Women in Research Council
In keeping with Ontario Tech University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and the Office of Research Services (ORS) are launching the Ontario Tech University Women in Research Council (WIRC). The specific mandate of the Council is to develop and implement initiatives to invest in gender equity at Ontario Tech by helping to actively nurture and retain talented women who can help advance and lead the university in research, teaching and beyond.
*Anytime we refer to “women”, we are referring to all women, which includes, but is not limited to trans women, gender non-conforming women, non-binary women, individuals who are feminine of centre, femmes and cisgender women.
The funding for this program is provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Institutional Grant program.
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Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee is invested in the development and implementation of WIRC initiatives at Ontario Tech University. The Committee is dedicated to nurturing and retaining talented women faculty, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. The WIRC Advisory Committee is comprised of:
Dr. Karla Dhungana-Sainju (she/her), WIRC Chair and Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Dr. Jana Abou-Ziki (she/her), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Janette Hughes (she/her), Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2), Faculty of Education
Dr. Amy Leach (she/her), Associate Dean and Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Dr. Carol Rodgers (she/her), Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr. Salma Karray (she/her), Professor, Faculty of Business and IT
Dr. Meaghan Charest-Finn (she/her), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Laura Banks (she/her), Associate Teaching Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr. Amanda Cooper (she/her), Professor and Dean, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education- Jennifer Freeman (she/her), Executive Director, Office of Research Services
Victoria Ginsley (she/her), PhD Candidate (Criminology and Justice), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities -
Women's Wednesday Features (Current Month)
Each Wednesday, the WIRC will highlight faculty, post-docs and students from across our university to recognize the incredible #WomenOfOntarioTech.
November 13, 2024
Dr. Farzaneh Nikbakhtsarvestani, PhD Student, Faculty of Science
Megha Verma, Engineering Lab Specialist, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
November 6, 2024
Dr. Kim Clow, Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Shahrbanoo Zomorodzadeh, Master's Student, Faculty of Business & IT
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Building EDI Knowledge in Research – Pilot Initiative
Grant: Building EDI Knowledge in Research - Pilot Initiative
Through the Women in Research Council, in partnership with the Office of Research Services and the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the Building EDI Knowledge in Research – pilot initiative was launched. This pilot initiative reflects Ontario Tech University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and research excellence by building capacity and leadership in EDI, in both faculty members and post-doctoral fellows. Faculty members and post-doctoral fellows are key drivers in creating and implementing practices and initiatives for an equitable, diverse and inclusive research environment at Ontario Tech. This initiative aims to support EDI knowledge building to cultivate new capacity and/or continue to expand an inclusive culture and inform EDI practices in research.
Specifically, this initiative will engage individuals/research team/unit EDI training opportunities, cultivate new capacity and/or continue to expand an inclusive culture and inform EDI practices in research and allow awardees to share their learning with the Ontario Tech community.Award winners:
Nisha Rani Agarwal, Faculty of Science
Activities: Conducting EDI seminar series with NSERC chairs, and attending leadership and EDI training for early career researchers
Funding amount: $5000
Sanna Alwidian, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Activities: Disability and work in Canada Conference and invited keynote speaker to host talk on disability and EDI
Funding amount: $2500
Allyson Eamer and Anna Rodrigues, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Activities: Metropolis Canada Conference and building TESL and ESL AQ capacity
Funding amount: $4806.80
Hui Zhu, Faculty of Business and Information Technology
Activities: EDI conference in Labour and Gender Economic to inform teaching and research
Funding amount: $4500
Patrick Hung, Faculty of Business and Information Technology
Activities: Conducting guest speakers with women professors in Computer Science to build EDI capacity
Funding amount: $4380
Annie En-Shiun Lee, Michael Mijanovic, Mariana Shimabukura, Tong Su, Randy Fortier, Faculty of Science
Activities: Building Capacity in Computer Science and addressing EDI challenges
Funding amount: $4820
Pejman Mirza-Babaei, Faculty of Business and Information Technology
Activities: Changing GameDev Life initiative to address challenges of diversity in the game industry, interviews with leading figures in the game industry
Funding amount: $4760
Anna Rodrigues, Faculty of Education
Activities: Building Ontario Tech capacity in community-based research: fundamentals and excellence through an EDI lens
Funding amount: $1245
Joelle Rodway, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Activities: Interactive Workshop/Webinar for Ontario Tech faculty and K-12 educators on anti-racist and decolonizing approaches to pedagogy and leadership
Funding amount: $5000Adjudication Committee:
Karla Dhungana Sainju, WIRC Chair and Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Carol Rodgers, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences
Jennifer Freeman, Executive Director, Office of Research Services
Meaghan Charest-Finn, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science -
Women-Centered Groups at Ontario Tech
Women-Centered Groups at Ontario Tech
The WIRC would like to highlight other women-centred groups at Ontario Tech. There are incredible student-led groups, as well as non-profit organizations, dedicated to nurturing and expanding the role of women in various industries. They promote the inclusion and promotion of women identified students and faculty members. Below are a selection of the incredible groups at Ontario Tech.
OTU Social Science & Humanities (FSSH) Women's Collective. A sub-society of Ontario Tech Humanities Society, the Women's Collective is a space for women to connect and thrive.
Ontario Tech University Women's Student Association. The OTU's Women's Student Association is committed to creating a vibrant community that champions women's empowerment and growth. Our mission is to provide a platform for women to connect, learn, and lead through engaging events, workshops, and collaborative initiatives. We strive to address the diverse challenges women face while celebrating their successes in personal and professional development by uniting voices and resources, we aim to inspire and support women in achieving their full potential and making a positive impact on campus and in the wider community.Women in Business
Ontario Tech Women in Business Association's goal is to provide resources to women on their corporate and entrepreneurial journey with our exclusive events. Women in Business want to educate, create, and inspire! They aim to provide learning opportunities for both the student population and faculty, addressing common obstacles women face in all areas of the business world. They create a fun and safe environment for students to receive resources and provide opportunities for them to thrive in both an entrepreneurial and corporate careerWomen in IT
WIT is a student-run sub-association (within the Business & IT department) that is committed to empowering and improving the experience of females in IT fields, both inside and outside Ontario Tech University. Past events include a Women in the Workplace conference, Women in Leadership events, game nights, movie nights and equity talks!Women in Engineering
Founded in 2004, the Women in Engineering Society at Ontario Tech University, is a non-profit organization within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. It was created by a female engineering professor and an engineering advisor to address the issue of a lack of female engineers within the faculty. Since its creation, Women in Engineering has grown to include over 100 female engineering students. They also run a mentorship program for upper year engineering students, matching them with women in the engineering field!ACM-W Student Chapter
The Association for Computing Machinery's Women in Computing (ACM-W) Student Chapter was founded in 2016. It aims to connect students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and STEM-related fields. It also acknowledges women are a minority in STEM fields, especially in computing. The chapter focuses on career development, professional networking and educational support. It hosts a number of annual events to help students develop both personal and professional skills. Furthermore, the student chapter strives to bring awareness to common issues women face in the professional world, and provide them with support, encouragement and a voice on campus. The ACM-W Student Chapter is open to all students who support women in computing! The chapter invites membership from all students who share STEM-related interests, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender.Women in STEM
Ontario Tech University's Women for STEM program provides opportunities for female students to fulfill their potential in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based fields. Women for STEM is built on three pillars to engage and empower women: Mentorship and networking opportunities; Scholarships for women in STEM fields of study; Celebrating the achievements of women as innovators, entrepreneurs and change agents. Their goal is to raise $2 million dollars to provide 200 entrance scholarships and 600 in-course scholarships to Ontario Tech students over a 10-year period.SHE LEADS
She Leads was created when our team was identifying certain needs on our campus and in our larger social environment and we noticed a lack of female empowerment opportunities. A female’s voice is just the thing that is needed in this day and age to make a long-lasting impact throughout communities. We can accomplish a lot with the right platform and an everlasting ambition. With every project we initiate, we strive to connect females within our community so that, as per our slogan, She Leads, She Empowers, and She Succeeds.Stay tuned for more features to come!
Student Resources
View Ontario Tech's Student Life page for all resources. See below for some common areas:
Faculty and Staff Resources
View Ontario Tech's Faculty and Staff page for all resources. See below for some common areas:
Previous Month's Women's Wednesday
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October 2023 Features
October 25, 2023
Dr. Nisha Rani Agarwal, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science
Astrid DeSouza, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Health Sciences
Kelly Wang, Masters Student and STEAM 3D-Maker Lab Research Assistant, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
October 18, 2023
Dr. Salma Karray, Professor, Faculty of Business and IT
Vikki Ginsley, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Saba Molazadeh, Masters Student, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
October 11, 2023
Dr. Nooshin Rotondi, Associate Teaching Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Erica Gavel, PhD Candidate, Paralympian, Faculty of Science
Zahraa Bassyouni, Masters Student, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
October 4, 2023
Dr. Jen Rinaldi, Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Dr. Jessica Wong, Banting Post-Doctoral Fellow, Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Health Sciences.
Tess Butler-Ulrich, Doctor of Education Graduate Student, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
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November 2023 Features
November 29, 2023
Dr. Annie Lee, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science
Jen Calver, PhD Student and Registered Practical Nurse, Faculty of Health Sciences
Virginia Chiu, MSc Candidate, Faculty of Science
November 22, 2023
Dr. Karolina Krystyniak, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business & IT
Alana Tyner, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science
Larissa Janssen, Masters Student and Research Assistant, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
November 15, 2023
Dr. Leigh Harkins, Professor, Graduate Program Director of Forensic Psychology, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Susan Yousufzai, Research Assistant with Dr. Barakat, Faculty of Health Sciences
Adrianna Trifunovski, Masters Student, Faculty of Health Sciences
November 8, 2023
Dr. Zeinab El-Sayegh, Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Victoria Baker, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Noor Khabbaz, Masters Student and Research Assistant, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
November 1, 2023
Dr. Robyn Ruttenberg-Rozen, Assistant Professor, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Basak Cakmak, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science
Sarah Kirkpatrick, Masters Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
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December 2023 Features
December 13, 2023
Dr. Meaghan Charest-Finn, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Mari Pullman, PhD Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Stacey Koornneef, Master's Student, Faculty of Science
December 6, 2023
Dr. Mika Nonoyama, Associate Professor and Registered Respiratory Therapist, Faculty of Health Sciences
Cassandre Dion Larivière, PhD Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Erin Giroux, Masters Student, Faculty of Science
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January 2024 Features
January 31, 2024
Dr. Andrea Kirkwood, Professor and Research Excellence Chair in Urban Water, Faculty of Science
Dr. Ulya Sabeel, PhD Graduate, Faculty of Business & IT
January 24, 2024
Dr. Hui Zhu, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business & IT
Funmilola Ogunseye, PhD Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
January 17, 2024
Dr. Caroline Barakat, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Sarah Rijkenberg, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science
January 10, 2024
Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos, Associate Teaching Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Roxana Pao, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
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February 2024 Features
February 28, 2024
Dr. Diana Petrarca, Associate Professor, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Sarah Motlagh, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Business & IT
February 21, 2024
Dr. Winnie Sun, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Kgalalelo Rampete, Master's of Science Student, Faculty of Science
February 14, 2024
Dr. Mennatullah Siam, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Sheree Rodney, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
February 7, 2024
Dr. Allyson Eamer, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Paria Sarzaeim, Master's Student, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
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March 2024 Features
March 27, 2024
Dr. Joelle Rodway, Associate Professor, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Guadalupe Blanco-Velasco, PhD student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
March 20, 2024
Dr. Ginny Brunton, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Ifrodet Giorgees, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science
March 13, 2024
Dr. Jennifer McKellar, Department Chair (Acting) & Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Dallas Hill, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
March 6, 2024
Dr. Shannon Vettor, Associate Teaching Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Dr. Erin Smith, Mitacs Elevate Post-doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Science
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April 2024 Features
April 24, 2024
Dr. Ami Mamolo, Associate Professor, Mitch & Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Shaijieni Kannan, MSc student, Faculty of Science
April 17, 2024
Dr. Jana Abou Ziki, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Alia Stevenson, Master's Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
April 10, 2024
Dr. Theresa Stotesbury, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science
Fateme Mazloomi, PhD Student, Faculty of Business and IT
April 3, 2024
Dr. Olga Marques, Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Flavia Breje, Master's of Science student in the Faculty of Science
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September 2024 Features
September 25, 2024
Dr. Jia Li, Professor, Mitch & Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Dr. Anisha Mahajan, a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Health Sciences
September 18, 2024
Dr. Sanaa Alwidian, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Stanard Pachong, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Business and IT
September 11, 2024
Dr. Efrosini Papaconstantinou, Assistant Dean (Nursing) and Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Bria Hughes-Small, Master of Science Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
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October 2024 Features
October 30, 2024
Dr. Jenna Comstock, Forensic Science Laboratory Technician, Faculty of Science
Kierstyn Hawke, PhD Student, Faculty of Health Science
October 23, 2024
Dr. Janette Hughes, Professor and Canada Research Chair, Mitch & Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Carolina Gutierrez Cadavid, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social Science & Humanities
October 9, 2024
Dr. Joelma Peixoto, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Business & IT
Ashley Gedge, Master’s Student, Faculty of Science
October 2, 2024
Dr. Alyson King, Professor and Associate Dean, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Cristina Henriques, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science
