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Grad Hooding Q&A – Paul Hurst
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Grad Hooding Q&A – Shemms Najjar
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Grad Hooding Q&A – Kelsey Morgan
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Grad Hooding Q&A – Hinesh Patel
By Matt Coker, UCI School of Social Ecology
Jianmin Shao, a Ph.D. student in psychological science, has been named a 2023 Dissertation Fellow in Women’s Studies by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars’ WW National Fellowship Foundation.
Shao’s dissertation, “Transgendering In-Betweens: Selfhood, Vulnerability, and Trans-Relational Encounters in China,” examines transgender vulnerability through attention to intimate relationships between not only individuals but also national and trans-national politics. The project aims to rethink gender, sexuality, identity, and the place of trans people in the world.
“It’s really important for me to get this fellowship so that I know that what I’m working on is important and there’s value in what I’m doing,” says Shao (they/them/their), who is one of eight scholars selected this year for the prestigious honor that provides $5,000 in support of dissertation research.
Shao’s research for the interdisciplinary project that exams transgender vulnerability in China involved spending a year there to collect data and conduct in-depth interviews with physicians, non-governmental organization staff activists and transgender individuals.
“I really want to know, in addition to their mental health struggles, what are the structural and social factors that shape their experiences,” Shao says. “So that’s why I went to interview them. I talked to them and did ethnographic observations at parties and other gatherings.”
The WW Women’s Studies Dissertation Fellowship program was established in 1974 to support outstanding humanities and social science Ph.D. candidates whose work address women’s and gender issues in interdisciplinary and original ways. The program has supported more than 600 fellows over the past 50 years, including a Pulitzer Prize winner, two MacArthur fellows and numerous Guggenheim and Fulbright fellows.
Shao, who got their undergraduate degree in social and behavioral sciences at Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, received a Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship and the UCI Social Ecology Excellence in Mentorship Award as a graduate student in psychological science here.
Hoping to complete studies for a doctorate this summer or in the fall, Shao believes this is the perfect place to do their kind of work.
“I think about academia the same way in which people think about gender because in society, you are allowed to identify as either a man or woman, or there’s very little room for the third option or fourth option,” Shao explains. “In academia, to some extent, you are allowed to be a psychologist or an anthropologist or a gender scholar. But, if you want to be both, or all three of them, it’s going to be hard because people don’t know how to categorize you. I think receiving this fellowship and being housed in the School of Social Ecology really inspired me to continue to do the work that is interdisciplinary, that’s bringing expertise, tools and theories from psychology, anthropology, and feminist gender studies to study the problems that I’m interested in, which is about gendered inequities and marginalization among trans people.”
Shao is also “really appreciative of the mentoring that I’m receiving from my UCI advisors,” who include the Department of Anthropology’s Tom Boellstorff, Kim Fortun, Lilith Mahmud, and Valerie Olson, Department of History’s Emily Baum (“I’m not even housed in their departments, but they really went above and beyond to provide me guidance for the research that I’m doing”), and the Department of Psychological Science’s Chuansheng Chen, Jessica Borelli and Kristine Molina (“One of them is a cultural psychologist, one of them is a clinical psychologist working on the parent-child relationship and the other is a social psychologist working on discrimination. And, all of them are very open and extremely supportive of what I want to do”).
“I really appreciate their encouragement and support,” Shao says. “They’re always there for me whenever I have questions. Doing this kind of work, you definitely need a lot of support from faculty members. I’m glad and appreciative to be mentored by faculty across different departments at UCI.”
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Grad Hooding Q&A – Sophia Gad-Nasr
Sophia Gad-Nasr, PhD Candidate in Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
Sophia Gad-Nasr is a 6th-year PhD candidate in cosmology and astroparticle physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and will be hooded on June 17 in the Bren Events Center.
Under her advisor Manoj Kaplinghat, she will be defending her thesis in September 2023. Sophia’s work aims to learn about how an invisible and untouchable substance called dark matter behaves and affects the evolution of galaxies through the use of simulations and computational methods. An avid science communicator, Sophia enjoys spending her free time talking about the mysteries of the Universe to share the awe and wonder of it all with her followers.
What is your favorite memory at UCI?
My favorite memory at UCI happened when I took the science communication class with Sandra Tsing Loh. After I edited my practice talk about dark matter for the class and gave the new version with all her amazing suggestions, she had me modulate between high and low pitches for emphasis. It was so much fun to get to talk about my work while learning how powerful modulation is!
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be attending the Technion in Israel as a Zuckerman Postdoctoral Fellow, where I will get to continue studying the Universe through simulations.
THANKFUL
Manoj Kaplinghat taught me so much about my field, about how to ask the right questions, and how to work through bumps along the road in research. – Sophia Gad-Nasr
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I have always seen myself working at NASA, having a hand in a mission that has to do with uncovering dark matter or learning more about black holes. So, in 5 years, my hopes are that I will be a postdoc through the NASA Postdoctoral Program, and on my way to landing a position as a researcher there.
Who was your biggest influence at UCI?
My biggest influence at UCI was my advisor, Manoj Kaplinghat. He has taught me so much about my field, about how to ask the right questions, and how to work through bumps along the road in research. I am so thankful to have had such an amazing advisor during these 6 years working on my PhD at UCI.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before coming to UCI?
One thing I really wish I did was take part in all the science communication programs here. I actually did know about them, but what I wish I was able to do was carve out time to fit these into my schedule, because the one class I did take turned out to be extremely valuable, and I’m sure the others would have been as well.
What are your hobbies or interests?
In my free time, I actually love talking about space and physics on social media and participate in science communication. I also enjoy taking time to play RPG video games like Final Fantasy, or watching TV shows and movies that are sci-fi or fantasy related. A TV show that I’m really looking forward to is season 2 of Foundation, which is a TV adaptation of the Foundation books by Isaac Asimov. I also enjoy interacting with my hamster Muini.
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Grad Hooding Q&A – Jeevika Bhat
Jeevika Bhat, M.F.A., Dancer and Choreographer
Jeevika Bhat (she/her) is a dancer and choreographer from the Bay Area and will graduate with an MFA in Dance on June 17 in the Bren Events Center.
Her background is in Odissi, an East Indian classical dance form known for its nuanced storytelling and graceful fluidity, and she is interested in defining the confluence of her cultures through her art. She studies Odissi under the guidance of Guru Jyoti Rout and is currently a teacher with her dance company, Jyoti Kala Mandir. Academically, she graduated from UC San Diego, where she earned a BS in Mathematics and minors in Linguistics and Dance, and has been exploring Contemporary Indian dance in many contexts in the years since.
What is your favorite memory at UCI?
Teaching and dancing at ACDA, an intercollegiate dance conference that was hosted by UCI this year. It was such a joy to share Contemporary Indian dance with all the eager dancers from across California, as well learn several new styles, watch incredible performances, and meet so many lovely people in such a fun packed weekend.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m not certain yet, but I am excited to see where the world takes me!
COMMUNITY
The deep sense of community that’s fostered through dance is so euphoric, and it’s been a joy and honor to partake in that with everyone here. – Jeevika Bhat
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully exploring a new city, creating and practicing dance in some capacity! Perhaps on Broadway?
Who was your biggest influence at UCI?
Everyone I’ve ever danced with – through New Slate, Dance Escape, Zamana, my thesis, classes, and beyond. The deep sense of community that’s fostered through dance is so euphoric, and it’s been a joy and honor to partake in that with everyone here. I’ve learned so much with each individual and group I’ve shared space with, and each time, I take little fragments of them with me.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before coming to UCI?
How much a single email can do. I’ve found so many opportunities and made connections by just sending an email to people who I admired and whose work I was interested in, and I wish I had known to start this even sooner. Worst case, status quo!
What are your hobbies or interests?
Outside of dance, I enjoy practicing yoga, cooking, swimming in natural water, and learning about word roots and etymology.
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Grad Hooding Q&A – Jazette Johnson
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Grad Hooding Q&A – Audrey Odwuor
Audrey Odwuor, Ph.D., Earth System Scientist, Communicator.
Audrey Odwuor is an Earth system scientist passionate about improving our scientific and societal understanding of the planet. As a class of 2023 graduate, she will be hooded on June 17 in the Bren Events Center.
She has experience in independent research, teamwork, mentoring, community outreach, and science communication. In her research, which she presented as a competitor twice in Grad Slam, and tied for a second-place finish in 2023, Odwuor studies wildfires and prescribed fire in California. Her outreach and science communication efforts are focused on educating and empowering people around wildfire and other topics in Earth system research and environmental justice.
What is your favorite memory at UCI?
My favorite memory at UCI is co-hosting a live radio show called “Earth Calling ” on KUCI 88.9 FM. With my colleagues and friends Joana Tavares and Mackenzie Ostrowski, I interviewed guests from all across the climate movement to educate listeners, build a sense of community, and inspire confidence that together, we can make progress in the fight against climate change. Between managing the show’s social media, working at the radio station, and getting to meet new people and highlight their hard work and contributions to the climate movement, co-hosting Earth Calling was a fun way to exercise creativity and serve my community and it deepened my sense of purpose as an Earth system scientist.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to work in science communication and continue engaging in community outreach. I would like to help make environmental science accessible to people who need it – decision makers, business leaders, educators, community members, and other stakeholders. I’m passionate about using my knowledge and skills to protect the planet and society. Earth system research is relevant to many aspects of our lives, from writing regulations and policies that protect the environment to understanding how our individual and community actions help fight climate change. I hope to communicate Earth system research to keep science at the forefront of these spaces and help bridge the gap between science and society.
Hope
I hope I can use my experience at UCI to act as a link between academia and the broader community, sharing the value of academic research with those who might not otherwise have access. – Audrey Odwuor
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In 5 years, I see myself leading creative outreach campaigns, using mass media for science communication to reach a wider audience. My dream is to do this with others who are passionate about engaging the public in the discussion around climate change. Ultimately, I believe community needs should drive scientific research and I think media is a really powerful tool for connecting with people. I hope to use it to build a bridge between scientists and society and help strengthen the links among scientists, communities, and decision-makers.
Who was your biggest influence at UCI?
My biggest influence at UCI has been my friend, colleague, and former co-host Joana Tavares. I was always amazed at how Joana excelled in both conducting and communicating her research. On top of her academic work, she does a lot of community outreach and always inspired me to follow my passions, believe in myself, and make bold moves when it comes to doing work that I can truly be proud of. With Joana’s support, I became more and more involved in community outreach, built a network of science communicators, and began shaping a career where I can continue my pursuit of science while also serving my community.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before coming to UCI?
As I’m completing my time at UCI, I now know that there is more than one way to feel fulfilled with this degree. Earlier in my graduate education at UCI, I thought that the only fate for a grad student was to eventually become a researcher or professor. However, after a couple of years pursuing my PhD, I realized I felt more fulfilled talking to other people about their research than doing my own. At the time, this felt wrong and like I chose the wrong path because I didn’t love my research as much as my colleagues seemed to love theirs. Over time and with the support of my colleagues and the network I’ve built, I learned that sharing science might actually be what best allows me to create the changes I want to see in society. Via my education at UCI, I’ve developed the skills to understand complex problems in Earth system science and built relationships with people who are conducting important research that will affect all of our lives. I hope I can use my experience at UCI to act as a link between academia and the broader community, sharing the value of academic research with those who might not otherwise have access.
