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Current Projects

Judy Wu (she/her) is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Employing a mixed methods and Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) approach, Judy's thesis work uses quantitative data from the large-scale Youth Development Instrument (YDI) survey and qualitative data from youth focus groups to better understand the mental health impacts of climate change on BC youth. Her work also seeks to identify opportunities and strategies for the development and implementation of supports and resources for those who are the most psychologically impacted by climate change. 

Research Project: Judy is the Downtown Eastside (DTES) Climate Resiliency Research & Advocacy Coordinator. In partnership with Vancity Community Foundation and Action on Climate (ACT), Judy's role at CERi seeks to advance the DTES Climate Resilience Roadmap project — a multi-partner effort that seeks to strengthen climate preparedness, resource sharing, and collective action among DTES nonprofit organizations. The Climate Resilience Roadmap Report, developed in collaboration with community partners, was released in December 2025 and offers a shared pathway for organizations and communities in the DTES—and beyond—to prepare for the challenges ahead. Read the report here.

Courtney Dowdall (she/her) is a Métis and Cree PhD student in Criminology at SFU studying how intimate partner violence escalates to homicide. Her work focuses on identifying early warning patterns and practical intervention windows to improve safety for survivors. She works with individuals, police, and support organisations around the world to understand and reduce the barriers people face when exiting violent relationships.

Research Project: Courtney is partnering with Warm Hearts Pet Safe Havens and BC Society of Transition Houses to evaluate the Functional Assessment Tracker (FAT) in BC transition houses that welcome pets. The study examines FAT’s effectiveness in improving compassionate dog-behaviour management; its impact on the safety and well-being of survivors, staff, and animals; and how anti-violence workers use it to make care decisions. Findings will guide improvements to FAT, capacity-building for anti-violence workers, and pet-inclusive policies for domestic-violence transition housing.

Elham Keivandarian is a Master of Urban Studies student at Simon Fraser University. Her academic and professional background is in urban planning, with particular interests in community-engaged research, multicultural planning, and socially inclusive approaches to urban development.

Research Project: As a Research Assistant with SFU’s Community-Engaged Research Initiative (CERi), she is contributing to the evaluation of HUB Cycling’s Everyone Rides Grade 4–5 program, a school-based cycling education initiative, with a focus on active transportation, family experience, and early program outcomes

Current Job Postings