She is passionate about both research and teaching. Her research path started with a graduate degree from Latvian University, followed by work as a research associate at the Nuclear Research Center of Latvian Academy of Sciences. She moved to Canada in 1998 to get a PhD from the University of Manitoba. Since 2003, Dr. Barkanova has been teaching at Acadia University, with courses ranging from introductory astronomy for 270 students to subatomic physics for six and advanced quantum mechanics for three. Dr. Barkanova is a recipient of the Acadia Student Union Teaching Recognition Award, has twice won first place in the Faculty Research Showcase (2004 and 2007), is an NSERC-funded researcher, and is the first female physicist at Acadia since the university was established in 1838.