We are thrilled to announce the return of CAnD3 for its fifth training year, featuring our largest cohort yet鈥�24 remarkable Fellows selected from partner higher education institutions. This year's group showcases a diverse array of backgrounds who bring a wealth of disciplinary expertise ranging from commerce and public administration to sociology and epidemiology.
For this years Fellows Feature, we are excited to present interviews that delve into the inspirations and aspirations of our Fellows. Today, we spotlight Mohsen and Galiba.听 While听Mohsen reflects on a pivotal moment during his PhD that ignited his passion for addressing health disparities among marginalized populations in Canada, Galiba is inspired to understand the effects of gendering and feminization of occupations on the organization, workers鈥� well-being, and the labor market.
Join us as we explore the unique journeys of our Fellows and pose thought-provoking questions that elicit their inspiring responses.
Mohsen Monji
Hi Mohsen, if you could have dinner with any data scientist or researcher, past or present, who would it be, and what burning question would you ask them about their approach?
I鈥檇 like to have dinner with Bruce Link and Jo Phelan, as their work on the fundamental causes of health disparities has had a huge influence on my thinking of social dimensions of health. I would听 also like to know about the role they think sociology of health and mental health as disciplines can play today in discussions around health disparities and population health.
Think back to a pivotal moment in your academic or professional journey. How did it shape your research interests and decision to join CAnD3?
The moment that truly shaped my academic journey was during the second year of my PhD. I was immersed in research on the social determinants of mental health in Canada when I noticed significant disparities in mental health outcomes at the population level. Despite these disparities, I found a gap in quantitative research on the social determinants of mental health from a sociological perspective. This realization influenced my future research program and encouraged me to find ways to combine sociological theory with quantitative methods from a wide range of disciplines to explore the social determinants of mental health in Canada. I joined CAnD3 because I saw an incredible opportunity to learn from the training program, fellows, and partners to more effectively document and address mental health disparities in Canada.
If you could design a dream project combining your research interests with CAnD3's resources, what would it look like, and what impact would you hope to achieve?
My vision over the past year has been to establish a 鈥淗ealth Disparities Hub鈥� in Canada to document population-level health disparities and make this information more accessible to all. This project would leverage CAnD3's training program to create a comprehensive that would serve as a vital resource for researchers, policymakers, and community organizations, providing them with the data needed to address health disparities in Canada.
Share a recent publication, presentation, or project you're proud of. What was the most exciting or challenging aspect of this work?
I am currently working on several projects where I鈥檓 integrating sociological theory with novel quantitative methods to explore population-level disparities in mental health in Canada, particularly among youth and young adults. One of the key challenges has been the lack of quality data, especially on the social determinants of youth鈥� mental health. The most exciting part, however, has been finding ways to extract meaningful insights despite these data limitations.
Finally, we'd love to see you in action! Outside the world of research and data, what hobby or interest do you have that might surprise people?
I enjoy getting outside and walking through Montreal's different neighborhoods, discovering the city's historic places. I also love getting outside the city and hiking in the national parks.
Galiba Zahid听
Hi Galiba, if you could have dinner with any data scientist or researcher, past or present, who would it be, and what burning question would you ask them about their approach?
I would love to have dinner with Paula England. I was really excited to read her work on the feminization of occupations in the US, and I would love to hear about her research journey, her considerations in setting up models and receiving feedback, and especially her thoughts on the global trends of feminized occupations.
Think back to a pivotal moment in your academic or professional journey. How did it shape your research interests and decision to join CAnD3?
For most of my BA, I worked as a Financial Advisor, which gave me access to demographic and financial data. I noticed strong trends between the gendering of occupations and how it relates to wages, overall financial capacity, and well-being. This led to my research interest in work, occupations, and the labor market, particularly exploring gendered work and how employment location impacts social and economic inequality.
If you could design a dream project combining your research interests with CAnD3's resources, what would it look like and what impact would you hope to achieve?
I would understand the effects of gendering, particularly the feminization of occupations, many of which are feminized in the labor market. I would use population, administrative, and health data to understand why and when the occupations become feminized, and their impact on the organization, workers鈥� well-being, and the labor market.
Share a recent publication, presentation, or project you're proud of. What was the most exciting or challenging aspect of this work?
I recently presented at the ASA on how the level of occupational feminization acts as a mediator for the gender pay gap with gender-integrated occupations, that are not overly represented by either gender shows the most promise for mitigating the pay gap.
Finally, we'd love to see you in action! Outside the world of research and data, what hobby or interest do you have that might surprise people?
I love spending time with my two dogs. Whether we're hiking, playing around, or just relaxing together, they always bring me so much joy. I also love spending time outdoors and there's nothing better than enjoying the outdoors with my furry family!
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