Rukshan Mehta Email & Phone Number

Toronto, On, Ca

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Ithaca, New York, United States

• Maternal and child nutrition research in LMICs (India) and child health in the US• WHO systematic review on dietary therapy and childhood metabolic health outcomes (obesity and chronic diseases

Toronto, Canada

• Conducted secondary epidemiological analyses of global population maternal and child nutrition and nutritional biomarker data to improve child nutrition outcomes (specifically studied the micronutrient Selenium)• Supported research projects in the areas of climate change & health and Anemia (policy) in LMICsTEACHING EXPERIENCE:• Mentored 1 undergraduate Life Sciences (University of Toronto) student research course project (2021-2022)

Atlanta, Georgia | New Delhi, India | Mysore, India

Dissertation: Environmental and food systems exposures (mycotoxins and pesticides) in human breastmilk and their association with infant gut integrity and growth. This work was part of a larger NIH funded study looking at human milk composition and maternal nutritional status in rural and peri-urban Haryana.Masters equivalency comprehensive exams passed in Human Nutrition (biochemistry, public health nutrition, nutritional assessment) and MPH (epidemiology) coursework completed.Trained in: • Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) at CSIR-CFTRI• Qualitative and quantitative data collection and qualitative analysis (MAXQDa) • Advanced epidemiological analyses including structural equation modelling (SEM)• Statistical packages including SAS, STATA, R, SPSS & ArcGIS• Experience with analysis of biomarker data, DHS and micronutrient surveys • Dissertation study was funded through competitive grants from: -> University Research Committee (URC): Emory University -> Institute for Developing Nations: ELMO Pre-dissertation Fund -> International Society for Research in Human Milk & Lactation (ISRHML): Trainee Travel Fund

• Teaching Assistant: GH560 - Monitoring and Evaluation of Global Health Programs (2017)• Teaching Associate: GH522 - Qualitative Methods - Research in Global Health (2019)• Mentored: - 2 MPH theses - Committee Member (quantitative (2019-2020); qualitative (2021-2022))

Bihar, India

• Managed the development and implementation of a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded program on maternal, newborn and child health with a focus on nutrition (pediatric anemia and infant & young child feeding) as part of the Technical Support Unit & the Integrated Family Health Initiative in collaboration with CARE India. • Managed the implementation of a large scale community based cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT, Total beneficiaries reached = > 10,000 | N=4360 households and 560 FLWs) evaluating the program effectiveness of multiple micronutrient power (MMP) based home-fortification to reduce iron deficiency anemia among children in remote and rural Bihar, India. • Managed program activities including relationships with key vendors, local partners and field teams. Organized and managed field data collection activities including anthropometric data (height/weight, MUAC) and capillary hemoglobin samples for children. Developed and managed the implementation of technical content and the overall program supply chain from vendor to household, of product being tested. Quality control, data analysis and reporting in various forms of communication including peer-reviewed journal articles, conference abstracts and monthly reports. Created and managed budgets and procurement activities. • Managed implementation of sub-study comparing acceptability and preference for iron syrup versus MMPs as per GOI Iron Plus Strategy. Project funded and co-run by IFPRI. Sample of 100 HHs and 10 FLWs. Study used a cross-over longitudinal design. • Managed a field team of 11 staff members and data collection teams of between 45-125 staff (2014-2016)TEACHING EXPERIENCE: Developing and guiding the implementation of student field research projects using novel methodologies including PhotoVoice:- 7 MPH student theses - Field Instructor (4 - summer 2014, 3- summer 2015)- 1 PhD student (Nutrition and Health Sciences) - Field Instructor (2014-2016)

Toronto, Canada Area | Western Province, Kenya

Co-founded and ran a University of Toronto based organization working to alleviate global poverty through service learning projects and cross-cultural collaborations between Canadian students and communities in rural Kenya, Tanzania and Peru. • Volunteer Project Manager: Health and Microfinance initiatives in Western Kenya (Oct 2008 - Aug 2009, May-Aug overseas)• Mentor and member of the Board of Directors (2009-2015)• Project Coordinator: led a team of 8 volunteers and worked on projects in health, microfinance, agriculture and child-welfare (Sept 2010 - Aug 2011, May-Aug overseas)• Developed and implemented a 35-hour project management pre-departure curriculum for volunteers (2009 - 2013)• Developed and implemented a 2-day workshop program to train TDSB (high-school) students on International Development & Global Health (Classes in Action)• Executive Director of SID between 2012-2015 and co-founded the CRA registered charitable arm, Partners for International Development (PfID). TEACHING EXPERIENCE: • 95 students placed overseas (Kenya, Tanzania and Peru) between 2010-2015• 125 total team members given in-class instruction between 2010-2015 OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE: Collectively spent ~7 months in Kenya between 2009 and 2011.

Ottawa, Canada | New Delhi Area, India

Worked with the health team on a large scale community RMNC health project in the Nizamuddin basti (informal settlement) in New Delhi as part of the AKTC/AKFI's, public private partnership, the Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative (http://www.nizamuddinrenewal.org/). Completed month long international development management seminar in Ottawa, Canada prior to overseas placement.

Toronto, Canada Area

Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work: Examined the impacts of childhood stressors on adult health outcomes and other social determinants of health (SDOH).

Oshakati, Namibia

Intern with the Disability Economic Empowerment Project (DEEP), an income generating project for people living with disabilities in a semi-urban informal settlement community in Northern Namibia (3 months overseas in Namibia).

Toronto, Canada Area

Coordinated and provided front-line services to immigrant and refugee populations and clients on government assistance within 3 provincial and City of Toronto programs: Provided direct client services including intake and psychosocial counselling to domestic violence and IPV victims, those on OW, ODSP, people with employment needs, food insecurity, legal aid involvement and those with immigration and refugee needs. • Ministry of Community & Social Services: Violence against Women (VAW) • City of Toronto OW: Pre-employment Development (PED) • Healthy Communities Fund (HCF) Health Promotion ProgramTEACHING EXPERIENCE:• Field Instructor to 2 BSW students from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson U, 2012-2013)Registered Social Worker (RSW) under the Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). http://www.riwc.cahttp://www.riverdalehub.ca

Toronto, Canada Area

Provided case management and counselling services to homeless and street involved youth at an inner-city Toronto community health centre (formerly, the SHOUT Clinic) and Central Toronto Community Health Centre.

Toronto, Canada Area

Research Assistant on Community Engagement in global health systematic review.

Toronto, Canada Area

Case management for low income clients, newcomers, victims of domestic abuse, clients with mental health conditions and those on OW, ODSP and other government assistance programs involved in family law matters including divorce, child custody and access, CAS involvement, child support and other issues.

Toronto, Canada Area

Department of Psychology: Language and Cognition Lab

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Nutrition And Health Sciences

Activities and Societies: NHS Student Club, American Society for Nutrition Blogger

Certificate In Project Management

Master Of Social Work (Msw), Cihr Stihr Public Health Policy Fellow | Collaborative Program In Community Development

Activities and Societies: Social Justice Committee, SID Development Research Group

Bachelor Of Science (H.B.Sc.) With Distinction, Human Biology (Major), Psychology (Major), Anthropology (Minor)

Activities and Societies: First Year Learning Communities (FLC), G8 Research Group, Volunteer - Hospital for Sick Children

Ontario Secondary School Diploma

Activities and Societies: Co-editor Year Book, Volunteer - Sunnybrook Hospital