New Canada Research Chair to study climate change, wildfires and inequality
A new Canada Research Chair at Thompson Rivers University will examine how climate change, wildfires and environmental inequality affect the health and economic well-being of communities in Canada and around the world.
Dr. Soodeh Saberian has been named Canada Research Chair in Economics of Climate Change, Disasters and Inequality at TRU as part of a federal investment in research announced by the Government of Canada.
Dr. Soodeh Saberian, Canada Research Chair in Economics of Climate Change, Disasters and Inequality at TRU.
The government is investing nearly $140 million to support 165 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs across Canada. The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), a Canada Research Chairs Program partner, is also committing over $5.8 million to support 25 research infrastructure projects at 16 institutions, through its John R. Evans Leaders Fund. Saberian will receive $75K from this fund to support the research infrastructure she needs to conduct her work.
Saberian will begin her role at TRU on July 1, 2026 and will be one of the six Canada Research Chairs allocated to the university.
“It is wonderful to welcome a TRU researcher with the distinguished honour of a Canada Research Chair,” said Airini, president and vice-chancellor. “Dr. Saberian’s appointment strengthens TRU’s wildfire research team, already the largest at a Canadian university, and expands our capacity to better understand the far-reaching impacts of climate change, wildfires and environmental inequality. Her research has the potential to make a real difference to people and communities across the Interior of British Columbia, Canada and beyond.”
Addressing real-world challenges
The Canada Research Chair program plays a fundamental role in supporting cutting-edge research across the country. Chairholders accelerate and strengthen TRU’s research capacity and help create new research and training opportunities for students while addressing issues relevant to the communities the university serves.
An applied microeconomist, Saberian’s research focuses on environmental economics, health economics and labour economics, with a particular emphasis on how climate change and environmental exposures affect human health and socioeconomic outcomes.
“Dr. Saberian’s research addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing communities today, particularly as climate change continues to intensify the impacts of wildfires and environmental disasters,” said Shannon Wagner, vice president research. “Her work reflects TRU’s commitment to meaningful and use-inspired research that helps address real-world challenges. We are excited to welcome her to our TRU research community.”
Prior to joining TRU, Saberian served as associate professor of economics at the University of Manitoba. She has also been a visiting research scholar at the Center for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton University and a research affiliate at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
At TRU, Saberian will lead a research program focused on understanding how wildfires, smoke exposure and deforestation disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Exploring how wildfire and economic inequities connect
Using econometric techniques and machine learning models, the research will investigate causal relationships between wildfire events and economic inequities through three primary areas of study:
- Health effects and population changes, including respiratory illness, mental health impacts and environmental degradation linked to wildfire smoke and deforestation.
- Labour supply and productivity declines, particularly in outdoor and labour-intensive sectors affected by air pollution and extreme heat.
- Economic disruptions affecting industries such as agriculture, forestry and tourism, contributing to income losses, unemployment and long-term instability.
The work will also examine how environmental degradation disproportionately affects Indigenous, low-income and racialized communities, contributing to broader discussions around climate justice and equitable adaptation strategies.
“Dr. Saberian is an exceptional scholar whose work bridges economics, public policy and some of the most urgent environmental challenges facing communities today,” said Ehsan Latif, interim dean of the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics. “Her research excellence, interdisciplinary approach and commitment to understanding the human impacts of climate change make her an outstanding addition to TRU. We are thrilled to welcome her to our faculty.”
Saberian’s research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Development Economics and Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. She has lived and worked across multiple countries and brings an international and interdisciplinary perspective to her research and teaching.
Read the Government of Canada announcement.
Thompson Rivers University is leading in sustainability. Learn more about TRU’s contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.