Jessica holds a B.A (Hons.) in Forensic Psychology, a diploma in Addiction and Mental Health Counselling, and is currently enrolled in her master’s degree in Occupational and Public Health at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). She is pursuing her thesis under the supervision of Dr. Bhawra, working concurrently as a teaching assistant in the School of Occupational and Public Health. Jessica is additionally involved in the non-profit, social service sector, working in research, evaluative, and consulting capacities. She specializes in at-risk youth, mental health, and gender-based violence.
jessica.rogers@torontomu.ca

Jacquelyn holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario. Since 2021, she has applied her health training as a Physiotherapy Assistant/Clinic Coordinator. Her experience working closely with patients of various abilities and backgrounds inspired her to address public health issues on a larger scale. She is currently a MSc Candidate in the Occupational and Public Health program under the supervision of Dr. Bhawra. Jacquelyn’s research interests include active living, global health, health equity, climate change impacts on health, and social determinants of health. She is eager to integrate her academic knowledge and professional experience to tackle complicated public health issues and reduce health disparities in communities. 

jackie.quesnel@torontomu.ca

Stefania holds a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Western University and a degree in Public Health from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is a Certified Public Health Inspector, and currently works as a Public Health Auditor for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Stefania is interested in how environmental factors, such as climate change, air quality, water quality, vector-borne disease, and various health hazards play a role in the health of vulnerable communities. She currently works as a Research Assistant with CHANGE Research Lab, assisting with research project management, evaluation and grant applications for projects focused on climate change impacts in urban communities. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health Candidate at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
srizzardo@torontomu.ca

Amina has completed her bachelor’s degree in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph and will be beginning the Master of Public Health: Nutrition and Dietetics Program at the University of Toronto in Fall 2024. Amina is passionate about promoting lifelong health and building resilient food systems in marginalized communities that have faced the disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, climate change, and food insecurity. She is currently a Research Assistant with the Change Research Lab and Food Rescue Assistant with the Food Recovery and Partnerships team at Second Harvest. She is excited to learn about the use of technology and digital methods to address climate change and achieve health equity within her community.
amina.saher@mail.utoronto.ca

Katarina holds an HBSc in Biology from the University of Toronto and is beginning her Master of Science in Occupational and Public Health at Toronto Metropolitan University in Fall 2024. She is an aspiring mixed methods public health researcher with experiences in community outreach and conducting qualitative research with vulnerable populations to improve health outcomes. She is also passionate about sustainability, health promotion, and social determinants of health in urban environments. Katarina's work as a Research Assistant with the CHANGE lab involves exploring climate change-induced negative health effects in Toronto and collaborating with the team to develop a citizen science framework that tackles this issue.
katarina.bursac@mail.utoronto.ca

Jasmin Hans is a third year Public Health student at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is passionate about global health and serving underrepresented communities. She aspires to pursue further education in the field of Public Health after her undergraduate studies. Jasmin is currently a Research Assistant with the CHANGE Lab focused on climate change-related health risks in Pune, India and Toronto, Canada. Jasmin brings research experience from Western University, as well as hospital and healthcare organizations. Jasmin hopes to bring her knowledge and experience to the CHANGE Research Lab to promote health equity and to continue learning more about the field.
jhans@torontomu.ca

Aesha is a third-year Public Health student at Toronto Metropolitan University with a passion for community health and the social determinants of health. She has worked at both the community and health system levels, helping to address barriers to healthcare access. Aesha is particularly interested in how research informs policies and programs that improve public health outcomes. As a Research Assistant with the CHANGE Research Lab, she supports knowledge translation using social media platforms to make research more accessible. She is committed to bridging the gap between research and communities to drive meaningful change.

Giulia is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Public Health from Toronto Metropolitan University. She has worked for multiple sectors that promote OneHealth and focus on the connection between human health and the environment. She has a passion for understanding how digital tools can be used in the healthcare system to increase health equity and accessibility. As a Research Assistant with the CHANGE Research Lab, she assists in creating understandable and accessible social media posts, grant applications for projects focused on climate change, and aids in conducting literature reviews on the connection between digital literacy and climate change awareness. 

Dr. Rubina Mandlik is a Project Manager at the Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute in Pune, India. She is a nutritionist and researcher with over 15 years of experience in nutrition and education. She is a Lila Fellow and has been a recipient of the University Grants Commission Jr. Research Fellowship. Her research interests span maternal, infant, and young child nutrition, knowledge translation, and behaviour change communication. Rubina works with Dr. Bhawra on a range of projects focused on infant and young child feeding practices, as well as climate change impacts on non-communicable disease risk in India. dr.rubina.mandlik@hcjmri.org.in

Jamin Patel completed an Honours Specialization in Health Sciences (2023) and is currently an MSc. Candidate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University. He is passionate about using innovative technology such as mHealth and predictive modeling to improve the wellbeing of populations. Previously, he led several health equity initiatives in partnership with local organizations in London, Ontario. His current research focus lies in cutting-edge digital health research, utilizing mixed methods and a citizen science approach to address health disparities and complex public health issues. Jamin is currently contributing to CHANGE Research Lab projects focused on climate change, mental health, and non-communicable diseases.
jpate344@uwo.ca

Nadine Elsahli graduated from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University with an Honours Specialization in Health Sciences and a Minor in Psychology (2023). Nadine enjoys learning about the interdisciplinary nature of health studies, and joined the CHANGE Research Lab as a Research Assistant because of her shared interest in using digital tools to promote health equity in areas of climate change, food sovereignty, and mental health. She has experience in knowledge translation, community-engaged research, and social media content creation. nelsahli@uwo.ca