2025 Four-Year Fellowship Recipients
Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF): Jacob Bosancich, Avneet Dhillon, Vrinda Dimri, Christopher Lamb, and incoming students Karen Davies and N. Hassen!
The Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship program ensures UBC’s best PhD students are provided with financial support of at least $18,200 per year plus tuition for a maximum of four years of their PhD studies.
Jacob Bosancich
My research explores how existing technologies such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence can be applied to support rehabilitation for individuals recovering from stroke. I’m particularly interested in developing and evaluating interventions that use these tools to enhance engagement and participation, self-management, and everyday functioning in community-living stroke survivors.
I received the Four-Year Fellowship (4YF), which will support the development and pilot testing of a technology-assisted rehabilitation program for stroke recovery. This funding will allow me to better understand the needs of stroke survivors and use those insights to guide the creation of clinically relevant, personalized interventions.
Outside of academia, you can often find me skiing, mountain biking, and spending time in nature with my family. When I’m not outside enjoying the fresh air, I am making music with friends.
Avneet Dhillon
I am in the Connections Lab under the supervision of Dr. Skye Barbic. The research I am conducting is around Population Data and Implementation Science – specifically in relation to the Standards of Mental Health and Substance Use Care in the Emergency Department for Youth. I hope to implement the standards, adjust the standards from a culturally specific lens and evaluate the impact in various Emergency Departments across British Columbia.
I’ve won the Four-Year Fellowship (4YF)! This award means a lot as it allows me to fully focus on my research. One of the biggest challenges for graduate students is balancing academic commitments with financial obligations, which often makes it difficult to stay fully engaged. Because my research is hands-on and requires me to be on-site and embedded within the community and service providers, this award makes it possible for me to show up fully. I’ll be able to invest my time and energy into building meaningful, long-term relationships to ensure the research is not only high quality but also impactful.
Outside of academia I spend a lot of time listening to music, going to concerts, coffee shops and reading and learning about different creative avenues like furniture design, graphic design, painting and more. Recently, to reconnect with my South Asian roots, I’ve been exploring different art and music styles originating from India and also learning about the lives of women in Indian history. My most recent book pick-up is The Lost Heer: Women in Colonial Punjab.
Vrinda Dimri
I am a PhD Trainee at the Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Health Lab, supervised by Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose. Our research focuses on understanding the role of exercise, and how other lifestyle interventions can support healthy aging and enhance quality of life of older adults. My thesis, specifically, will focus on understanding the relationship between physical activity and fluctuations in cognitive performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
The Four-year doctoral fellowship will enable me to fully focus on my doctoral studies and allow me to attend multiple conferences and engage in other professional development activities.
I really enjoy CrossFit, tennis, and dancing. I also love cooking and travelling!
Christopher Lamb
The Brain Behaviour lab is primarily concerned with what limits and facilitates neuroplasticity by exploring brain-behaviour relationships. Using non-invasive brain stimulation (i.e., transcranial magnetic stimulation) and quantitative sensory testing, I will be exploring cortical sensorimotor excitability changes and central nervous pain mechanisms in individuals with painful knee osteoarthritis.
The funds from the 4-year fellowship will allow us to test more individuals with painful knee osteoarthritis as well as healthy controls, and (hopefully) increase the robustness of our results.
Outside of academia, I like to hang out with my cat, ride my bike, do weights, hike, read fiction, write creatively, draw, cook, and meditate.
Karen Davies
I work in The Motion Lab in Sunny Hill Health Centre at BC Children’s Hospital. I am a Physical Therapist and part of an interdisciplinary team that provides clinical non-invasive diagnosis and assessment of complex gait and motion in children. I had the good fortune to be introduced to Dr. Patricia Moreno Grangeiro, who founded a non-profit rowing program in São Paulo, Brazil that was the inspiration for our current research. We are exploring the feasibility of a pilot community-based rowing program for adolescents with cerebral palsy. My PhD supervisor will be Dr. Courtney Pollock.
I am honoured to be a recipient of a Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship. This award will provide invaluable financial support to enable me to work part-time and devote the time needed to my current research and PhD studies.
I love spending time with my family and friends. I also love being outdoors, particularly walking or hiking in the forest, cross-country skiing, biking, swimming, and recently rowing! I enjoy reading, travelling, and I am attempting to learn Portuguese.
Dr. Janice Eng featured in Healthline: Adding Higher-Intensity Walking to Stroke Treatment May Improve Recover
A new study co-led by Dr Janice Eng suggests that stroke survivors can improve their walking by incorporating a structured, progressively intense walking program into their rehabilitation. Learn more
Read the full article here.
Dr. Pat Camp Receives King Charles III Coronation Medal
The Coronation Medal marks King Charles III’s coronation in 2023 and is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service to Canada. It is the first Canadian commemorative medal to mark a coronation and is awarded to 30,000 deserving individuals across the country.
Dr. Pat Camp, RHSC supervisor and Associate Professor in Dept of Physical Therapy, is being recognized for her work in pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD, and tele-rehabilitation in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities using strategies to promote lung health, exercise, and chronic disease management.
Read the full announcement here: UBC Medicine community members awarded King Charles III Coronation Medals – UBC Faculty of Medicine
Congratulations, Pat!
Recent Publication from RHSC Alum Dr. Kangarani-Farahani and Dr. Zwicker
Recent RHSC PhD alum Dr. Melika Kangarani-Farahani and Dr. Jill Zwicker recently published a paper in Research in Autism entitled “Brain functional connectivity with rehabilitation in children with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder”
This study found that Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) intervention was associated with clinically meaningful increases in functional connectivity, providing further evidence that CO-OP is effective for children with ASD+DCD.
Read the full article here
Behind the lab doors: Brain Behaviour Laboratory
Featured by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, researchers at Dr. Lara Boyd’s lab are investigating brain behaviour to accelerate stroke recovery and enhance quality of life and independence post-stroke.
Read the full article here.
‘Everyone says they hear a pop or a crack’: why are so many female footballers suffering career-ending knee injuries?
Dr Jackie Whittaker was featured in The Guardian discussing the increase of knee injuries in women’s soccer.
Read the full article here.
Gig platform workers need better health and well-being protections
RHSC PhD candidate Atieh Yekta has published a new article in The Conversation on the need for better health and well-being protections for gig platform workers.
As a trainee under @huotsuzanne supervision, Atieh aims to bring awareness of how social and technical factors are shaping the occupational experiences of platform workers and producing and/or reproducing disparities in the labour market integration of immigrant workers.
Read the full article here.
Janna Griffioen and her community partner receive Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) funding
Congrats to PhD student Janna and her community partner, Kix Citton, receiving CUES funding for their project “Providing a BC-Wide Community-based Peer-support Program for People with Brain Injury”. CUES funding supports community-university partnerships which are aimed at benefiting communities and advancing collaborative research, teaching and learning.
Read the full article here.
Dr. Jordan Guenette and Olivia Ferguson featured in Outside Magazine for their study on ‘air hunger’
Dr Jordan Guenette and graduate student Olivia Ferguson discussed their study on physiological factors associated with unsatisfied inspiration, also known as ‘air hunger’. This study incorporated results from lung-function and cardiopulmonary exercise tests completed by 321 healthy adults between the ages of 19 and 40.
Read the full article here.
Professor emeritus Dr. Catherine Backman featured in New York Times article
Dr. Catherine Backman and her research on the link between knitting and wellbeing was featured in the New York Times article ‘Working with your hands is good for your brain’. The article explores the cognitive and emotional benefits associated with hands-on activities, such as knitting and colouring.
Read the full article here.
Congratulations to Dr Janice Eng for receiving funding for the SMART Labs project through BCKDF
The BC Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) invests in research to ensure our province leads in innovative solutions and cutting-edge research to improve the lives of all British Columbians. SMART Labs will develop innovative, evidence-based treatments that are guided by measurable biomarkers, and use activities simulating real-world function through advanced technologies.
Learn more about the funding recipients here.
Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose Interviewed by CBC Radio
Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose spoke to CBC Radio to emphasize the importance of physical activity in maintaining brain health. “The brain loses mass as we age making it harder to remember certain memories”. Listen to the segment here.
Recent Publication Co-authored by Dr. Ben Mortenson
Dr. Ben Mortenson recently co-authored a paper exploring the social determinants of health from the perspective of people with spinal cord injuries.
The goal of the qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of persons living with spinal cord injury in coping and managing their health and functioning and to explore an interaction between their embodied experiences and structural issues that contribute to health and wellbeing. The findings emphasize the need to re-evaluate public health approaches, recognize the linkages between inequalities linked to disability, and incorporate an embodiment lens from a disability justice perspective.
Dr Pat Camp takes part in 5-Year NIH Grant, TB PuRe
Dr. Pat Camp is an investigator on a recently awarded $3,400,000 5-year NIH grant entitled TB PuRe. Despite successful treatment, tuberculosis is associated with chronic lung impairment, severe respiratory symptoms, and poor physical function. This study will assess the effectiveness, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program for preventing post-tuberculosis respiratory morbidity in India. Dr. Camp is responsible for the design and implementation of at-home rehabilitation programs conducted in three sites in India.
Congratulations to Dr. Pat Camp on this grant!
Dr. Janice Eng is testing a ‘smart glove’ that can boost hand mobility of stroke patients
Image Credits: UBC Faculty of Medicine
Dr Janice Eng is testing how a groundbreaking “smart glove” developed at UBC can improve stroke patient rehabilitation and ultimately restore the use of their limbs and hands.
Learn more here.
Dr. Jackie Whittaker Receives Arthritis Society Canada Strategic Operating Grant
Congratulations to Dr. Jackie Whittaker’s team for securing a 3-year Arthritis Society Canada Strategic Operating Grant for the project ‘Self-managing knee health in young people at high-risk of early-onset osteoarthritis: The MyKnee randomized controlled trial’. The Strategic Operating Grant (SOG) program provides funding to support research proposals aligned with Arthritis Society Canada’s priorities.
Learn more here.
RHSC Faculty Recipients of the Michael Smith Health awards
Congratulations to our Rehabilitation Sciences faculty who received new funding from Michael Smith Health Research BC through the 2023 Convening & Collaborating (C2) (Dr. Taru Manyanga and Dr. Jill Zwicker) and Reach programs (Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Dr. Janice Eng, and Dr. Stephanie Glegg). These funding programs enable health researchers to foster collaboration, disseminate and implement evidence, and increase the impact of their research — ultimately improving the health of people and communities in BC.
Convening & Collaborating (C2) Awards
C2 awards support health researchers and research users to engage in meaningful collaboration to co-create relevant and impactful research for people such as patients, health practitioners and policymakers.
Dr Taru Manyanga
Dr. Taru Manyanga is a registered physical therapist and Affiliate Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy in the UBC Master of Physical Therapy-North program.
Project title: ‘A multisectoral physical activity engagement strategy for youth living in Northern British Columbia’
Project Summary: Inequities in opportunities to participate in regular physical activity (PA), and the health risks associated with insufficient PA, including low self esteem, increased adiposity, low academic performance and the early onset of non-communicable diseases among youth, requires urgent attention. Insufficient PA is higher among rural youth, who are typically excluded in PA related research. This is a community-based project involving 4 collaborative engagement workshops to identify and address barriers to youth PA in northern, rural, and remote BC communities. The project will consist of brainstorming workshops conducted over 12 months aimed at centering youth voices, providing opportunities for youth to take leadership roles in developing and promoting PA programs, as well as advocating for policies and initiatives that support their regular PA participation in the community.
Dr Jill Zwicker
Dr. Jill Zwicker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, a Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Brain Development and Rehabilitation, and an Investigator at BC Children’s Hospital.
Project Title: ‘Partnering to improve early identification and early intervention for children with developmental coordination disorder’
Project Summary: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a common condition that significantly interferes with a child’s ability to learn motor skills. Without treatment, these motor challenges can persist into adulthood and limit job opportunities, affect physical and mental health, and impact quality of life. Early identification and intervention are crucial to change this negative trajectory. Our survey of BC parents of children with DCD showed that they first identified concerns about their child’s motor skills at age 3 years, but did not receive a diagnosis until age 8, missing a critical window for early intervention. Parents also identified significant barriers to accessing therapy for their child. In this project, we will bring together a diverse group of parents, researchers, health organizations, and clinicians to determine how to streamline early identification and improve access to early intervention. We will hold a series of meetings with these key partners to identify research objectives and co-develop a grant application to implement and evaluate early interventions for children with DCD.
Reach Awards
Reach awards support health researchers to disseminate research evidence by co-developing events, activities, and tools with research users. The funding helps research teams reach audiences who can use the knowledge to make an impact.
Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose
Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD, PT, Professor, is a physical therapist and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Healthy Aging at the University of British Columbia, Department of Physical Therapy.
Project Title: ‘Exercise for Healthy Aging: Mobilizing Knowledge with Users and Clinicians in BC’
Project Summary: Exercise can improve cognitive function and mobility in older adults. Maintaining both cognitive function and mobility are vital to functional independence and quality of life. However, many older adults are inactive. Key barriers to exercise include: 1) lack of motivation; 2) medical conditions, such as arthritis; and 3) lack of knowledge on how to exercise safely and effectively. To address these barriers, we intend to use a public forum, workshops, and online resources to motivate and enable older adults to uptake exercise, and thereby contribute to the global agenda of healthy aging.
Dr. Janice Eng
Dr. Janice Eng is a University Killam Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Department of Physical Therapy.
Project Title: ‘Primary Care and Spinal Cord Injury – Filling the Knowledge Gap with Continuing Medical Education and Partnership’
Project Summary: People with SCI need specialized care from their family doctors for health issues such as bladder, bowel, skin, pain, blood pressure, fertility, and breathing conditions. However, most family doctors have received little training on how to help a patient with SCI. We will host a Continuing Medical Education event where family doctors and people with SCI can learn about key health issues about SCI and speak freely about their concerns. These activities will complement our existing Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence (SCIRE) website (scireproject.com) which has a special section for Primary Care and SCI and is accessed by over 300,000 health care providers annually. Lastly, all activities will be evaluated for their impact.
Dr. Stephanie Glegg
Dr. Stephanie Glegg is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and an Investigator at BC Children’s Hospital.
Project Title: ‘Early detection and diagnosis of cerebral palsy: Implementing best practice guidelines in BC ’
Project Summary: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in Canadian children. Early therapy can maximize a child’s abilities and prevent health complications. In the first two years of life, the brain is most able to reorganize and grow new pathways. Yet, the average age of diagnosis in BC is nearly 25 months. A diagnosis helps families to understand what CP is, access therapies and plan for the future. Our survey showed many doctors lack the knowledge, skills, and confidence to diagnose early, and an understanding of families’ lived experience. Our strategy for change includes education, training, and sharing parents’ experiences using online learning, resources, and interactive online and in-person workshops. Our aim is to support doctors to assess for and diagnose CP early, and help families through the diagnosis and next steps.
Dr. Kristin Campbell & Kendra Zadravec MPT/PhD Trainee join JOSPT podcast
Dr Kristin Campbell and MPT/PhD Trainee Kendra Zadravec discussed staying active during cancer treatment with Dr Clare Ardern, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) in a recent podcast.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify here.
“Opera on the Brain” – Dr. Lara Boyd Discusses Neuroplasticity & Opera with the UBC Magazine
In an October article for the University of British Columbia Magazine, Dr Lara Boyd was featured along with Nancy Hermiston, Voice and Opera Divisions director and their research team.
As part of the Wall Opera Project, Dr. Boyd and team are focusing on one neuroplasticity question exploring how opera training impacts memory, cognitive functioning, and learning.
By comparing the MRI brain scans of opera student participants before they start their training and a year later, the researchers are hoping to zero in on the specific changes happening in the brain. Read the full article here.
Rebeca Hernandez Interviewed by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
Rebeca Hernandez, PhD student studying under the supervision of Dr. Teresa Liu Ambrose in the Aging, Mobility, and Cognitive Health Lab, was recently interviewed by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) as part of their People in Profile series.
Rebeca’s research focuses on the impact of lifestyle interventions on the cognitive function and brain health of older adults. This year Rebeca received the Alzheimer Society Research Program Doctoral Award, supporting Rebeca’s commitment to dementia prevention.
Read the full interview here.
RHSC Internal Award Winners
Meet the newest RHSC Internal Award Winners: Rinni Mamman received the Louise McGregor Memorial Scholarship in Neurorehabilitation, Jasleen Grewal received the Margaret Hood Scholarship in Occupational Therapy, and Julia Dahlby received the Jane Hudson Scholarship in Physical Therapy.
Each year, the Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences distribute financial awards to deserving students. This funding includes bursaries, scholarships and prizes and fellowships. In most cases, these awards are judged by faculty members of the Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program.
Rinni Mamman
Rinni Mamman is a PhD student working in the CEDAR (Collaborative Evidence: Developing Awareness and Research) Brain Injury Lab, supervised by Dr Julia Schmidt.
Rinni’s research explores the changes in self-identity after a traumatic brain injury. She aims to gain a deeper understanding of how sense of self is altered after brain injury by collaborating with individuals with brain injuries and key stakeholder groups. Additionally, Rinni focuses on using a creative lens to produce knowledge dissemination activities to improve awareness about the experiences of life after a traumatic brain injury.
In Rinni’s spare time, she loves to travel, read, chill with her cats, and explore the activities Vancouver has to offer!
Jasleen Grewal
Jasleen is a PhD candidate and registered occupational therapist, working in the CEDAR Brain Injury Lab, supervised by Dr. Julia Schmidt.
Jasleen’s research is informed by her clinical experience. Her research focuses on use of virtual reality in neurorehabilitation. Specifically, she is interested in understanding the efficacy of virtual reality, as well as the experiences of clinicians and patients when using virtual reality.
In her spare time, Jasleen likes to read, try new recipes and spend time with family, friends and her puppy.
Julia Dahlby
Julia is a PhD student and physiotherapist working in the Brain Behaviour Lab under the supervision of Dr. Lara Boyd.
Julia’s research focuses on the differences between females and males on motor learning after stroke. Specifically, Julia is interested in understanding how females and males with stroke respond to different types of feedback when learning a new upper limb motor skill, and how this can inform physical therapy treatment programs in the future.
In her spare time, Julia enjoys skiing, painting, or hanging out with family and friends.
View all of our funding opportunities.
Publication: Biopsychosocial factors of quality of life in individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: a scoping review
PhD student Rinni Mamman is first author on a UBC Rehabilitation Sciences-collaborative article recently published in Quality of Life Research.
Entitled “Biopsychosocial factors of quality of life in individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: a scoping review”, Rinni’s article discusses the different biopsychosocial factors that affect a person’s Quality of Life after a moderate to severe Traumatic Brain Injury.
Read the full article here on Springer Link
PhD Student Olivia Ferguson Receives CANTRAIN-CTTP & Michael Smith Health Research BC Doctoral Studentship 2023 Award
Join us in congratulating RHSC PhD Student Olivia Ferguson on receiving the CANTRAIN-CTTP & Michael Smith Health Research BC Doctoral Studentship 2023 Award! CANTRAIN is a CIHR-funded national clinical trials training platform that supports full-time PhD students who are conducting research related to clinical trials.
Tell us a little bit about your lab! What type of research are you conducting?
The Cardiopulmonary Exercise Physiology Laboratory does research to better understand the physiological factors that limit exercise tolerance across the spectrum of health and chronic lung disease.
How does winning the CANTRAIN Award help your research?
This award will support my graduate work not only financially, but through additional educational opportunities in clinical trial development and management. CANTRAIN provides it’s award recipients with the resources to participate in a clinical trials curriculum, as well as on going mentorship from professionals in the field. These opportunities will be invaluable as I progress throughout my doctoral studies.
What do you like to do outside of academia?
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time in the beautiful BC mountains, hiking and backcountry camping in the summer, and skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
RHSC Faculty Dr. Ben Mortenson featured in article for UBC Medicine Pathways
Informative article from RHSC supervisor and OSOT Professor Dr. Ben Mortenson on how to mitigate the effects of climate change on the lives of those living with disabilities in the current issue of UBC Medicine Pathways.
Read the full article here: UBC Medicine Pathways
RHSC supervisor and Dept of Physical Therapy Associate Professor Dr. Naznin Virji-Babul interviewed by ABC radio Australia
Dr Naznin Virji-Babul was interviewed by ABC radio Australia discussing the confusion around concussions. Listen to the episode here.
Dr. Pat Camp Recieves CIHR THINC Team Grant
Dr. Pat Camp, RHSC supervisor and Dept of Physical Therapy Associate Professor, in partnership with the VCH Legacy for Airway Health, was awarded a $2 million-dollar CIHR THINC Team Grant for SPIRO: SPirometry for Improved Indigenous and Rural Respiratory Outcomes. The THINC (Transforming Health with Integrated Care) grant initiative aims to address health inequities and gaps in care by funding teams of clinicians, researchers, health authority leaders, and patient partners to tackle complex health care problems. The SPIRO team is working with Carrier Sekani Family Services, Northern Health, and Vancouver Coastal Health to address access concerns to spirometry and integrated care, especially for individuals with chronic lung disease living in remote, rural and First Nations communities. More information on THINC initiatives can be found here.
Congratulations to Dr. Pat Camp on receiving this grant!
Recent Publication: Dr. Ben Mortenson in Home Health Care Services Quarterly
Dr. W. Ben Mortenson, RHSC Supervisor and OSOT Professor, was part of a research team who published their study on “Service delivery and programing adaptations for individuals with disabilities by municipalities and non-profit organizations during the COVID pandemic” in the March 2023 issue of Home Health Care Services Quarterly.
The article details the research team’s study into how municipalities and nonprofit organizations in particular provided service delivery and programming for people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their qualitative interpretative description study identified how these organizations were doing more with less, adapting existing services, continuing consultation with stakeholders, success at adapting services, innovating fundraising, and embracing radical change.
Read the full article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01621424.2023.2193560
RHSC Faculty Dr. Linda Li featured as a guest on the Radio Health Journal Podcast
Dr. Linda Li, RHSC Supervisor and Dept. of Physical Therapy Professor, was featured as a guest on the Radio Health Journal Podcast, where she discussed the importance of community support when coping with inflammatory arthritis.
Listen to Linda’s episode here:
RHSC Faculty Lara Boyd & Courtney Pollock Receive NSERC Discovery Research Grants
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada’s Discovery Research Program provides funding over five years to researchers pursuing promising areas of research on pressing modern issues. The Program supports researchers at different career stages with their long-term research goals and provides them the opportunity to train the researchers and scientists of the future. Recipients of the Discovery Research grants make the discoveries that ultimately improve our society and quality of life.
Dr. Lara Boyd, research supervisor in the UBC Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences (RHSC) and Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, received a Discovery Research grant worth $64,100.00 over 5 years supporting research on “The neurophysiology underpinning human motor learning”.
Dr. Courtney Pollock, research supervisor in the UBC Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences (RHSC) and Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, received two Discovery Research grants worth $12,500.00 and $38,000.00 over 5 years supporting research on “Interaction between physiological arousal, attention and motor learning when walking is challenged”.
Congratulations to our RHSC faculty!
PhD Candidate Himani Prajapati Receives Public Scholar Initiative Award
Join us in congratulating RHSC PhD Candidate Himani Prajapati on receiving a Public Scholars Initiative Award!
The Public Scholars Initiative Award is part of the UBC Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) which intends to build connections, community, and capacity for doctoral students who are interested in explicitly linking their doctoral work to an arena of public benefit and integrating broader and more career-relevant forms of scholarship into their doctoral education process. Each year funding is available for up to approximately 30 new students from all faculties at UBC and UBCO. Scholars selected for the cohort will be eligible for a renewal funding a second year. The PSI also introduced a Health Equity Stream for 2023/24, open for 6-8 students in health-oriented and equity-focused research.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your lab. What type of research are you conducting?
I am a Ph.D. candidate at MATTERS lab, supervised by Dr. Bill Miller. My doctoral research is centered on advancing the understanding and application of yoga for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Specifically, we are developing a yoga intervention guided by those with lived experiences, aiming to provide evidence-based recommendations for yoga programs. Given my passion for neurorehabilitation and interest in exploring the neural regulation of yoga, I strongly believe that yoga has the potential to enhance well-being after SCI.
How does winning the PSI Award help your research?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have been honoured with the Public Scholar Initiative Award. This prestigious recognition not only grants me access to an interdisciplinary platform where I can learn from fellow graduate students and further develop my research skills but also provides me with an excellent opportunity to share our research findings with the SCI community.
And what do you like to do outside of academia?
During my free time, I immerse myself in reading books on neuroplasticity and spirituality. This practice allows me to self-reflect on my daily experiences and actively work towards nurturing and rewiring my neurons. Additionally, I have a deep love for music and dance, constantly exploring various dance forms and taking long walks while enjoying my favourite playlist.