Louisa Yu has transformed her passion for studying social issues of power and injustice into a career in academia that is enriched by her interdisciplinary background. Graduating in 2020 with a specialist in Peace, Conflict, and Justice alongside minors in political science and psychology, Louisa has found her focus—in intergroup relations research. She recently defended her Master’s thesis in Psychology at the University of Toronto, and is now in the PhD program. She continues to apply the tools she’s learned in PCJ in graduate school and beyond.
When did you graduate from PCJ and what other programs did you study at U of T?
I graduated with a specialist in PCJ in June 2020 along with double minors in political science and psychology.
What was your favourite aspect of PCJ?
Without a doubt, my favourite part of the program was taking PCJ461H — the senior thesis course for specialist students. Essentially, I was working on an independent research project supervised by Professor Paola Salardi, the Director of the Trudeau Centre for Peace, Conflict and Justice. She really pushed me to go beyond what I had originally thought was possible and encouraged me throughout the project. I also gained incredibly important skills that helped me not only to succeed in the course but also in graduate school, as I learned more about statistical analysis, programming, and coding.
PCJ is such a broad and interdisciplinary program. How were you able to explore your interests and find a path that suited you?
I originally went into U of T wanting to study politics, power, and injustice, but when I arrived I realized that I was much more interested in studying those ideas on a very micro scale. PCJ allowed me to take courses that combined those elements and fuse them into a program specific to my interests. I was able to create my focus on intergroup relations and postcolonial studies. I wouldn’t have been able to do that with any other program
What influence did PCJ have on your path both at U of T and beyond?
I am so grateful for the PCJ461H experience and the opportunity to learn new skills from Dr. Salaradi. It prepared me for graduate school and success in such a competitive process and environment.
What does your day-to-day work entail?
Right now, I am a doctoral student in Psychology at the University of Toronto. I defended my Master’s thesis in September and I have now moved forward into the PhD program. My day is split up between being a researcher, a student, and a teaching assistant. I spend a lot of my time making and preparing tutorials, as well as reading and attending classes. A huge chunk of my day goes towards running my own research which not only requires reading a million papers, but also a lot of administrative things like training my research assistants.
What is something that you wish you knew when you were in PCJ?
I would say to my past self that you’re there to learn things, not to be good at everything already. As a student, it can be super intimidating and daunting because you’re not only tasked to study these huge complex issues, but also to have an idea of how to solve them. I realized that there are always going to be so many different options and it’s about doing research and finding what would work best in each context.
Do you have any last piece of advice for current students?
There is no one path for PCJ students at all—just because the program is so diverse, and we all have such broad interests. Keep your mind open to what you want to do next, what kind of lifestyle you want, and what kind of career you would like. Look for opportunities that interest you, not what you think you should be doing.