Mobilizing Black-led research excellence

The Black Research Network (BRN) works to promote Black excellence at U of T and enhance the research capacity of Black scholars within the university and on the world stage. This work has included creating grant opportunities for Black scholars. 

Launched in July 2022 and sponsored by U of T’s Connaught Fund, the Major Research Challenge for Black Researchers program was developed in partnership with the BRN to support Black researchers across the university.  

This year’s winner of the $250,000 award is Janelle Joseph, a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education whose project—“Mobilizing Black and Global South Women’s Leadership"—will enhance the leadership skills of Black, Canadian and Global South community leaders through anti-racist and embodied learning.  

“We have been working on ways to bring Black Canadian women together to focus on wellness, but up until now didn’t have the funding to realize our dreams” says Joseph. “Now we can dream even bigger.”    

The BRN has also created several initiatives to increase the visibility of U of T’s Black scholars, including the BRN Researcher Map—the first database of its kind at U of T and in Canada that illustrates connections between Black researchers across the tri-campus—as well as the three-season Researcher Profile Series, that includes a spotlight on last year’s Connaught award recipient, renowned expert in health equity Notisha Massaquoi, a professor in the University of Toronto Scarborough's Department of Health and Society.

Additionally, it has created a range of professional development opportunities, including the BRN Research Workshops and the Communications in Research Series that deliver critical research and professional skills for Black students, post-doctoral fellows and early-career researchers. 

The launch of the BRN responds to the recommendations set out by the University of Toronto’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force to address anti-Black racism and promote Black inclusion and excellence within the University of Toronto tri-campus community.