Central European Association for Canadian Studies member, 2025 recipient of a Graduate Student Scholarship
“Canada left me with a lasting sense of openness: in its breathtaking landscapes, inclusive culture, and the spacious way life is lived, so unlike the denser feel of Europe, and deeply inspiring to how I observe, think and write.”
Pavlína Studená, a doctoral student at the Masaryk University in Czech Republic, spent a month in summer 2025 conducting research for her dissertation, “Growing Old in the Pages: Representations of Aging Women in Contemporary Canadian Fiction.” She is a 2025 recipient of a ICCS Graduate Student Scholarship.
Pavlína was hosted at the University of British Columbia by Ernest Mathijs, Department of Theatre & Film. During her research stay, she conducted an in-depth literary analysis of Canadian texts related to aging, combining age studies with literary theory. She developed key chapters of her dissertation focused on narratives of aging in contemporary Canadian fiction.
“My research stay at the University of British Columbia was both academically and personally rewarding. It gave me the chance to engage closely with the literary texts that are difficult to access in Europe, but also with the environment in which these texts originated. This immersion allowed me to refine my methodological approach, integrating literary analysis with age studies in a more nuanced and interdisciplinary way,” she said.
Conversations with colleagues like Dr. Mathijs and Julia Henderson challenged and expanded her thinking, and gave her more confidence in placing her work within current academic debates.
“On a personal level, the stay provided me with uninterrupted time to focus on my dissertation, which I find particularly valuable as a part-time doctoral student balancing multiple responsibilities. Being in Canada, with its vast landscapes and very different sense of space, influenced how I think about space and structure in literature now.”
The next steps in Pavlína’s journey are to complete and submit her dissertation and prepare selected parts for journal publication. She is also planning to develop the project into a book as she moves toward postdoctoral research.
We ask each award recipient to offer words to inspire a future Canadian Studies scholar on a similar research journey.
“One thing I’d encourage future researchers to do is to fully embrace the unique academic and cultural perspectives available in Canada. Take the time to engage with local communities, scholars, and the landscape itself. Also, don’t underestimate the value of stepping outside your usual environment. The shift in space and mindset can open new doors in your thinking and writing.”
The next deadline for the Graduate Student Scholarship is 24 November 2025. You can learn more about this opportunity at this link.