About the Lab
The lab works on feminist/queer science and scholarship about gender/sex and sexual diversity, sexuality, and social neuroendocrinology. We use multiple methods, including those that are quantitative (e.g., experiments, group differences, correlations, questionnaires, etc.), qualitative (e.g., thematic analysis, content analysis, focus groups), and/or straddle or extend beyond these.
The lab, processes, and engagements are rooted in pragmatic, empirical, and situated feminist/queer values. These include attending to trans lives, racial/ethnic marginalization, ableism, colonialism, class, settler colonialism, body size and fatness, ageism, and more. We have a >100 page lab guide that details lab guidelines, practices, and norms, as well as over 100 lab protocols about the doing of research, including statistics, interviews, ethics, using technology, and more. We have weekly lab meetings (often people's favourite part of the lab, true story!); additionally, Dr. van Anders meets one-on-one weekly or biweekly with all graduate students, post docs, and honours thesis students. We work with an apprentice model, and Dr. van Anders is very hands-on with trainees' research and academics.
Our lab attends to diversity not only in what we do, but who is doing it; our social locations and lived experiences inform our work (as they do all researchers') and our lab's critical engagement with these also lead to better work. Our lab has been recognized as one of two examples of "EDI in Action in STEM". And, members members have won over 40 awards for their work while in the van Anders lab!
The lab is - and is full of diverse people who are - curious, passionate about feminist/queer research, intense, fun, and joyful. We love what we do; join us!
Grad Students for Next Fall?
Interested in applying for next September? I encourage you to contact me ahead of your application. It helps me to hear about your interests, and being in contact will help you figure out if I am the right supervisor/mentor for you. When you email me, please let me know how you feel our research interests overlap and include a copy of your CV/resume and transcript (an unofficial copy is fine).
Grad students who are a great fit for our lab are those who are: (a) passionate about research topics and methods within the lab's research program; (b) detail-oriented and able to work on multiple projects; (c) interested in feedback, learning, and growth; (d) excited about joining and working with(in) a dynamic and close-knit team; (e) happy to work with(in) existing structures and guidelines (like our awesome lab's set-ups!) to succeed at goals; and (f) committed to and interested in feminist and/or queer approaches to research!
Please note: if you are interested in clinical populations, non-human animals, or hormonal influences on behavior (as opposed to bidirectional associations or social modulation of hormones), my lab is not the right fit for you but I would be happy to recommend some excellent colleagues! Please see the research page to learn more about our lab.
Applicants to my lab should strongly consider applying to a postgraduate scholarship (i.e., funding for being a grad student), to add to/top up what they would receive as funding here at »ΚΉΪΜεΣύ's. There are many options, and the most common ones to check out are Tri-Council funding from NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR (which one may depend on your interests as our lab can fit all of them), the Vanier Scholarship (PhD only), the Ontario Women's Health Scholar Award, and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Please no