Insiya Bhalloo, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute
Why Temerty Faculty of Medicine:
As a UTSC alum (HBA, 2018) and FoM alum (MSc, 2021), my PhD at FoM is a continuation of my graduate journey. Particularly, the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, and their Speech-Language-Pathology research stream, is what initially motivated my choice to pursue graduate studies at Temerty Faculty of Medicine. I chose Temerty Faculty of Medicine for my PhD, due to its research-intensive program and training from internally-renowned scientists who all advocate for intersectional research and knowledge translation into evidence-based practice. These experiences during my MSc and now during my PhD were paramount in preparing me for conducting culturally- and linguistically-appropriate research to represent Canada’s multilingual populations.
Why this Department:
I chose RSI as I previously worked as a research assistant at two RSI SLP-related labs. Although I had previously conducted linguistics- related research in multiple languages (such as Arabic, Urdu and Swahili), it was while at the Bilingual and Multilingual Development Lab (BAM) – my research current lab – that I realized I could align my two interests, language-related research and clinical impact. I also chose RSI due to its well-established SLP program and reputation as a leader in rehabilitation research; RSI enabled me to combine both my research interests and passion for conducting clinically meaningful speech-language pathology research.
Current Research Experience:
As a graduate student at the Bilingual and Multilingual Development Lab, I have conducted online cross-country and cross-linguistic research studies across Canada and Pakistan. I also had the opportunity to conduct research with the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) in Karachi, Pakistan though support of SSHRC. My work and volunteer experiences across Canada, Pakistan, and Tanzania reflect my passion for facilitating Canadian-global collaborations and enhancing literacy screening accessibility in under-served communities.
Future Education Plans and/or Career Goals:
I look forward to continuing forward on my PhD journey, under the mentorship of my supervisor Dr. Monika Molnar and support of the RSI community. I’d also like to consider ways to make my research, involving literacy tele-screening, as accessible and user-friendly as possible (i.e., knowledge translation). My future goals include exploring opportunities for international research collaborations to facilitate United Nation Sustainable Development Goal #4 (Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education) especially in vulnerable communities.
Contact Ambassador Insiya Bhalloo