Brianna Wells, PhD
Brianna Wells, research support specialist for the Office of Research Services.
The Office of Research Services is delighted to announce that Brianna Wells has joined the team as a research support specialist to oversee the social sciences and humanities portfolio. Brianna was previously with the University of Alberta, where she earned her PhD in the Department of English and Film Studies and was a postdoctoral fellow with the newly formed Sound Studies Initiative in the Faculty of Arts.
Wells settled in quickly and is providing valuable guidance and support to faculty members pursuing funding opportunities to support their research. Wells is a natural communicator and collaborator with an innate ability to mobilize people and resources to design compelling project proposals. A UBC alumna, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Vancouver before moving to Montreal to complete her Master’s (also in Arts) at McGill University.
Wells’ background in English has fostered a passion for all aspects of communication. She is a skilled writer, editor and vocalist, who began singing in choirs at the early age of six. An art (and artist) enthusiast, opera buff and cultural theorist, Wells conducted research with Opera America in New York and Pacific Opera Victoria and has published articles in 19th-Century Music and Opera America magazine.
Her research interests include North American studies, opera, circulation theory, media genealogies, performance theory and the interrelations of media and opera histories in twentieth-century Canada and the United States. The Office of Research Services invites you to take advantage of Wells’ breadth of experience.
Contact: FIP 318 | 250-807-8520 | brianna.wells@ubc.ca
Gabrielle Legault, PhD
Gabrielle Legault, Indigenous community liaison for the Office of Research Services.
Meet Gabrielle Legault – the Office of Research Services’ new Indigenous Community Liaison.
Legault is Métis, originally from Saskatchewan and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her engagements with the Métis Nation of BC and Parks Canada. She recently joined the Office of Research Services to help researchers develop collaborations with Indigenous communities and other partners.
No stranger to our campus, Legault completed her Master’s and PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies at UBC Okanagan, worked in the Centre for Social, Spatial and Economic Justice as a research assistant, and co-authored publications with Profs. Jon Corbett and Mike Evans in the Irving K. Barber School of Arts & Sciences.
Perfectly and passionately suited to her new role, Legault’s areas of research specialization include: Contemporary Métis culture and identity, Métis history, Indigenous territories and homelands, Indigenous research methodologies, community-based research methods, Indigenous knowledge and Indigeneity.
An accomplished speaker, facilitator and dedicated community engagement specialist, Legault has devoted her studies and career to helping the ‘Metis-curious’ and people from all backgrounds and origins better understand Indigenous issues and perspectives. Legault’s humble and respectful approach is a welcome addition and tremendous asset to our campus. From capacity-building to curling, Legault has a knack for finding the heart of any community.
This new role is supported by UBC’s Indigenous Research Support Initiative (IRSI) formally established in 2017 to provide better resources and support for Indigenous community-based research at UBC. Interested in getting to know Legault or finding out how she can support your work? Drop by and say hello.
Contact: FIP 326 | 250-807-8187 | gabrielle.legault@ubc.ca
