Research Team
Dr. Jennifer D. Irwin
Faculty Lab DirectorResearch Interests / Specializations: Health Promotion
Teaching: Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University
Biography: Dr. Jennifer Irwin is a Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University. She is a multi-award-winning teacher at the Faculty, University, and Provincial levels and a widely published researcher. Her health promotion research includes interrelated and overlapping streams that centre around health-related behaviours and behaviour change interventions. In addition to being passionate about health promotion and disease prevention, Dr. Irwin enjoys the challenge of cooking healthy food that tastes amazing, walking her dogs, hanging out with her husband, and reading.
Varsha Vasudevan
PhD CandidateResearch Interests / Specializations: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Health Promotion
Biography: Varsha is a PhD candidate in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program specializing in Health Promotion at Western University. Varsha’s doctoral work builds on the work completed during her Master of Science, wherein she explored the influences of mindfulness-based interventions on graduate student wellbeing, primarily looking at the effects of these interventions on perceived stress. Varsha completed her Master of Science in Health Promotion at Western University in 2023 under the supervision of Dr. Irwin.
Manvir (Mani) Ahluwalia
PhD StudentResearch Interests / Specializations: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Health Promotion
Biography: Mani is a PhD student in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program, in the field of Health Promotion, at Western University. In 2024, she completed her Master of Science in the same field, exploring the relationship between Ontario undergraduate university students’ levels of resilience and their experiences of diversity and inclusion. Her current program of research focuses on supporting the mental well-being and resilience needs of international students in Canada. Mani’s research interests include mental well-being, resilience, equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization practices, and student populations. She also has experience working as a Policy Analyst in the federal government. In Mani’s spare time, she enjoys travelling, baking, and reading.
Beth Hanson
PhD StudentResearch Interests / Specializations: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Health Promotion
Biography: Beth is a first-year PhD student in Western University’s Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program, specializing in Health Promotion. She received her Master's in Health Promotion in 2025, and previously completed an Honours Bachelor's in Health Sciences with Biology. Beth is interested in physical activity behaviour and how our environments shape our health. She is currently conducting a qualitative exploration of how university students' personalities interact with their perceptions of physical activity. Her hobbies include hiking, reading, and spending time with her dog.
Tracy Li
Masters StudentResearch Interests / Specializations: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Health Promotion
Biography: Tracy is a first-year Master’s student in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program, specializing in Health Promotion at Western University. She recently completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences with an Honours Specialization in Health and Aging at Western in 2025. Tracy’s research interests focus on understanding the stressors, resilience pathways, and sense of belonging among first-generation university students, with the goal of informing more equitable and supportive post-secondary environments. In her spare time, Tracy enjoys running, playing pickleball, practicing pottery, and reading.
