·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨

June 17, 2025

Three professors at ·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨ are being recognized for their exceptional contributions to research and student mentorship.

·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨’s 2025 Early Career Researcher Award winners are Maurita Harris, assistant professor of User Experience Design; Nirosha Murugan, assistant professor of Health Sciences; and Izabela Steflja, associate professor of Political Science.

Each winner was nominated by their respective dean and will receive a $2,500 grant to support their research program.

“Congratulations to this impressive trio of ·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨ scholars,” says Jonathan Newman, vice-president: research. “All three of our winners are already making tangible impacts on a global scale, which is no small feat this early in their careers. I’m thrilled that our students are learning from the best.”

Maurita Harris

Harris’s research explores how to design socio-technical systems that support well-being, especially for people who are often left out of mainstream design, including older adults, people with disabilities and marginalized communities.

“A lot of my work involves talking directly with the people affected so we can co-create solutions that fit their lives,” says Harris.

Harris has collaborated with community and industry partners through the to help create more usable, enjoyable systems. Her research investigates the needs and perceptions of users, such as the motivations and attitudes of Black adults toward wearable devices, such as Fitbits, for managing chronic health conditions. She recently completed a needs assessment named after her grandmother: the Needs Evaluation to Learn Valuable Information about Aging in Canada (NELVIA-Can) study. NELVIA-Can examined the everyday challenges faced by Black older adults in the GTA and the findings will inform solutions. 

During her time at ·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨, Harris has supervised 26 undergraduate students and two graduate students who have studied topics including spiritual health in Canada, a mobile app for those with early onset dementia, the use of technology in the courtroom, and the impact of social media on young adults.

“My goal is to make technology more human-centered, equitable and accessible,” says Harris. “I hope my research helps shape a future where technology doesn't just serve the few, but uplifts everyone – no matter their age, background or ability.”

Nirosha Murugan

As co-director of the Centre for Tissue Plasticity and Biophysics at ·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨, Murugan leads pioneering research at the intersection of biophysics and health. Her work in cancer biology and regenerative medicine explores how physical force – including electric, magnetic and electric signals – governs cellular behavior in contexts ranging from cancer signaling to tissue regeneration and cognition. By uncovering the biophysical codes that drive plasticity and repair, Murugan aims to develop novel strategies for improving human health.

“Recent breakthroughs have highlighted the influence of biophysical cues, such as electrical and light-based signals, in determining cell fate and tissue organization,” says Murugan, a Faculty of Science Distinguished Research Chair. “Our research aims to unveil the complete communication network within cells so we can detect the earliest signs of malfunction and combat diseases more effectively.”

In her career to date, Murugan has developed a tool using electromagnetic fields to stop the spread of cancer and a patented technology that uses stem cells to regrow limbs. She is translating her laboratory research into real-world applications via HelioFlux Inc., a company she co-founded to advance cancer detection technologies.

Murugan contributed to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s STEM Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, helping to shape a more inclusive future for research in Canada. In her own lab, she has mentored more than 40 trainees from diverse backgrounds, providing support and guidance to those who may face cultural and societal barriers to success in academia.

“My training program at ·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨ offers students, postdoctoral fellows and other research personnel world-class opportunities in optics, biomedical engineering and cancer biology,” says Murugan, who was recently honoured with an Early Researcher Award by the Government of Ontario.

Izabela Steflja

Steflja’s research program focuses on issues with post-conflict justice, such as the relationship between conflict-affected communities and international criminal courts. She has spent considerable time in post-conflict countries, including Croatia, Kenya, Rwanda, Serbia and Uganda. Steflja’s forthcoming book is entitled Illegitimate Justice: How Locals Talk About International Criminal Courts.

“My work highlights the crises of legitimacy such institutions face in affected communities and calls for a rethinking of global justice approaches,” says Steflja.

Steflja has challenged the norms of women as “agents of peace and reconciliation” through her research on female war criminals. Her book Women as War Criminals: Gender, Agency, and Justice was published in 2020. Currently, Steflja is examining the effects of child soldiering in post-conflict settings, such as Bosnia and Cameroon.

“The goal of my most recent work is to be more inclusive of lived experiences by centering the voices of former child combatants,” she says. “Learning about women and children affiliated with armed organizations has implications for accountability mechanisms, as well as their repatriation or immigration, policies regarding human trafficking, and youth recruitment into foreign and national armed groups.”

Steflja prioritizes the mentorship of racialized female students, scholars affected by political violence and threats to their freedom through the Scholars at Risk Program, and has trained junior scholars through the Law and Society Association. Beyond academia, she has engaged with practitioners and policymakers through written reports for NGOs and think tanks, media commentaries and work for the Department of National Defence.