Jeni is both a part-time doctoral student as well as the research manager at the PERL, in addition to supporting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has worked as a research coordinator in the department since 2021, and for the Faculty of Health Sciences for 9+ years.

Jeni completed her undergraduate degree at Pennsylvania State University in Psychology with a minor in Kinesiology. She then went on to complete her master’s degree in Kinesiology at McMaster University. Her research focus was on sport psychology, more specifically on the effect of cognitive fatigue on physical exertion. Since working as a research coordinator, Jeni has been involved in a broad range of research in the health sciences.

Jeni's doctoral work will focus on generating evidence to enhance equity-focused prevention and care for obstetric trauma. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has repeatedly identified Canada as having the highest obstetric trauma rate among high-income countries, with rates more than double the rates in most member countries. Jeni's work will assess why these numbers are higher in Canada, which populations are most affected, what the long-term mental health implications are for these individuals, the supports they need to recover, and how obstetric trauma and its long-term outcomes can be reduced. She will carry out a series of quantitative, population-based studies and qualitative studies that engage with people that have experienced obstetric trauma that aim to answer the above questions.