New research from York University's Faculty of Graduate Studies sheds light on how the brain adjusts during movement with findings that could inform how people relearn skills, including in rehabilitation settings. Research led by PhD candidate Raphael Gastrock, supervised by Faculty of Health Professor Denise Henriques and research associate Bernard Marius ’t Hart, examines what happens in neural systems when the brain responds to these two forms of learning. Published in Discover Neuroscience, the study compares how the brain responds to errors when refining an existing skill (motor adaptation) versus learning a new one (de novo learning).

A York University doctoral researcher will help inform international policy on equitable access to water and sanitation as part of an international advisory group. Michael Davies‑Venn, a Faculty of Graduate Studies student in the Global Health graduate program, joins the Expert Group on Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The three‑year appointment highlights the impact of York researchers in addressing complex global health and environmental challenges. The group brings together researchers, policymakers and practitioners and began its work earlier this year to guide the implementation of the World Health Organization’s Protocol on Water and Health.

York University has been named Fair Trade Campus of the Year, a national honour recognizing excellence in ethical sourcing and sustainability. This award, presented by Fairtrade Canada during the National Fair Trade Conference, marks York’s first time receiving the honour. The recognition builds on the University’s Silver Fair Trade Campus designation which it has held over the past two years and reflects its sustained leadership in embedding fair trade principles into everyday campus life. York was recognized for its “Fair Trade, Every Day” approach, which has expanded the availability of fair trade-certified products across the University. As a result, tens of thousands of products are purchased each year, increasing access for the campus community while supporting ethical supply chains.

For some PhD students, the prospect of a career outside academia can come with feelings of failure or uncertainty. A new program at York University is trying to change that. Beyond the Academy is a six-week initiative developed by Zachary Spicer, associate professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) and head of New College, in partnership with York’s Co-op & Career Centre. Designed specifically for LA&PS doctoral students, the program guides a cohort of 25 PhD students through career exploration, translating academic skills for non-academic settings, networking, job search strategy and concrete next steps with emotional support built in from the start.

From launching mentorship programs to creating inclusive spaces and tackling food insecurity, 12 York University students are being recognized with the Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award for leadership that contributes to the growth, development and vitality of the University. Lee’s passion for health sciences is apparent through her leadership in the field. As president of the Kinesiology and Health Sciences Graduate Student Association, Lee expanded outreach, strengthened the academic and professional community within the department and launched a new mentor-mentee program.

Four undergraduate and six graduate students have been awarded the Lillian Meighen Wright Scholarship, recognizing academic excellence, leadership and growing contributions to maternal and child health research. The scholarship is awarded to Faculty of Health students who demonstrate excellence in interdisciplinary education and research in the field of maternal and child health. The 2026 recipients are undergraduate students Sobi Mohan, Sana Ebadi, Aaliyah Daruwala and Sarah Belvedere; and graduate students Estreya Cohen, Paul De Luca, Haleh Hashemi, Anh Nguyen, Gillian Shoychet and Vanessa Tassone.

York University graduate students Martin Barakov, Massimiliano Muci and Sepideh HajiHosseinKhani may have different focus points for their studies, but they will all pursue research in Germany this year as recipients of an academic exchange grant. DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service, is the world's largest funding organization for international academic exchange. Through its Research Grants program, it provides funding to support doctoral students and post-doctoral research at a German university. For Barakov, a political science PhD candidate with a master’s degree from York, the funding will help enhance his dissertation via archival research and interviews with local residents. 

Humanity is consuming natural resources much faster than the planet can replenish them, according to new global data from York University. Eric Miller is director of York’s Ecological Footprint Initiative – a multidisciplinary group of scholars, students and organizations working to advance understanding of the world’s ecological footprint and biocapacity. He warns that data reflects a 70 per cent overshoot of the planet’s renewable capacity. Along with Miller, York-based co-authors include master of environmental studies (MES) alums Kiona Lo and Neha Basnet as well as MES students Bumika Srikanthalingam, Beatrice Foley and Anna Hao Long. Co-authors from the University of Iceland include Johanna Louise Van Berkum, Petra Toneva, Marina Ermina and Clara Klinkenberg.

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As the initiative grows, it will expand in Fall 2026 to include administrative staff across the graduate community. These badges will recognize participation in the annual FGS professional development curriculum, supporting staff in strengthening their knowledge and enhancing their capacity to navigate the complex processes involved in graduate education.

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Graduate-appointed faculty will also play an important role in this initiative. In addition to participating in the broader professional development curriculum, faculty members will be able to earn badges for key skill-building opportunities, including supervision, conflict resolution, and effective mentorship.

Developed in partnership with MyCreds, this initiative positions FGS among a select group of Canadian institutions offering digital recognition for graduate-level professional development. Owned by the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC), MyCreds is a national digital credential network that enables the issuing, receiving, and secure exchange of official and professional documents for qualification holders. FGS and MyCreds are excited to launch this innovation and look forward to expanding its impact across the graduate community.

A new York University-led study considers how the ways people move, sit and sleep are related to onset of dementia. With people living longer than ever before, dementia is becoming a common part of aging worldwide. Parmis Mirzadeh, a Faculty of Health doctoral candidate in kinesiology and health science, says “Dementia is a growing global public health challenge, with over 50 million people affected worldwide and numbers expected to rise substantially in the coming decades.” Despite its prevalence, Mirzadeh explains, there is still no cure for the condition and existing treatments have only limited effects. As a result, researchers increasingly see prevention as a critical response; however, preventing a condition that develops slowly, often over decades, requires a better understanding of how routine, potentially changeable habits influence risk over the long term.