Cathy Tran

Archaeology doctoral student in the Faculty of Environment

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

As the child of a refugee father and immigrant mother, my journey has been built upon the life created for me by my parents amidst the reality of a community fractured by warfare. Unfortunately, my community is only one of many who have been forced to endure horrors that have fractured connections and caused pain that will continue to be felt for generations. Carrying the legacy of my Vietnamese heritage into my research, I recognize the importance of victim identification in humanitarian efforts and am dedicated to developing methods to support communities in these efforts. This dedication began during my undergraduate studies and led me to graduate with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Anthropology from the University of Toronto. Following my undergraduate studies, I seeked to conduct research into novel methods for victim identification that could expand upon the currently available options. This led me to Simon Fraser University, where I began in the MA program before transitioning into the PhD program in the Department of Archaeology. In my doctoral studies, my focus is on developing innovative and minimally invasive methods for victim identification by recovering DNA from grave soils.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

The goal of my research is to integrate knowledge from forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology, and geoarchaeology in order to develop a minimally invasive method for victim identification. In the Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University, there is a unique opportunity to pursue this research, which exists at the intersections of the expertises of Dr. Hugo Cardoso, Dr. Dongya Yang, and Dr. Francesco Berna. With the privilege of their mentorship, I can pursue genuinely interdisciplinary research that is built upon strong foundations in human osteology, ancient DNA, and geoarchaeology, respectively. Furthermore, through access to the state-of-the-art facilities in the Centre for Forensic Research, FROST lab, Ancient DNA lab, and Geoarchaeology lab, along with opportunities to contribute to the research programs of my supervisors, I will develop essential laboratory skills and enhance my breadth of experience working in forensic, bioarchaeological, and archaeological contexts. The unique opportunities and support provided to me at SFU create the ideal environment for my research to grow.

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

In forensic cases or humanitarian conflicts (e.g., human rights violations) where victims are buried without grave markers, identifying who is buried in a specific grave requires the expertise of forensic scientists. Although DNA is a fundamental tool for identification, DNA analysis typically involves destruction of biological samples during DNA extraction, which can retraumatize family members and may be considered ethically or culturally disrespectful for some communities. To address these concerns, the goal of my research is to innovate an approach that uses DNA recovered from grave soils instead of directly from human remains to identify victims. My aim is to develop an innovative identification method that does not require disturbing or causing harm to human remains, while still being capable of identification. This culturally respectful method can be used in diverse contexts in Canada and worldwide to support communities who are concerned about disturbing graves and are seeking alternative approaches to identify victims.

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

Victim identification, DNA, and forensic science

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

Throughout my academic journey, I have grown immensely from my diverse experiences with TAships across multiple departments, exploration of various courses to build my knowledge, and involvement with different organizations in varying leadership roles. With these experiences, I have had the opportunity to learn how to broaden my perspective, engage with diverse individuals or groups, build my practical skills, and strengthen my theoretical knowledge. All these experiences have led to the development of fundamental skills—such as leadership, collaboration, and communication skills—that will transform how I engage with my research and journey beyond this program.

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

During my time as an MA student at SFU, I received the Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship (SGES), SSHRC CGSM, Simons Foundation Award, IODE Seamon Morley Scott Memorial Graduate Scholarship, and Dean’s 10th Anniversary Graduate Award. As a PhD student, I have received the Simons Foundation Doctoral Entrance Fellowship, Dean’s 10th Anniversary Graduate Award, British Columbia Graduate Scholarship (BCGS), SSHRC Vanier, and Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship. I am extremely honoured and grateful to be the recipient of these awards. With the generosity of the donors, organizations, and government, I am provided not only with financial support, but also with multitudes of opportunities. These awards continue to allow me to dedicate myself fully to my research, thoroughly explore my research goals, as well as collaborate and share my work with diverse scholars and individuals around the world.

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

I would wholeheartedly dedicate my research to my community and, in particular, my parents. The legacy of my community and my parents’ sacrifices have led me onto the path that I am on today. Their experiences and the reverberations of post-conflict Vietnam have completely shaped my perspective and inspired me to pursue this research. My personal experiences carrying the generational impacts within our community have built my strong connection and dedication to supporting communities during humanitarian conflicts. I hope that, in some way, I can contribute to rebuilding these connections within communities by supporting victim identification efforts.

Contact Cathy:cnt4@sfu.ca

Additional Links

• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter): @cat_hytr