CRWDP Early Career Researcher
Spotlight

Learn how our CRWDP early career researchers are doing!

A number of early career researchers have been part of the Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy (CRWDP). Our early career researchers have prospered from the learning opportunities and funding provided by our Centre and are making important contributions to knowledge and practice. Many CRWDP early career researchers have gone on to higher education and reputable research positions. We are pleased to highlight and feature their work, accomplishments and visions for the future.

Meet CRWDP early career researcher Firat K. Sayin, PhD!

1. What is your educational background?

I completed my BA in Economics at Boğaziçi University (Turkey). I have an MBA from Carleton University and a PhD in Business Administration from McMaster University.

2. What has been your career experience to date? Provide highlights of research undertaken, positions held, activities undertaken and areas of interest that you have been involved in during and following your time with CRWDP.

I joined the CRWDP as a student fellow when I started my PhD in 2013. I worked as a research assistant, teaching assistant, and instructor while pursuing my PhD. I started working as an assistant professor of management at Saint Mary’s University in 2018. I defended my PhD thesis shortly after that.

Since 2019, I have been a CRWDP co-investigator and supervisor of Duygu Gulseren Biricik, a PhD student in the Department of Psychology at Saint Mary’s University. As a CRWDP student fellow, Duygu has been collaborating with me and other researchers on projects that examine the impact of leadership on the work experiences of employees with chronic pain disabilities. My other research interests include occupational health and safety issues and career decisions of healthcare workers, the role of organizations in structural inequality, and immigration-innovation relationship.

3. How has being part of the broader CRWDP research community supported and enhanced your work and success?

As a student fellow, my connections with the CRWDP community inspired me to conceptualize and prepare my thesis, ‘Identity, Employment, and Inequality: An Examination of Immigrants with Disabilities.’ I examined the intersectional nature of disability in and around the workplace in this thesis. Interacting with other CRWDP community members has also helped me to understand the importance of meaningful research and stakeholder involvement. I feel grateful to be able to do research on work disability, learn from the CRWDP community, and now share this experience with others as a CRWDP co-investigator since 2013.

4. In what ways do you envision your work improving society or reaching people?

Besides publishing at academic journals, I have presented my CRWDP and other research projects at several academic, policy, and practitioner conferences and meetings since 2013 for knowledge dissemination. I also enjoy incorporating my research into my teaching and pass on my knowledge to my students. For example, I find my CRWDP research and understanding of work disability policy useful when teaching occupational health and safety. I hope to work closely with worker groups, organizational decisionmakers, and policymakers in the future to improve the well-being of workers, organizations, and society.

5. What are your plans/goals for the longer term?

I plan to pursue my ongoing research program and collaborate with marginalized workers as much as possible. Workers with disabilities and work disability policy will continue to be an important part of my research program in the future.

Learn how our other CRWDP early career researchers are doing!