Ishani Bharadwaj

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

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I am continually fascinated by children and how they interact with the world. I believe that with love, kindness and curiousity, we can raise healthy and happy children! With this motivation, I am pursuing an MA in the Developmental track of Psychology at SFU. I am a member of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Lab where I research ways of best supporting autistic children and their families coming from varied backgrounds. As a woman-of-color in academia, my educational and career pursuits are deeply rooted in fostering equity, justice, and diversity within knowledge creation.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I chose to pursue higher education at SFU because of my aspiration to work alongside Dr. Grace Iarocci and the ADDL, renowned for their valuable contribution to Autism research in Canada. This decision also grants me the opportunity to learn from the distinguished faculty members at SFU's psychology department. It is a privilige to learn, live and play in these beautiful mountains!

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

Parenting is univerally demanding, but can be especially challenging for caregivers of autistic children. Constantly juggling multiple tasks such as managing their child's behaviour, attending to healthcare and therapy appointments, and household tasks can leave them feeling overwhelmed and unable to find fulfilment. In my masters research, I explore how mindfulness and self-compassion can help these parents in their journeys. I am studying the potential benefits of a mindfulness training program in collaboration with Autism Community Training in BC.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Mindfulness, Autism, Parenting

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

I have discovered a passion for teaching through TAships at SFU. I believe the best way to give back to the academic community is to share the knowledge you have acquired. I hope to create environments where students find learning fun, not burdensome and where there is room for learning through mistakes.

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 am grateful to have received the Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship ($5,000) and the Graduate Fellowship ($7,000) in my first year. I have also been awarded the DIVERT Mental Health Fellowship ($5,000) for my research to aid equitable and technological interventions for children with special needs in India.

What have been the most valuable lessons you've learned along your graduate student journey (or in becoming a graduate student)?

That it is important to try things for the first time and step out of your comfort zone, even if it means struggling a bit! Also, invest in making connections with your peers. It is easy to neglect friendships in academia but they are the only ones who know what you are going through!

If you could dedicate your research to anyone (past, present and/or future), who would that be and why?

To the children of my country, especially the ones who continue to find joy in underprivilged environments.

Contact Ishani:ishani_bharadwaj@sfu.ca

Additional Links

• LinkedIn