PhD student takes research from academia to make a real-world impact
Applied research has made a difference in the lives of lupus patients in Canada.
While pursuing her PhD in Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo, Emily Shantz (she/her) seized an applied research opportunity that bridged the gap between her academic research and real-world impact.
Shantz’s research focused on lupus, an autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects women, particularly racialized women. During her PhD research, her supervisor presented her with the opportunity to connect with Dr. May Choi, a rheumatologist and researcher at the University of Calgary. Dr. Choi was developing a lupus calculator, a tool designed to assess the cardiovascular disease risk in lupus patients.
“My supervisor brought this idea to me because it was so aligned with what I was doing and my skill set in knowledge translation,” says Shantz. “She presented it as a fantastic opportunity, but with the understanding that it was completely my decision.”
This collaboration turned into a three-year partnership, which continued even after Shantz completed her PhD.
Translating research into action
Shantz’s work with the lupus calculator involved developing patient education materials to translate the tool's scientific data into information that could empower patients. The lupus calculator is an online tool designed to help physicians and patients assess the cardiovascular risk unique to lupus patients. This population experiences higher rates of cardiovascular complications associated with the disease.
Applied research bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world challenges. It is one of the three graduate work-integrated learning (WIL) models at the University of Waterloo. Shantz's work with the lupus calculator exemplifies how participating in applied research can contribute to innovative real-world solutions.
One of the most innovative aspects of Shantz’s work was the involvement of patients in shaping the educational materials. She interviewed patients and encouraged them to provide direct feedback.
“They told me anything they didn’t understand, anything that was too scientific or felt like jargon and gave me suggestions on how to be inclusive and focus the document more around people with lupus,” says Shantz.
The benefits of applied research and GradWIL
Shantz’s applied research work allowed her to develop transferable skills, gain valuable industry connections, and make a tangible impact on patient care.
“In retrospect, it gave me a lot of other transferable skills that I’m not sure my PhD would have brought me alone,” says Shantz. “I picked up a lot more applied or practical types of skills in executing and implementing, as opposed to a lot of the more cerebral skills of a PhD.”
By running biweekly meetings with a multidisciplinary team, Shantz developed her tangible organizational and leadership abilities. She also gained experience working with experts from various fields, including rheumatology, biostatistics, and patient care.
For Shantz, one of the most gratifying aspects of the project was the ability to see the real-world impact of her research.
“It’s so rewarding to see that bridge from the very conceptual stages of research to the practical stages, where the research reaches the audience it was intended for,” says Shantz.
The opportunity allowed Shantz to build her professional network in ways traditional academic research might not have.
“I now have a long-standing research relationship with the team, and we’re still working together on other projects,” says Shantz. “I don’t think I would have had the professional skills that I do now without this project. It was a foundational stepping stone.”
A stepping stone to future success
Shantz’s experience demonstrates how applied research and work-integrated learning opportunities can provide immense value to students.
By working on real-world problems, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and seeing the tangible benefits of her work, Shantz enhanced her PhD research and laid the foundation for a meaningful career in health research.
This project stands as an example of how students can bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application through Graduate work-integrated learning (GradWIL), making a real difference in the communities they serve.