Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipient: Sara Ahmed, Psychology PhD student – Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
As a clinical psychologist in training and researcher, Sara Ahmed aims to improve brain health equity for women by investigating how biological and psychological factors—like sex, age, menopause status and depression—interact to shape brain structure and cognitive function. Working under the supervision of Dr. Natasha Rajah, Ahmed uses structural neuroimaging and cognitive testing to study memory-related brain regions, particularly during midlife, a critical but often overlooked period in women’s lives.
Ahmed’s long-term goal is to challenge the stigma surrounding reproductive health and to reframe transitions like menopause not just as reproductive events, but as key brain health transitions. By advancing our understanding of how hormonal and psychosocial factors influence cognition, the brain and mental health, she hopes to create better-informed care pathways, advocate for comprehensive women’s health education, and improve outcomes for diverse and marginalized populations.
What inspires your research?
This work is deeply personal. As a woman of colour who grew up navigating cultural taboos around sexual, reproductive and mental health, I know how isolating it can be to have your experiences ignored or misunderstood in health care and research spaces. My passion for this work stems from living in a low-income, newcomer neighbourhood in Toronto—one that made national headlines during the 2015 overhaul of Ontario’s sex-ed curriculum. Over 200 children were withdrawn from school in protest, many of whom attended the after-school program I led. That moment showcased for me the urgent need for open, culturally sensitive conversations around reproductive health.
Today, I have the privilege of using neuroimaging to investigate the very questions I didn’t have answers for while growing up. I am motivated by research showing that women are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease—risk that goes beyond just longer life expectancy. Hormones like estrogen, and life transitions like menopause, play powerful roles not only in reproduction but in cognitive aging and mental health—but we do not traditionally hear about it in research.
What does it mean to be named a Vanier Scholar?
Being named a Vanier Scholar is an incredible honour and a powerful affirmation of the values I bring to my work. It recognizes that rigorous, evidence-based science and community-engaged leadership are not separate pursuits but instead are deeply interconnected.
This award provides me with the time, resources and support to pursue long-term interdisciplinary projects that prioritize both scientific excellence and real-world impact. It allows me to continue health advocacy efforts, including youth mentorship and national performance tours with SExT: Sex Education by Theatre, and to lead knowledge translation initiatives that ensure research is accessible to the communities it aims to serve.
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship also opens the door to national and international collaborations, helping me scale my work beyond the lab and into the public health, education and policy domains. Most of all, it allows me to focus fully on research, clinical work and mentorship, and to dream more boldly about how to translate knowledge into equity-driven change.
“TMU has provided an exceptional environment for interdisciplinary and community-engaged training.”
What advice do you have for Vanier Scholarship applicants?
Just apply—even if you think you might not get it. So often, people talk themselves out of opportunities because they assume they do not stand a chance or that the competition is too intense. But how do you know if you do not try?
I learned a lot from a Vanier application workshop led by past recipient Sofia Melendez, especially about the importance of crafting a cohesive narrative. Your application should tell a clear story: how your leadership, research and community engagement connect to your goals.
Do not be afraid to share who you are beyond the lab or classroom. What drives you? What change are you working toward? Also, get feedback—from mentors who know you well and people outside your field. I was fortunate to have readers from public health, biology and tech, and those varied perspectives were invaluable.
How is your TMU graduate education preparing you to be career-ready?
TMU has provided an exceptional environment for interdisciplinary and community-engaged training. My graduate training in clinical psychology follows a scientist-practitioner model, which means I am receiving both rigorous research training and culturally informed clinical experience.
Through coursework, thesis work and clinical placements, I have been developing the skills to be both an effective clinician and a researcher grounded in equity and evidence-based practice. I have also gained hands-on experience with neuroimaging methods, including the segmentation or tracing of hippocampal subfields from high-resolution structural MRI scans—training that is rare at the master’s level and directly supports my career goals.
What stands out most is the culture of curiosity and mentorship here. Faculty genuinely encourage innovation, and I have taken initiative to contribute meaningfully to research and community-based projects. These experiences are helping me prepare for a career that bridges neuroscience, clinical work and public engagement.
What advice do you have for graduate students?
I know this is easier said than done, but try not to measure success solely by your output. Graduate school is demanding, but it is also a time for deep personal and professional growth. Say yes to opportunities that align with your values—even if they do not fit the traditional mould.
Also, protect time for reflection. It is super easy to get swept up in deadlines, comparison and productivity culture. But consistently coming back to your “why”—why you do this work, and who it is for—can help you stay grounded during tough moments.
Any other comments?
The Vanier award reflects not just an individual accomplishment, but the collective support of mentors, youth, community leaders and peers who have helped shape my path. I started in the entrepreneurship and tech space—supporting startups, building business strategies and learning how to mobilize ideas into action. While I eventually found my way to clinical psychology and research, those early experiences taught me to think creatively, communicate across disciplines and work toward meaningful, scalable change.
The people I have worked with along the way continue to push me to ask better research questions and to think critically about the systems we operate in. This award is a shared recognition of that journey. I am excited to keep working at the intersection of science, equity and storytelling.
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