By Ahmed Minhas
Photos by Laura Hunter
Carleton University researchers, Jenny Bruin and Laura Horak, have been awarded the prestigious Dorothy Killam Fellowship, one of Canada’s top academic honours. With two of only eight chosen nationally, Carleton’s researchers are being increasingly recognized for their research excellence. The Dorothy Killam Fellowships recognize scholars of exceptional ability whose research has national and global significance.
Bruin and Horak’s work — on the environmental links to diabetes and transgender media, respectively — underscores the significance of their research and Carleton’s leadership in producing world-class scholars.
“As a Killam Fellowship alum, I know firsthand what a tremendous honour it is to receive this recognition and the profound impact it has on advancing scholarship,” says Carleton University President and Vice-Chancellor, Wisdom Tettey.
“My heartfelt congratulations to professors Bruin and Horak on receiving this prestigious award, which reflects both the excellence of their research and Carleton’s distinction as a hub of global leadership in these particular areas of scholarship. We are incredibly proud of them and we look forward to seeing the impact of their work.”
Investigating Environmental Factors in the Development of Diabetes
Jenny Bruin, a professor in the Department of Biology and the Institute of Biochemistry, is addressing a growing public health concern: the link between environmental pollutants and rising diabetes rates. Her research investigates how these pollutants affect insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, which regulate blood sugar. She is also studying the link between chemotherapy and diabetes in cancer survivors .
“We know diabetes rates are rising, but we don’t fully understand why,” says Bruin.
“Environmental pollutants may be playing a much bigger role than previously thought and our research is working to uncover those hidden risks.”
Carleton University researcher Jenny Bruin
Bruin’s lab is examining how chemicals found in everyday products, such as PFAS (also known as “forever chemicals”) and certain chemotherapy drugs may increase the risk of diabetes. PFAS, commonly found in household and commercial products like non-stick cookware and waterproof clothing, have been linked to metabolic disorders. The Canadian government recently declared them toxic, citing research that includes a study led by one of Bruin’s graduate students. Meanwhile, chemotherapy drugs that save lives can also have unintended consequences for long-term metabolic health.
“The Dorothy Killam Fellowship provides me with the time to focus on the interconnected aspects of my research on PFAS, from human studies to lab experiments,” explains Bruin.
“It enables me to bring these findings together, analyze their significance and ensure that our research is effectively communicated to both policymakers and scientists.”
Bruin hopes to raise public awareness of how environmental exposures contribute to diabetes and the urgent need for stronger regulations. By uncovering hidden environmental risks, her research supports stronger health protections and advances medical treatments for future generations.
“It’s a really big honour to be selected along with the other Killam Fellows,” says Bruin.
Championing and Preserving the Legacy of Transgender Filmmaking
For Laura Horak, a professor in Film Studies in the School for Studies in Art and Culture, film is more than entertainment, it’s a powerful tool that shapes how gender and sexuality are understood. Her research examines the rise, decline and rise again, of trans cinema in Canada, particularly its peak in the 1990s.
“Trans filmmakers have long been telling their own stories, but their work is often overlooked or lost. My research is about making sure their contributions are recognized and supported,” says Horak.
Carleton University researcher Laura Horak
Horak leads the Transgender Media Lab, which created the Transgender Media Portal to share information about trans-made films with the public. With the Dorothy Killam Fellowship, she will examine Canada’s early leadership in trans cinema and why that momentum stalled.
The fellowship allows her to travel across the country, meeting with filmmakers, festival organizers, archivists and funding agencies to understand the challenges trans filmmakers face today. Her goal is to strengthen the support system for trans storytelling, from securing funding to ensuring films are archived and accessible for future generations.
“Receiving the fellowship feels like winning the academic lottery,” says Horak.
“It gives me something that’s incredibly rare for a professor — time. Having two years to focus entirely on research means I can take on an ambitious project, travel to meet filmmakers and help create lasting change in the field.”
Horak notes that because trans people have long been marginalized, they may be skeptical of academic researchers.
“Academics have a long history of studying marginalized communities for their own interests, often without engaging meaningfully with the people whose stories they are telling,” explains Horak. “But by meeting with trans filmmakers in person and working in collaboration, we can build real trust and create results that truly serve the community.”
Advancing Knowledge and Influencing Change
Bruin and Horak’s research demonstrate how academic discovery can drive real-world impact. The Dorothy Killam Fellowship allows them to focus on work that informs policy, preserves history and advances public knowledge.
A total of nine Dorothy Killam Fellowships have been awarded to Carleton University researchers.
About the Dorothy Killam Fellowships
Funded by the Killam Trusts, the Dorothy Killam Fellowship provides support to scholars of exceptional ability by granting them time to pursue research projects of broad significance and widespread interest within the disciplines of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, engineering or studies linking any of these disciplines.
A Dorothy Killam Fellow is a leading researcher whose superior, ground-breaking and transformative research stands to positively improve the lives of Canadians and is also someone whose work reflects one or more of the Killam attributes: inclusive collaborator, barrier breaker or a research leader. There are more than 8,000 Killam laureates worldwide.
Monday, March 24, 2025 in Campus News
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