We are excited to launch a new initiative by the JEDI group. We know that many CSRF members are interested in learning good practices for conducting research that is inclusive of diverse social locations and marginalized experiences, but that there can be roadblocks that can hold us all back. These can range from knowledge gaps, to time constraints, to worries about doing the wrong thing. In response to this, we are starting a “Researcher in Residence” (RIR) program where a researcher who has expertise in a particular topic related to inclusive research practices will hold drop-in office hours for CSRF members.

The first iteration of this program is going to be a pilot phase, and the JEDI group asked Dr. van Anders to be the Researcher in Residence for this first iteration (see above and below for why!). The initiative will begin on Friday, April 14. Virtual office hours will be held Fridays 1:30-2:30pm ET weekly. The zoom link for the virtual office hour will be sent out by a JEDI member.

How did this initiative start? The initiative started when a JEDI member found out that Dr. Sari van Anders was planning to hold office hours so that researchers could consult around questions related to conceptualizing and measuring gender/sex and sexuality, as well as EDI and feminist/queer science in their work. We thought it would be great to partner with Sari around this idea. From there, it grew into this “Researcher in Residence” initiative where researchers with different areas of expertise could hold this position (sequentially) and be accessible to members of CSRF. The RIR program will allow CSRF members to ask questions in a private and confidential context where they do not have to do the work to find someone to ask. We hope this will be helpful because, despite hearing “there are no bad questions”, many people can be afraid to ask questions in public out of fear that they will appear incompetent or uninformed. Further, the idea of contacting an expert can be intimidating for many people. Through this initiative, we are trying to sidestep these common worries and we encourage people to “come as you are.” What you currently know or understand about inclusive research practices (regardless of how rudimentary or advanced it may be) is an okay place for you to build your knowledge. Dr. van Anders assures us she’s been asked questions from the very basic to the very sophisticated, and from undergrads to senior professors, including some CSRF members already!

Who is Dr. van Anders? Dr. Sari van Anders is the Canada 150 Research Chair in Social Neuroendocrinology, Sexuality, and Gender/Sex, and Professor of Psychology, Gender Studies, and Neuroscience, at Queen's University. Dr. van Anders’ program of research, knowledge translation work, consulting, and advocacy have been tied to considerations of JEDI. This includes but is not limited to contributions to our field’s critical evaluation of the constructs of gender and/or sex (gender/sex) and sexuality, and she can provide consultation to CSRF members on these topics as well as others tied to EDI (more on this below). Some relevant examples of Dr. van Anders’ involvements include the Gender and Sex in Methods and Measurement Toolkit, the Talking about Transgender Experiences, Identities, and Existences document geared especially towards academics in academic spaces, and the Summer Session in Gender/Sex/uality In/Justice.

What types of questions/issues can I consult with Dr. van Anders about?

Dr. van Anders is happy to consult on the following topics in relation to JEDI: research processes (e.g., idea generation, research questions, methodologies [quant, qual, and beyond!], questionnaire development/adapting, publishing, language, interdisciplinarity, and more!); academia (e.g., EDI committees, conferences, societies, academic change efforts, resistance to change efforts, and more!); knowledge translation and community impact; teaching (e.g., language, engagement, topics, etc.); mentoring/advising/supervising from both parts of the relationship; professional development (e.g., networking, colleagues, job searches and careers, managing academic positions from earlier to later, etc.); JEDI-informed approaches within scholarship and science (especially, e.g., feminist science/theory, queer science/theory, trans studies, intersectionality, sexuality studies; and also race/ethnicity/racialization, dis/ability/crip, body size/fatness, decolonization, etc.).

For example, you might meet with Dr. van Anders to ask questions like: What’s the difference between measuring sex and gender? How do I code the sexualities of participants in inclusive ways that accurately reflect who they are and actually work in my ANOVA? Can feminism be meshed with science? How do I attend to intersectional considerations in my research design? My department needs some EDI work; how can I jumpstart that? How do I mentor across differences in social location? What is queer theory and how might it be relevant to my research? How do I think about supporting my minoritized colleagues/students/supervisors? How do I respond to people who claim “science isn’t political”? Dr. van Anders will help you think through the many approaches to how you might answer your questions. This will be situated within a framework that emphasizes consideration of the factors specific to your situation/research/question and, when appropriate, evaluating the costs/benefits of the often many good (or less bad) options.

What will happen after the pilot phase? After the pilot phase, the JEDI group will review how well the program went. For example, were there many CSRF members who took advantage of the program? Did they benefit from it? Are there structural considerations that would make the initiative more effective? What is the best mechanism to select the next RIR? We will use this feedback to fine-tune the program.

If you have any questions, please reach out to one of the JEDI members (email addresses provided below). We hope that in addition to capacity building, this initiative fosters community within CSRF! We are in this learning process together!

CSRF JEDI Committee

Uzma Rehman – rehman@uwaterloo.ca

Aki Gormezano – aki.gormezano@queensu.ca

Sandrine Gagné– gagne.sandrine.3@courrier.uqam.ca

Stephanie Gauvin – stephanie.gauvin@acadiau.ca

Trinda Penniston – t.penniston@queensu.ca

Researcher in Residence

Dr. Sari van Anders’ email: sva5@queensu.ca