• Last week the trainings and discussions we had cut across the disciplines. How does the interdisciplinary nature of this program, the fact that students are focusing on such a diverse range of projects, help you think about your project and/or your academic interests more broadly?

I have been inspired by the other students in terms of how they are approaching their work. In our group discussions with our graduate student mentor, I have heard about my classmates’ flexibility regarding their research. One example is Yordani, who is in the midst of figuring out the logistics of his project and what that entails. I realized from his research being based on a play and the body that there are no limits to the ways you analyze a source, and that as long as you think creatively about the sources, there are no bounds to the numbers of ways that you analyze a source. Also, rather than only looking for material that fits my ideas for my research, I should adapt to what is available and find ways to fit the available content into my research. 

• As you begin your individual research projects this week, do you anticipate any challenges in getting started? If so, what are they?

One challenge is pushing myself to write. I have done a lot of collecting and organizing research materials, but getting the ball rolling on drafting has been a challenge that I am overcoming. Another thing to keep in mind, which is not necessarily a challenge, but I anticipate making more adjustments to my research project and goals. I began adjusting when looking for sources to base my research on, and found myself switching from research on 6-in-1 vaccines for infants to Measles and Covid vaccine research simply because there was more to work with. I also have adjusted my project to think more about the disparities between UK citizens and UK immigrants and why there is a disparity because I have encountered research that talks about the difference in vaccination rates. With more exploring and encountering research, I adjust and add to my project. Thus, a challenge that may come from this is making sure the moving pieces of my project are coherent and work together.