Meet Monash University’s latest Women in STEMM Student Leaders – Pranita Shrestha
PhD candidate – Information Technology
Research focus: Co-designing and developing digital interventions for body dissatisfaction to prevent eating disorder
Pranita Shrestha is a recipient of a 2023 Women in STEMM Student Leader Award. These awards aim to recognise, celebrate and support women students at Monash University who are contributing to innovation in healthcare and medical technologies. MIME spoke to Pranita upon accepting this award.
What is your chosen degree and what inspired you to pursue this path?
I am currently pursuing a PhD in Information Technology, focusing on designing and developing digital interventions for body dissatisfaction while considering cultural factors. My research centers on preventing eating disorders, a severe mental health condition that involves an unhealthy obsession with eating, exercise or body shape, which affects nearly one million Australians. As someone, who experienced severe body dissatisfaction growing up, this topic is close to my heart. Witnessing my close cousins and friends develop disordered eating behaviours due to body image issues, particularly amplified by social media, has deepened my resolve to make a difference in this domain.
What is your favourite aspect about this STEMM field?
What truly captivates me about the STEMM field is its interdisciplinary nature. It's remarkable how we can merge and integrate diverse fields to generate meaningful outcomes. I have always been deeply passionate about the fusion of technology with other domains like health, psychology, and sociology. That's why my current PhD focus lies at the intersection of technology, health and socio-cultural aspects, with a human-centered approach at its core.
Can you elaborate on your contribution to innovation in healthcare and medical technologies?
My doctoral research is centered on preventing eating disorders by addressing body dissatisfaction, a prominent precursor to such conditions. Recognising a gap in existing initiatives primarily aimed at white women, my focus lies in co-designing and developing personalised digital interventions with a keen consideration for socio-cultural factors. Through co-design sessions involving young adults and staff and clinicians from eating disorder-related organisations, we are establishing proper protocols and guidelines that will be fed into our digital intervention. We are also exploring the possibilities offered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science, while ensuring active community participation in intervention development.
Beyond my primary PhD research, I have been involved in a few digital health related projects at my lab, Action Lab. I have played a role in co-designing and developing a prototype for a Single Session Intervention (SSI) chatbot to provide intensive and comprehensive treatment in just one session. This initiative is aimed at providing clinically-approved support, advice to patients waiting for eating disorder diagnoses and help them to address their concerns and begin their journey towards recovery. Additionally, I was involved in the development of a prototype for a Women's Pre-conception Health chatbot, aimed at offering pre-conception tips and recommendations based on user input. Currently, I'm engaged in a project focused on creating a novel method for measuring shared decision-making in maternity health through Natural Language Processing (NLP).
All these experiences have been an incredible opportunity to foster my understanding of integration of technology and the human element within digital health. It has been eye-opening to gain insights into how we can use technology to enhance healthcare outcomes while prioritizing the individual needs and preferences of the users.
Can you tell us a little of your leadership experience?
As an advocate for gender equity and feminism, I have been deeply involved in projects aimed at raising awareness about the importance of gender equity and equality in our society. Serving as a Young Women’s Political Leadership (YWPLI) fellow for Women LEAD Nepal (an organisation in Nepal that focuses on creating female leaders), I have had the privilege to support and volunteer for leadership focused on gender equity, while also mentoring and empowering young women. Our team's efforts were recognised with the Sujata Baskota Changemaker Award for our project "Aawaaz (My Voice, My Consent)", which involved educating students from grades 4 to 12 across Nepal about consent and body rights. Additionally, as the Project Lead for Women LEAD Nepal's "Youth For Youth: Allies for Feminist Leadership" program, we worked to instil allyship for gender equality among children, challenging traditional stereotypes and norms through educational programs. I also contributed as a member of the organising committee for OWN IT Nepal, one of the first feminist conferences in Nepal.
In terms of technology leadership, I played a pivotal role as a founding, core, and executive member of Apex College's IT club, fostering collaboration and learning among tech enthusiasts. Additionally, as a core member of Google Developer Group (GDG) Kathmandu and Women Techmakers (WTM) Kathmandu, I promoted innovation and inclusivity in the tech community through organising various events. I also contributed to the organisation of the Shadow Program Committee (PC) (an
initiative from Action Lab - Monash University) for the INTERACT 2023 conference, where we simulated the paper review process of the said conference to provide PhD students with an experience of what happens in the background of conferences. I also volunteered for conferences such as CHI 2023 and ANZAED 2023. I actively participated in impactful initiatives, including conducting a workshop on "Digital Innovation and Co-Design in Women’s Mental Health" at The Inaugural Asia-Pacific Conference on Women's Mental Health (2023). Furthermore, I have held positions as a Research Assistant and Teaching Associate at Monash University. I have continued to challenge gender and societal stereotypes, fostering inclusive communities and nurturing future leaders. These diverse experiences have equipped me with the tools to drive meaningful change and advocate for a more equitable society.
The MIME Women in STEMM Student Leader Awards recognise student leadership. What does receiving this award mean to you?
As someone who has been advocating for gender equity, not only in STEMM field but across society as a whole, this award further fosters my resolve to work towards advocating for inclusivity and diversity. I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement provided by MIME through this recognition and it is an incredible privilege and honour.
What will the $1,000 cash prize to support your studies go towards?
The award will contribute to my conference traveling expenses related to my PhD research.
What are you most looking forward to in regard to the MIME networking opportunities afforded to you due to receiving this award?
I am looking forward to meeting and learning from amazing and inspiring people from MIME's network and exploring new opportunities. My goal is to establish long-lasting connections that will support my ongoing career development.
Why do you think awards like this are important for women in STEMM?
These kinds of awards are important for women in STEMM as they offer inspiration, recognition and motivation. By acknowledging women's contributions and achievements, these awards not only increase visibility but also inspire and motivate young girls and women to consider careers in STEMM.
What is your advice for women in STEMM or those thinking about a career in STEMM?
My advice for women in STEMM or those thinking about a career in STEMM is challenge the stereotypes and break the barriers. We need to take a stand for equity, inclusivity and diversity, and make our voice heard. Also, don't be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone and network. As an introvert myself, I know how difficult it can be to initiate networking, but it is important to build relationships, support systems and collaborations. Also, always remember to "STAY CURIOUS AND BE OPEN FOR LEARNING".