PhD) to develop more tailored approaches to IPV intervention.
Mascarenhas, originally from Uberlandia, Brazil, is the recipient of the Misiwêskamik International Postdoctoral Fellowship, which supports exceptional international scholars at USask. Her research investigates how mitochondrial dysfunction in microglia—the brain’s immune cells—contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Working under the supervision of Dr. Ana Paula Mendes Silva (PhD) and Dr. Tyler Wenzel (PhD), Mascarenhas aims to uncover mechanisms that could lead to more effective and personalized treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.
“During Postdoc Appreciation Week, we celebrate the vital contributions of all of our post-doctoral scholars who elevate the research excellence of USask,” said Dr. Debby Burshtyn (PhD), dean of the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS). “Congratulations to Dr. Crystal Giesbrecht and Dr. Fernanda Mascarenhas on receiving the Banting and Misiwêskamik fellowships. We are very proud of your accomplishments and pleased to have recruited you to USask.”
As part of the celebration, CGPS is hosting a series of events to honour and support post-doctoral researchers across campus.
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For media inquiries, contact:
Victoria Dinh
USask Media Relations
306-966-5487
victoria.dinh@usask.ca