Faculties:
- Arts, Department of Sexuality, Marriage, & Family Studies; St. Jerome's University
- Environment, Department of Knowledge Integration
Country of origin: Canada
Academic degrees and institutions:
- PhD in Psychology, University of Toronto (2019)
- MA in Psychology, University of Toronto (2015)
- BScH in Psychology, Queen’s University (2013)
Describe your work and how it embodies the nature of the Interdisciplinary program.
Online misogyny is widespread, persistent, and a global challenge in addressing systemic gender-based prejudice, discrimination, and violence. In recent years, national and international government organizations have raised concerns growing online activity in channels fostering misogynistic beliefs and aggression. Tragic events such as the 2018 Toronto Van Attack highlight a pressing need to better understand and address the root causes and mechanisms by which online misogyny translate into real-world GBV. At Waterloo, my research will seek to examine the nuanced links between online and real-world manifestations of misogyny and develop new methodological tools and frameworks to guide GBV prevention and intervention efforts. Overcoming these challenges requires an approach that is interdisciplinary in theory, method, and application.
What do you hope to accomplish during your postdoctoral appointment at University of Waterloo?
- Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with scholars and students of diverse academic background to share knowledge, methods, and resources that drive new, impactful initiatives.
- Integrate new analytical techniques in computational social science and critical theories into my research program.
- Obtain external funding to further sustain and expand my research pursuits.
Have you been the recipient of any other major or donor-funded awards?
- Expanding the Frontiers of Relationship Science Grant (co-PI)
- SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship
- SSHRC CGS Doctoral Scholarship
- SSHRC CGS Master’s Scholarship
Do you have any relevant academic projects you would like to share?
As a relationship scientist, my primary research program seeks to broadly understand how health and well-being outcomes are intricately tied to the way people fulfill their romantic and sexual needs across diverse contexts. The UW Provost Program Scholarship will enable me to broaden my research focus and gain new interdisciplinary methods, skills, frameworks essential for studying the relational origins of sexist attitudes and gender-based aggression.
Why did you choose the University of Waterloo?
The University of Waterloo is home to the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA), which will provide me with the opportunity to work with scholars from a variety of disciplines working in the field of aging. I will have the opportunity to attend the monthly RIA research seminar which provides opportunity for discussion on key issues and research associated with aging. The University of Waterloo is also home to Dr. Heather Keller, RD, PhD, FDC, FCAHS, who is the Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition and Aging. She is an expert in nutrition risk in community-dwelling older adults, among other topics related to nutrition and aging. Under her mentorship, I will be exposed to additional research topics on nutrition and aging and have the opportunity to work with the primary and community care working group of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force. Also, as an instructor who believes in the value of experiential learning, I value the University of Waterloo's commitment to and excellence in experiential learning.
Why did you choose the University of Waterloo?
My research is a strong fit with the institution’s priorities to advance research for global impact, strengthen sustainable and diverse communities, and develop talent for a complex future. As an established leader in technology and social science research, UW is an ideal location to conduct the current research on technology-enabled misogyny. Combined with the ongoing research programs and institutional initiatives centered on social justice and gender-based violence, the unique resources available at UW will help me to mobilize research outputs and amplify the scope and impact of my work.
What are you most looking forward to or currently enjoying about the University of Waterloo?
I look forward to engaging with the University of Waterloo's dynamic, collaborative, and collegial research community, and capitalizing on the institute’s unique culture and infrastructure dedicated to the advancement of interdisciplinary research.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Getting outdoors (camping, fishing, hiking), then getting indoors to play with my cats.