UW Journal of Undergraduate Health Research

We are so thrilled to introduce this year's editorial team!

Anajanaa Vimalathas is a 3A Health Sciences (BSc) student in the School of Public Health Sciences. Her research interests include oncology, particularly patient-centred approaches to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life. She is contributing to a systematic review on brain metastases and patient quality of life, and will be completing her second co-op at the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, supporting research-informed quality assurance processes for radiation therapy equipment to ensure precision and safety in cancer treatment.

Thenugaa is a 4A Health Sciences student in the Faculty of Health. Her research interests include breast cancer research and patient engagement. Her previous work has contributed to studies evaluating clinical strategies to prevent radiation-induced skin toxicity in breast cancer patients, as well as efforts to correlate clinician- and patient-reported symptom scoring. Currently, her research is focusing on exploring how patients, caregivers, and other knowledge users are engaged in health research.

Nuha is a 3A Public Health student with co-op in the Faculty of Health. Her research interests include mental health, with a particular focus on understanding the challenges faced by children of immigrant families in navigating identity, stress, and access to care. She is also interested in population health, with a focus on maternal health and exploring how systemic barriers and cultural factors influence access to prenatal care.

Ibrahim is a 3A Honours Science student. He is also pursuing a minor in Biology. He has also worked for an American BioTech startup doing secondary research on transition state inhibitors and enzyme kinetics and thermodynamics. Outside of academics, he spends his free time off road and mountain biking anywhere he can find a trail.

Not featured: Latanya Rajcoomar, Editor & Elen Mullaj, Editor.

We are so excited to announce this year's creative team!

Maya is a 3B Health Sciences student with a minor in medical physiology and pre-clinical specialization. Her research interests include neurophysical changes associated with traumatic brain injuries. She is also passionate about artistic applications within the medical field, such as medical illustration and animation.

Nimrit is a 2A Health Sciences student in the Faculty of Health. Her interests lie in health education, laboratory learning, and community well-being. Through her involvement with Start2Finish, she has supported mentorship and academic development for youth, while her volunteer experiences in laboratory settings have strengthened her exposure to applied research practices. She continues to build on these experiences by engaging with community-focused initiatives that connect education, health, and social impact.

Salma is a 5A Biomedical Sciences student with research interests in ecology and conservation biology. She is passionate about exploring the intersections of health, the environment, and sustainability.

Shuchi is a 2A Mathematical Physics student that is interested in the field of medical physics, with a wish to pursue research in radiotherapy physics in the future. She also has a great passion for art and enjoys creating digital art in her spare time.

Taizeen is a 3B Honours Public Health student with a minor in Sexuality, Relationships, and Family Studies. Their research interests explore the intersections of health, social policy, and equity, with a particular focus on how public health initiatives can address disparities in community well-being. As JUHR’s Social Media Manager, they are passionate about making student research accessible and engaging, using creative communication strategies to highlight the value of undergraduate scholarship.

Stay tuned to meet to rest of the team!

We're happy to announce our senior editors for the Fall 2025 term!

Rishi is a 3B Health Sciences student in the Faculty of Health. His research explores epigenetic aging and fibrosis progression in patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), leveraging multimodal AI approaches at Toronto General Hospital and the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre. At the University of Waterloo, he leads research projects examining physical health and self-efficacy, as well as s*x differences in insulin resistance.

Alana is a fourth year Honours Kinesiology student in the Faculty of Health. Her research interests focus on the positive effects of physical activity on the brain and the gut brain connection, particularly in relation to ADHD. While studying Kinesiology, she has chosen to specialize in neuroscience which has led her to a senior research essay exploring how exercise may reduce risk factors for neurodegenerative disease by increasing BDNF (brain derived neurotropic factor) expression in the brain.

Keep an eye out for upcoming introductions to the rest of our team!

✨ We’re thrilled to relaunch our journal for the 2025–2026 term — and even more excited to introduce our Editors-in-Chief!

🔬 Jaspreet is a 4A BSc. Health Sciences student in the Faculty of Health. Her research focuses on treatment outcomes for advanced-stage metastatic prostate cancer patients. During her co-op placements at the Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Hospital, she contributed to projects involving novel approaches to evaluating the toxicity-benefit profiles of anti-cancer agents, brain metastases secondary to prostate cancer, and treatment responses in DNA repair-deficient cohorts.

🧠 Rajnandini is a 4B Health Sciences student pursuing a Health Research Specialization in the Faculty of Health. Her research interests include transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in autism treatment and the well-being of international students. Her undergraduate thesis explored factors influencing the well-being of South Asian graduate international students in the Kitchener-Waterloo region.

📢 REMINDER: We are currently accepting submissions for our **Fall 2025 issue** and applications for our executive team! Got questions? Drop them in the comments or send us a DM — we’d love to hear from you!

📢 We’re hiring! JUHR is currently looking to hire undergraduate and graduate students to join our Editorial, Creative, and Administrative team for the 2025-2026 school year!

Descriptions of the available positions can be found in the link in our bio!

🗓️ Applications close on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm

🌟Interested? Apply through the link in our bio. Remember to attach your resume for all positions.

Any questions? Drop them in the comments below 👇 or DM us!

📣 JUHR is currently accepting manuscripts for our next issue!

Interested in publishing your work in a peer-reviewed journal? Couldn’t submit last term?

📚 Any undergraduate work relating to health is welcome! This includes previous coursework. If you have a term paper or policy brief or a research proposal which fits the bill, give it the recognition it deserves and submit it. 

✨ Any student from the University of Waterloo can submit their work, regardless of faculty.

Visit the link in our bio for more details, including types of submissions accepted, and formatting guidelines. 

Any questions? Feel free to DM us 👆 or drop them below in the comments below! 👇

📣 NOW OUT! In JUHR Vol. 1, Issue 3, Wei et al. enlighten perspectives from individuals with memory changes, specifically on their preference in nutrition and exercise programs. 🧘

👉 Interested? Read the full article through the link in our bio.

📣 NOW OUT! In JUHR Vol. 1, Issue 3, Yusuf and Butt discuss the systemic inequities behind indigenous pregnancies, specifically how external stressors and distance can impact maternal health outcomes. 🏥

👉 Interested? Read the full article through the link in our bio.

📣 NOW OUT! In JUHR Vol. 1, Issue 3, Sabrina Lutchmeah critiques the diagnostic process behind anorexia nervosa, calling for greater inclusivity in diagnosis. ⚕️

👉 Interested? Read the full article through the link in our bio.

📣 NOW OUT! In JUHR Vol. 1, Issue 3, Elen Mullaj navigates the potential implications and future of AI within our healthcare systems. 🤖

👉 Interested? Read the full article through the link in our bio.

📣 NOW OUT! In JUHR Vol. 1, Issue 3, Qutub and Pepetone provide an overview of food insecurity amongst undergraduate students and its impact. 🍽️

👉 Interested? Read the full article through the link in our bio.

📣 NOW OUT! In JUHR Vol. 1, Issue 3, Amanda Armstrong explores the trickling effects of mercury poisoning and the lack of effective currently implemented. 🌸

👉 Interested? Read the full article through the link in our bio.