Jean Scandlyn, Health and Behavioral Sciences (HBS) faculty and medical anthropologist, shares that she has always felt at home in an interdisciplinary department. “My own training is interdisciplinary. I went from nursing into social sciences. On my dissertation committee I had a historian and sociologist even though my degree was in anthropology.” Jean says, “HBS has always been such a welcoming and collegial department.”
Jean is currently in the middle of a few major research projects. She is working with Sara Yeatman, PhD, on a project in El Alto, Bolivia that tests the feasibility of a mobile health clinic focused on adolescent reproductive health to address rising adolescent pregnancy rates in peri-urban neighborhoods. She is working with HBS graduate Karen Hampanda, PhD, to examine how men in Kenya and Zambia perceive of and provide support to their HIV-positive partners during pregnancy. Finally, she is collaborating with Karen Spencer, PhD, on the qualitative portion of a mixed methods study to reduce antibiotic resistance by improving prescription practices in emergency rooms. With HBS graduate Sarah Brewer she is writing an article on novel approaches to translation and transcription when doing qualitative research with linguistically diverse communities. Jean says, “I’m in a stage of my career where I’m doing more consulting in terms of analysis whereas before my work involved more original data collection.”
Students, undergraduate and graduate alike, are drawn to Jean’s office. You can often hear her helping students work through new research questions. Jean serves on several dissertation committees. She shares, “It’s so fun to watch students develop into researchers – my role is the cheerleader. ‘Just keep going’ will be on my tombstone.” She also mentors a few undergraduate students and serves as the faculty advisor for the Global Health and Action club. Jean shares that, “Undergraduate students don’t always feel as comfortable talking to faculty, but there is nothing more rewarding than students leaving the class talking about the lecture topic.”
For a prospective graduate student applying to a doctoral program, Jean recommends looking for overall fit. “Are faculty and students doing the kind of work that you would like to do? Not the exact topic, but is the kind of work you would like to do? Is the program a good fit in terms of support and resources for your interests? Make sure you can get some funding.”
Finally, I asked Jean what she loves most about living in Colorado. Pre-COVID, Jean could often be found walking to campus regardless of the weather. Jean shares, “I love the climate! I love the mountains and our ability to be outside. Hiking is my passion. And, of course, the people here. I love the diversity of students on our campus and in communities around the state.”