We are thrilled to announce the return of CAnD3 for its fifth training year, featuring our largest cohort yet—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.Ěý WhileĚýMohsen 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’ 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?
It would be Timnit Gebru! I would ask her about ways to achieve fairness in data science and machine learning to ensure that they are used for social good without further harming marginalized communities. I’d also want to ask her, "What gives you hope and motivation to continue your work on algorithmic bias, despite the challenges you’ve faced?"
Think back to a pivotal moment in your academic or professional journey. How did it shape your research interests and decision to join CAnD3?
During the second year of my PhD, while researching social determinants of mental health in Canada, I discovered significant disparities among marginalized groups, particularly Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ populations. Despite these disparities, I noticed a gap in quantitative research on this topic from a sociological perspective.
This realization influenced my future research program and encouraged me 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 and the diverse fellows and partners to more effectively document and address health inequalities 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 “Data Justice Hub” in Canada to document population-level social inequalities and health disparities and make this information more accessible. This project would leverage CAnD3's training program to create a comprehensive hub for social inequalities and health disparities in Canada, especially among historically marginalized populations.
The hub would serve as a vital resource for researchers, policymakers, and community organizations, providing them with the data needed to address social inequalities and health disparities. I hope that the “Data Justice Hub” would pave the way for more inclusive data practices grounded in the principles of social justice.
Share a recent publication, presentation, or project you're proud of. What was the most exciting or challenging aspect of this work?
In several projects, I am integrating sociological theories of inequality with novel quantitative methods to explore population-level disparities in mental health in Canada. What I found challenging has been confronting with what can be termed "data injustice," where there is a significant lack of data on Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. The most exciting part, however, is 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 ZahidĚý
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’ 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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