Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipient: Sofia Melendez, Psychology PhD student

What inspires your research?

I am particularly inspired by Black and Latina trans women and femmes who are leading social movements that resist the violence gender-diverse people have faced across history. This violence often takes the form of excluding trans people from voicing their needs, priorities and conceptualizations of gender which has led to the invalidation and silencing of trans ways of experiencing the world. In the mental health field, clinicians have been given the authority to classify transgressions of cisnormative gender roles as pathology since the late 1800s, began engaging in assessments to gatekeep gender affirmative medicine in the 1950s, and prohibited trans people from joining the institutions that developed the standards of healthcare for trans people until 2012.
 
As a clinical psychologist in training and a researcher in trans health, my work aims to challenge the pathologizing and stigmatizing practices common in mental health and the medical and social sciences more broadly. The discounting of trans people’s knowledge led to generations of trans health research involving non-consensual and exploitative methods performed in the name of science.

In my research, I collaborate with other trans and nonbinary people to prioritize trans expertise and knowledge. By focusing on “knowledge with” rather than “knowledge of” we have been focused on ways to support trans joy so that we can see trans communities thrive. The work we are doing would not be possible without all the Black and Latina trans women and femmes who came before, and we hope our work can contribute to future trans and nonbinary advocates, organizers, clinicians and researchers.

What does it mean to be named a Vanier Scholar?

I learned about the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships as a second-year undergraduate student during my first research assistant position. The graduate student that I was working with received a Vanier Scholarship and I wanted to challenge myself to do the same. Six years later, my goal became a reality thanks to years of dedication, supportive mentors (especially Dr. Stéphanie Gauvin, Dr. Michelle Searle and Dr. Lee Airton), and my passion for trans health.
 
Receiving a Vanier Scholarship is a great feat for a Mexican-Canadian genderqueer immigrant like myself because, as a child, I constantly feared I would not be able to go to university because I would not have the money to pay for it. Vanier provides the financial security that I wish more graduate students could experience, especially given the exorbitant increases in the cost of living. For me, being a successful Vanier Scholar means that I can put my time towards mentoring and supporting other graduate students—especially other trans, queer and ethnoracially diverse students—with their scholarship applications and career development. I can also focus on applying for research grants to ensure my trans collaborators continue to be compensated in ways that show how much I value their time and expertise. Receiving a Vanier strengthens the trajectory of my work which contributes to a wider movement of (trans)forming existing power and relational structures to enable trans people to feel safe, have their needs met and thrive on their own terms.

What advice do you have for Vanier Scholarship applicants?

I ran a workshop in August 2023 to support this year’s Vanier CGS applicants from my department because there is so much advice I wanted to pass on. My major takeaway is to develop an overarching narrative about your life experiences, passion and research. Your application should tell your story and thread a major passion across the many components of the application. For example, for me, that was centring my research, teaching, clinical and volunteering commitments around my passion to help trans communities thrive. In doing this, it is essential to provide concrete examples from your life, how those examples impacted those around you and how they connect to the selection criteria. It can be particularly helpful to read through the applications of successful applicants from past years.

How is your TMU graduate education preparing you to be career-ready?

One of the highlights of the clinical psychology graduate program at TMU is our first practicum at St. Michael’s Hospital. The practicum is an outpatient mental health clinic in the Department of Family and Community Medicine called the Psychology Training Clinic. Here, I have established a strong foundation in providing patient-centred assessment and treatment services to adults with diverse identities, low-income backgrounds and complex mental health issues–a rare experience for first-year practicum students. I have provided assessment and treatment for clients with a range of concerns and comorbid clinical diagnoses including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and interpersonal problems.

I also received excellent supervision from Dr. Andrew Hyounsoo Kim, consisting of weekly individual meetings, video reviews and monthly group supervision. My experience at St. Michael’s Hospital is helping me become a socially responsible clinical psychologist. Professionally, I wish to leverage these valuable experiences to found a community-based clinic that services trans people from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.

What advice do you have for graduate students?

I have two pieces of advice for graduate students. First, create a community of care with other graduate students. The mutual support, mentorship and friendships with other graduate students have nourished my soul and allowed me to navigate all the adversity that comes with graduate school. Second, have a life outside of academic and graduate school! Toronto has so many vibrant communities, and I found so much joy in my life through Puro Mexico Ballet Folklorico, Toronto’s Mexican Dance Company.

Sofia Melendez
Psychology PhD student and 2023 SSHRC Vanier CGS recipient