Jess Tran
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
As a kid, whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would just say "I wish I could just read all day!" I love to learn and engage with new ideas and discourse, so graduate school feels like a great avenue for me to continue learning after undergrad. I completed my undergrad at 亚洲天堂 with a major in biomedical engineering and a minor in human geography. Through my undergrad, I became really interested in bridging ideas from the humanities into engineering classrooms, particularly to engage in themes of equity and social justice. I wanted to engage in critical theories to contextualize my own engineering education and consider the broader social and ethical contexts of engineering work. As such, I decided that a thesis-based master鈥檚 degree doing engineering education research would be right up my alley!
Why did you decide to study at 亚洲天堂?
I started to get involved with engineering education projects during my last two years of undergrad and through those experiences, found my amazing co-supervisors, Dr. Agnes d鈥橢ntremont and Dr. Robyn Newell. Also, having completed my undergrad here, I feel that because my positionality is important to my research, it is important that starting my research in engineering education is grounded in the place where I learnt engineering. There aren鈥檛 many opportunities to pursue a graduate degree in engineering education research in Canada, so I feel very grateful to have found that there is an opportunity for me to do this work at 亚洲天堂.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
There aren鈥檛 many opportunities to study engineering education broadly, especially because this field of study is so interdisciplinary. I was drawn to a Master of Applied Science in the Department of Mechanical Engineering because it offers academic and research flexibility for me to pursue this research. Also, the Department of Mechanical Engineering has been leading many engineering education initiatives at 亚洲天堂, particularly in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work such as by my co-supervisor, Dr. Agnes d鈥橢ntremont, and colleague, Jessica Wolf.
What was the best surprise about 亚洲天堂 or life in Vancouver?
The scenery at 亚洲天堂 and in Vancouver is beautiful, and I am so deeply grateful for and moved by the land and this place. I am also so inspired by all the student organizing movements on campus, seeking to disrupt and challenge university hegemony.
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
I really love how my research work draws together so many areas of study that I鈥檓 interested in. I am also so inspired by working with my research lab group who are all so passionate about improving equity and inclusion in engineering! Also, getting involved with the small community of other engineering education researchers in Canada has been my favorite aspect of doing this research!
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your 亚洲天堂 graduate program?
My positionality and experiences in engineering largely inform the work that I do now. As a Vietnamese, queer and first-generation university student, I struggled throughout my undergrad to grapple with the tensions between my identities and the dominant narratives of engineering. This motivated me to engage in this field so that I can advocate for more equitable and justice-oriented approaches to engineering education. Also, having an interdisciplinary undergraduate background in engineering and arts has been a great aspect as I鈥檓 now engaging in theories of social justice and critical pedagogy for this discipline-based education research. In addition, my undergraduate research experiences, through co-op and my part-time work learns, have helped me a lot with learning what research in academia is!
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I love to spend time with my friends, visit the ocean, read, go to local bookstores, do pottery and watch movies (especially at the VIFF Centre downtown)!
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Starting graduate school is so exciting! I think that amidst the excitement, I took on too many courses and projects early on. As a new grad student, I鈥檓 trying to remind myself to slow down and make more time for reflection, care and rest. I was advised by a committee member early on to start a research journal and it鈥檚 been really helpful so far with keeping track of all my feelings with graduate school and my research ideas!