Applications for the 2025-2026 Program are closed. We endeavour to be able to offer this program again for 2026/2027 – sign up for our newsletter to be notified
Meet our 2025/2026 Graduate Fellows
Yasmin Aboelzahab
Yasmin’s doctoral research explores the role of pharmacists in supporting newcomer international students as they transition to the Canadian healthcare system. Yasmin’s research also investigates the use of virtual care as a flexible, accessible, and scalable approach to raise awareness and provide health-related knowledge to international students. Her previous research explored decreasing psychological stress associated with the recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
Antonia Maria Di Castri
Antonia’s doctoral dissertation looks critically at public health approaches to preventing tick-borne diseases using more-than-human theories of health rooted in epistemic, social and ecological justice. Her previous research has been in the areas of social and behavioural vaccinology looking at issues of access, consent, trust, healthcare professional culture, (mis/dis)information and vaccine policy.
Aden Fisher
Aden’s doctoral research focuses on the implications of a health-supporting food system on dietary transitions and cultural food within the context of the climate crisis. His previous research focused on the relationship between youth food-climate activists and the City of Toronto as part of the Youth Climate Action in Toronto project partnership.
Sarah Jarvis
Sarah’s doctoral research examines human nutrition and dietary patterns at the intersection of population and planetary health, and tools to support evidence-based dietary guidance. Sarah is developing a comprehensive database to assess the health and environmental impacts of foods in the Canadian context using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach.
Navisha Weerasinghe
Navisha’s doctoral research critically examines the historical, policy, material, socioeconomic and environmental conditions that shape the use of gloves in hospitals settings. This includes understanding tensions between patient safety, hospital-based infection control and the medical device industry, as well as examining the decision-making processes that are mobilized to promote or discourage glove use in practice. Her previous research looked at mapping the existing evidence on the role and impact of plastics in health products and their packaging.
Graduate Fellowship Program Details
In 2025, the Collaborative Centre launched a graduate fellowship program for students in (or alumni of) the Student Training Program who are enrolled in a PhD program and who are seeking to develop or deepen their research engagement with sustainability in health, understood to include climate and health, planetary health, One Health, ecohealth, political ecology of health, sustainable healthcare, and climate resilient health systems.
2025/2026 Program Requirements
- In collaboration with the Collaborative Centre, coordinate a research event (e.g., lunch and learn, seminar, workshop) that features one or more experts in the dissertation topic area or related topic of interest (NB. It is not expected that the student will present their own work)
- Attend the Collaborative Centre 2025 Annual Symposium on October 30th, 2025
- Produce a personal statement on the experience, for use in the Collaborative Centre’s annual report or other communications
- Students who have not yet completed the Student Training Program must also:
- Attend in-person Program Sessions (approx. every 2 months)
- Attend Collaborative Centre Seminars and/or Journal Club Sessions (6 minimum)
Students receive:
- Contribution of $10,000 to their graduate stipend
- Become or remain a Collaborative Centre Member as a “Student Fellow,” with photo and bio listed on website
- Collaborative Centre 2025 Annual Symposium (registration fee waived)
- Upon completion:
- Retain Collaborative Centre Membership as “Alumni Fellow” with photo and bio on website
- For students participating in the Student Training Program, a Certificate of Completion