My story
I’m Falisha Karpati, PhD (she/her/elle), a neuroscientist turned diversity and inclusion professional. I’m on a mission to build spaces where everyone’s unique identities, ideas, and ways of thinking can fuel leading-edge discoveries and innovation.
Change, creative ideas, and experimentation energize me. I’m driven by curiosity to understand why individuals think and behave in the ways that they do, and how that’s influenced by their personal and professional environments.
My pursuit of this understanding led me to see that many spaces where we study and work are conceived by and for select privileged groups, and are based on restrictive definitions of success. I’m determined to change that. We’re ready for a world built for all of us to flourish.
Consulting
I’ve been an independent Inclusion Consultant since early 2021. During this time, I’ve worked with over 20 organizations on assessments, action plans, and training. My work has impacted teams and projects across universities, research institutes, healthcare organizations, tech companies, and more. A few of my accomplishments and projects include:
Training and consulting on equity, diversity, and inclusion plans for research funding applications
Building Spaces Where All Brains Can Thrive presentation at the Society for Human Resource Management’s Inclusion 2022 conference
Receipt of the 2021 Women In Bio inclusion grant to fund public training sessions on the neuroscience of inclusion
My consulting practice combines my strengths in equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy along with my experience in professional development training, neuroscience research, science communication, and arts.
Previous work
Before launching my consulting practice, I worked at McGill University facilitating equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and teaching. From 2018 to 2020, I held the positions of Program Officer and then Training and Equity Advisor for Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL), a $91 million government-funded neuroscience research initiative at McGill. I drove the growth and implementation of HBHL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. I conducted needs assessments, determined objectives, led training sessions, and guided policy change related to recruitment, funding, and inclusive activities.
At HBHL, as well as in previous positions at McGill’s Teaching and Learning Services, I designed and facilitated training on inclusive leadership, accessible science communication, active learning, and public speaking. In addition, I created content for McGill’s graduate supervision website, mentored local and international trainees, and managed promotional strategies for skill-building opportunities.
Education and research
I hold a PhD in neuroscience from McGill University (2017), an Honours BSc in neuroscience and psychology from the University of Toronto (2012), and a certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University (2021).
My doctoral research focused on brain structure in dancers and musicians. I have also contributed to studies on music training and the aging brain, quality of life in individuals with chronic illness, and intervention assessments for children with cerebral palsy. The knowledge of how our brains function gained through my research and in-depth training in diverse fields of neuroscience is integrated throughout my approach to diversity and inclusion.
I’m passionate about making research accessible and engaging for all. My research is shared in peer-reviewed journal articles and public media (e.g., Savoir Média, 3-Minute Thesis and PapaPhD). To spread the love for brains across the Montreal community, I’ve designed and taught neuroscience classes to elementary school children through BrainReach. Most recently, I’ve focused on creating public content on the neuroscience of inclusion.
Art
Before I was a scientist, I was an artist. I grew up with training in classical piano and music theory. I’m trained in jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop dance, and am known to bring out the moves anywhere there’s music (grocery store included). Recently, I’ve focused on travel and landscape photography and have had photos published by Reader’s Digest and Canadian Geographic.
One of my earliest jobs was as an art instructor for children with and without disabilities, from various backgrounds, and with many different identities. The imagination, originality, and collaborative energy cultivated in those spaces as a result of inclusive and accessible programming is something I have strived to bring into all my endeavours since.
Fusion
Fifteen years designing and leading inclusive programming.
Fifteen years conducting research and assessments.
Fifteen years making science accessible.
Two neuroscience degrees.
An abundance of creativity and openness.
Determination to build a world where we can all achieve greatness.
It all led me here.
Let’s work together to create spaces where all brains can thrive.