Jeenat Mehareen

Economics master's student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

I am a former academician with more than six years of experience in teaching and research. Coming from a low-middle-income country, I have had the opportunity to shape young and enthusiastic minds with the knowledge of economics. I have been actively involved in research while working as a Senior Research Assistant which aimed to evaluate a health insurance scheme using randomized evaluation. I also worked as co-researcher in projects related to trade balance and exchange rate relationship. Lately, I have become interested in mental health economics and worked on projects related to observing differences in perception and incidences of mental health disorders among public and private university students. I also developed a protocol for eliciting Willingness-to-pay for mental illnesses and how perceived burden and socio-economic status might involve the outcome (WTP). To better equip myself with the "Art of Economics", I decided to pursue a second Masters in Economics at Simon Fraser University where besides studying, I also work as a Teaching Assistant.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO SFU?

Apart from the unadulterated natural beauty that the SFU Burnaby campus has to offer, SFU has a combination of world-class faculty members who specializes in my research interest along with a diverse student pool. This made me choose the institution for my MA to delve deeper and enlighten myself with the core knowledge of Economics.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESEARCH OR YOUR PROGRAM TO A FAMILY MEMBER?

Although my jobs have provided me the chance to explore the field of International Trade and Health Economics subsectors, along with those, I love the opportunity to spend my graduate life exploring further into the branches of economics. The courses are specially focused on data analysis, visualization, and economic policy implication which I find will be beneficial for whoever wants to explore their career as a data analyst, researcher, or in any policy think-tank.

WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYING ABOUT YOUR STUDIES/RESEARCH AT SFU?

I admire the range of courses that the department of Economics offers which expands not only my theoretical knowledge but also improves my quantitative research skill. Also, the faculty and the classmates are surprisingly helpful. They motivate me every day, to learn and do better.

HAVE YOU BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF ANY MAJOR OR DONOR-FUNDED AWARDS? IF SO, PLEASE TELL US WHICH ONES AND A LITTLE ABOUT HOW THE AWARDS HAVE IMPACTED YOUR STUDIES AND/OR RESEARCH.

I have been fortunate enough to receive two awards: GPS Graduate Fellowship, Special Grad Entrance Scholarship for Fall 2021. It has helped me to focus completely on my studies rather than finding alternative earning opportunities to survive in Canada.

Contact : jma204@sfu.ca

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