Celebrating postdocs: Meet the researchers shaping the future of public health

This National Postdoc Appreciation Week (September 16-20), we proudly recognize the invaluable contributions of postdoctoral scholars at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health (SPPH). These researchers are at the forefront of advancing knowledge in public health. This week, we feature two exceptional scholars, Dr. Ingrid Jarvis and Dr. Randip Gill, whose work is tackling the critical health challenges of today and tomorrow.

Ingrid’s research examines the role of residential green spaces in healthy aging, while Randip focuses on the impact of social exposures like poverty on early childhood development. Both are dedicated to improving public health outcomes through research and collaboration, underscoring the essential role postdocs play in shaping the future of health policy and practice.

Meet the Featured Postdocs:

Dr. Ingrid Jarvis works as a postdoctoral research fellow at SPPH under the supervision of Dr. Michael Brauer. Ingrid has a PhD in Forestry from UBC, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation.

Dr. Randip Gill is a postdoctoral research fellow in Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), one of the research centres within SPPH. He is also a recent PhD graduate from the School.

Q&A with Ingrid Jarvis and Randip Gill

What is your current research about, and why does it matter?

Ingrid Jarvis: My current research explores the relationship between residential green space, such as parks, gardens, and street trees, and cognitive decline and impairment among adults in Canada and the US. The aim of this work is to advance existing knowledge by studying the health impacts of specific green space types and forms of contact, as well as pathways linking green space to health outcomes. The global population is aging, making it critical to identify strategies to support healthy aging trajectories. This work will generate unique information on the health promoting qualities of green space and, as such, will help to inform urban planning and policy initiatives to promote good health among aging populations.

I am also contributing to research studying the relationship between neighborhood playability and early childhood development.

Randip Gill: My current research focuses on the impact of different social exposures such as poverty on the development of children in British Columbia, including examining mechanisms of their impact, such as through epigenetic changes. This work is important in order to further understand the impact of social exposures on development, and to help inform policy or interventions to address these issues.

What motivated you to do postdoc research?

Ingrid Jarvis: My decision to pursue a postdoctoral research program was driven by the opportunity to expand the research skills I developed through my doctoral studies, which focused on understanding the health benefits of urban green space across the life course. I felt that a postdoctoral research program would support my growth as an independent researcher, through providing opportunities to learn and apply new skills. This program will help me realize my goal of contributing to evidence-based planning and policy initiatives to support population health.

Randip Gill: I was motivated to do postdoc research at HELP because of the research team present and the opportunity to utilize new and exciting data linkages that bring together administrative health and education records, developmental surveys, and now also linkage to biomarkers to understand children’s development in British Columbia.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your postdoc at SPPH?

Ingrid Jarvis: One of the most rewarding aspects of my postdoctoral fellowship has been meeting new colleagues and mentors who share similar research interests. This has greatly expanded my research network and provided opportunities to collaborate on innovative research projects.

Randip Gill: The most rewarding part of my postdoc at SPPH so far has been the opportunity to continue and to build upon the work that I had been completing during my PhD and to take on new and exciting projects, such as our work utilizing biological markers in our research. I’m excited to continue my own research and to help mentor the master’s and PhD students in our lab as a postdoc.