Postdoctoral scholars solving complex social issues

During the eighth annual Postdoc Appreciation Week, from Sept. 21-25, 2026, the Faculty of Arts is proud to spotlight three of our outstanding postdoctoral scholars who are bringing innovative perspectives to some complex social issues. 

From investigating brain health and aging, to exploring creative approaches to dementia care, to using comics and film to spark conversations about human rights, our postdoc researchers' work demonstrates the power of arts-based, interdisciplinary research to deepen understanding, foster inclusion, and connect scholarship with public life. 

Dr. Heunjung Lee, PhD 

Postdoctoral fellow, School of Creative and Performing Arts 

Dr. Lee is an interdisciplinary scholar working at the intersections of critical aging and dementia, health humanities and theatre and performance studies.  

Lee’s current SSHRC-funded postdoctoral project, "Moving through Dementia: Enabling Embodied Creativity of Immigrants Living with Dementia through Culturally Tailored Movement Program," explores principles for developing culturally inclusive, strengths-based dance programming with immigrant communities affected by dementia. She is examining how culturally responsive movement practices can foreground the embodied knowledge and creative capacities of people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia while challenging dominant narratives and stigma surrounding dementia. 

Lee also conducts community-engaged, arts-based research with older adults through dance and theatre. She has taught courses across theatre, dance and kinesiology.  

Dr. Jamie Michaels, PhD 

Postdoctoral fellow, Department of English 

Dr. Michaels’ dissertation presented the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in comic book form, showcasing both the Jewish and Arab perspectives of these events. His work has been recognized with the Joe Shuster Award for Excellence in Comics Creation (2019), the Harold Greenberg Fund Shorts-to-Features Award (2020), the Killam Laureate (2021), the Norma Epstein Foundation Biennial Award in Creative Writing (2023), and a collaboratorship at the Observatory on Human Rights at the United Nations (2025–26).  

Michaels’ current research utilizes popular mediums such as comics, animations and films to expand important conversations about politics and human rights in new and surprising ways. 

Michaels currently has two films in festivals. North of Harbord was awarded Best Animated Film at the Montreal Independent Film Festival (2026), and Best Historical Short Film at the Toronto Short Film Festival (2026). His latest documentary I Draw Them the Best I Can will have its Calgary premiere in late 2026. 

Dr. Olayinka Akinrolie, PhD 

Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Psychology 

Dr. Akinrolie’s academic trajectory reflects strong interdisciplinary training, with a PhD in Applied Health Sciences from the University of Manitoba and an MSc in social gerontology from the University of Southampton. 

Akinrolie is currently working in Dr. Brandy Callahan’s Lifespan Brain Health Lab, where he is examining vascular brain health in middle-aged and older adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as how ADHD symptoms influence physical activity participation in later life. 

Outside of his research, Akinrolie is the proud father of two children. He enjoys fishing and playing badminton and unwinds with the occasional game of FIFA on PlayStation.