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English doctoral student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I'm a first generation Tamil scholar, inspired by my family's histories. I work in ecocriticism and speculative histories (in the many forms those are expressed in).

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I chose to come to SFU because of the great choice of faculty working in ecocriticism and BIPOC-focused research. I've also never been to the west coast before (from Toronto).

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

I get to read books and other forms of research (i.e. archival, theoretical, quantitative & qualitative research) and discuss them with peers and other students I get to teach.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Retrospective, Interdisciplinary, Reconfiguring

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

I think my RA-ships, and especially my TA-ships have shaped my chosen fields of study and how I approach my argumentation and rationale for researching what I do. Plus, I've met a lot of really fantastic people.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

I'm extremely grateful to be one of the recipients of the 2025 Teaching Assistant Award, the 2025 Doctoral SSHRC Award, and Community Trust Endowment Fund Award among others. This funding has allowed me to focus on my research, field exams, and has supported research trips.

What have been the most valuable lessons you've learned along your graduate student journey (or in becoming a graduate student)?

I've learned that it's easier to fully embrace new experiences and the chaos of it all.

How do you approach networking and building connections in and outside of your academic community?

Attending academic events with your friends makes things a lot more easier.