The PIE Fund gave Jen Hyslop more time and freedom to focus on her research and graduate studies.
Jen Hyslop (she/her) is a clinical psychology graduate student working with Dr. Amori Mikami in the Promoting Equitable and Affirming Relationships (PEARL) Lab. Jen explores the social and emotional influences on mental health and the accessibility of mental health care. She received an Entrance Enhancement Award through the Psychology Inclusive Excellence (PIE) Fund to support her work.
As an Indigenous student, Jen emphasizes how critical entrance awards are increasing Indigenous representation in psychology—a vital step in fostering role models for future Indigenous students.
“Awards like the Psychology Inclusive Excellence Fund are instrumental in reducing barriers to higher education for students from diverse backgrounds.”
For her Master’s research, Jen is investigating the factors that hinder or support help-seeking among Indigenous undergraduate students.
Established by psychology faculty, the PIE Fund supports undergraduate and graduate students from historically marginalized and equity-deserving communities by providing paid research positions in psychology labs. Entrance Enhancement Awards help recruit outstanding graduate students from diverse backgrounds, paving the way for inclusive excellence in psychology.
In this Q&A, Jen discusses the impact of her award, the role of the PIE Fund in enhancing diversity, and her research on mental health accessibility.
How has receiving the Entrance Enhancement Award impacted or advanced your research career?
When beginning graduate studies, funding can be a major stressor. Navigating funding applications and holding supplemental positions such as teaching assistantships can be very time-consuming. I feel incredibly fortunate to have received the Entrance Enhancement Award because it provided me with significantly more time and freedom to focus on my research.
This financial support was critical in allowing me to dedicate myself to a thesis project that involves collecting my own data, something that may not have been feasible otherwise. This award also allowed me to get more involved with other research projects within my lab, and take on additional professional development opportunities such as submitting conference abstracts. Without this funding, I would have been much more limited in what I could have accomplished during my first year of graduate school.
“When beginning graduate studies, funding can be a major stressor. Navigating funding applications and holding supplemental positions such as teaching assistantships can be very time-consuming. I feel incredibly fortunate to have received the Entrance Enhancement Award because it provided me with significantly more time and freedom to focus on my research.”
How do awards like the Psychology Inclusive Excellence Fund help increase diversity and inclusion in the field of psychology?
Awards like the Psychology Inclusive Excellence Fund are instrumental in reducing barriers to higher education for students from diverse backgrounds. Students from these groups often face greater financial challenges and may struggle with limited representation and a lack of diverse perspectives within the field. In 2022, it was estimated that there were only 15 Indigenous psychologists in Canada. As an Indigenous student, it felt daunting to pursue graduate studies in psychology with this knowledge. Increasing representation in psychology is vital to developing role models, broadening perspectives in research, and promoting advocacy for underrepresented groups. By providing financial support to excellent students from diverse backgrounds, awards like this help to build a more inclusive and diverse community of scholars.
What are your research interests and what led you to pursue this research?
My research interests center around social and emotional influences on mental health, as well as the accessibility of mental health care. I am particularly interested in psychosocial barriers to mental health help-seeking, such as stigma, among marginalized and equity-deserving populations. Mental health equity has been a long-standing passion of mine, and I believe that research in this area can lead to meaningful improvements in making mental health support more accessible to everyone. For my Master’s research, I will specifically explore the barriers and facilitators to help-seeking among Indigenous undergraduate students. I am very grateful for the opportunity to pursue research in an area that resonates deeply with me, and I am fortunate to have such a supportive supervisor.
What challenges might students from diverse backgrounds face while applying for research positions?
Students from diverse backgrounds may face several challenges when applying for research positions. Many undergraduate research positions are unpaid, which creates significant barriers for students who must balance financial responsibilities with their academics. Additionally, it can be difficult to get started with research when there are so few opportunities available and such high demand. Students from diverse backgrounds may also have fewer academic mentors to guide them or connect them with research opportunities. Moreover, a lack of representation in the field may cause students from diverse backgrounds to question whether they belong and doubt their ability to succeed. This is another reason why awards intended for students from diverse backgrounds are so important, because they communicate to students they are capable and that their perspectives are valued.
