Payal Maharaj

PhD Candidate

School of Social Science

Areas of research interests:

Medical anthropology
Global women’s health
Menstrual health
Pacific women’s obstetrics and gynaecology, awareness, advocacy & policy
Transdisciplinarity, sustainable development, governance & policy
Deconstructing sociocultural barriers & norms, reduced gender inequities and inequalities

Research title:

Unravelling the history of gynaecology and obstetrics (OB-GYN) in Fiji and how it has shaped women’s health today

Qualifications

University of Hawai’i

Hawai’i, USA | M.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences| 2016-2018

The University of the South Pacific

Suva, Fiji | M.Sc. Climate Change Studies| 2012-2015

The University of the South Pacific

Suva, Fiji | Post-graduate Diploma in Biodiversity & Conservation| 2011-2012

Bangalore University

Bangalore, India | B.Sc. Biotechnology, Chemistry & Zoology| 2005-2008

Awards & Achievements:

2024 Madeleine Taylor Scholarship awarded by the School of Social Sciences, the University of Queensland, Australia
ARC-RTP Scholar 2022-current
P.E.O International Peace Fellow, Hawai’I Chapter, USA (2018-2019)
U54 Doctoral Fellow through University of Hawaii Cancer Center (2017-2018)
Graduate Degree Fellow through East West Center, Hawaii (2016-current)
JABSOM departmental award for international students (2016)
Internship to Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography by IRD and UNC, New Caledonia (December 2014-June 2015)
Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, United Kingdom (2014-current)
Fellowship for Pacific Islands Leadership Programme from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan, selected through East West Centre (August-November 2014)
ArcGIS study scholarship through Eagle Technologies, New Zealand, sponsored by Fiji National University (March 2014)
European Union Scholar through EUGCCA Project (2012-2013)
Indian Council of Cultural Relations-ICCR Scholarship to study in India (2005-2008)
ICCR Scholarship by Indian government to study medicine in Lady Harding Medical College, Delhi (2004)

Work experience:

Casual Academic & Call Crew for the University of Queensland (2022)
Policy Officer for the One Ocean Hub Project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) at the University of the South Pacific (2019-2022)
Coordinator of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation (PIRT) at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (2015-2016)
Project Research Officer & Acting Director at the Centre for Sustainable Development & Technology, Fiji National University (2014)
Lecturer for Tuvalu Augmented Foundation Programme, Ministry of Education, Tuvalu (2009-2010)
Journalist for Active Media Limited
Educator for remote schools in Fiji like Evanson Learning Center in Turtle Island
Researcher in various institutions like Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), Institut de Recherché pour le Développement (IRD) and University of New Caledonia (UNC), Noumea, New Caledonia
Been a private consultant for the Kiwa Initiative (SPC) and other projects

Professional affiliation:

Organising Team Member of the Inter- and Transdisciplinary (ITD) Alliance Oceania Network and member of the Global ITD Alliance
Pacific ECOP Member
East West Center Alumni Fiji Chapter, Board Member, 2023-current
Pacific Regional Federation of Resilience Professionals Member, 2020-current, Fiji
The Australian Sociological Association, Member, 2024
Customary Laws of the Coast and Sea Research Group Member, 2020-current,
Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network Member, 2020-current, Fiji

Publications:

Hills, J. M and Maharaj, P. N. (2024). Transformative Ocean Governance, Elgar Encyclopedia of Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity, (Eds: Darbellay, F), University of Geneva, Switzerland, 567. https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/elgar-encyclopedia-of-interdisciplinarity-and-transdisciplinarity-9781035317950.html
Hills, J. M and Maharaj, P. N. (2023). Designing transdisciplinarity for transformative ocean governance. Frontiers in Marine Science – Marine Affairs and Policy, 10, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1075759
Niner, H. J., Barut, N. C.,Baum, T., Diz, D., Laínez del Pozo, D., Laing, S., Lancaster, A. M. S. N., McQuaid, K. A., Mendo, T., Morgera, E., Maharaj, P. N., Okafor-Yarwood, I., Ortega-Cisneros, K., Warikandwa, T. V. and Rees, S. (2022). Issues of context, capacity and scale: Essential conditions and missing links for a sustainable blue economy. Environmental Science & Policy, 130, 25-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.01.001
Hills, J. M., Lajaunie, C., Maharaj, P. N. and Mazzega, P. (2021). Orchestrating the Ocean using a National Ocean Policy: the case of the Solomon Islands. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.676944
Maharaj, P. N. and Hills, J,.M. (2021) The development of a transdisciplinary framework fo sustainable and integrated ocean development in the Pacific. Blog: https://oneoceanhub.org/the-development-of-a- transdisciplinary-framework-for-sustainable-and-integrated-ocean-development-in-the-pacific/
Siemann, D. N., Strange, D. P., Maharaj, P. N., Shi, P. Y., Verma, S. (2017). Zika virus infects human Sertoli cells and modulates integrity of the in vitro blood-testis barrier. Journal of Virology, 91, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00623-17
Maharaj, P. N., Aalbersberg, W., Hemstock, S. L., Orcherton, D. and Subramani, R. (2015). Chloramphenicol reported from Sponge derived Aspergillus niger. (Thesis)

Conferences/Workshops:

Maharaj, P. N. (2024). Unravelling the history of gynaecology in Fiji and how it has shaped women's health today, 2^nd Edition of Global Conference on Gynaecology & Women’s Health. Baltimore, USA, October 17-19, 2024. (Virtual Presenter & Moderator). Conference website and certificates.
Maharaj, P. N. (Upcoming). Unravelling the history of gynaecology in Fiji and how it has shaped women's health today, ASAA/NZ 2024 conference: Vital Signs. New Zealand, November 21-23, 2024. (Virtual Presenter). Conference website
Maharaj, P.N. (2024). Transdisciplinarity. ITD Conference 2024: Inter- and Transdisciplinarity Beyond Buzzwords: Educational Pathways for Sustainable Research Collaborations. Utrecht, The Netherlands, November 4-8, 2024. (Virtual Participant). Conference website.
Hills, J. M., Maharaj, P. N. 2022. Designing Transdisciplinarity and Sustainable Ocean Development in the Pacific. Waiti Waita Conference, 21-24 November 2022, Auckland, New Zealand.
Subramani, R., Maharaj, P. N., Ginigini, J. and Aalbersberg, W. 2014. Marine microbial natural products: De-replication and high throughput approaches for discovering novel drugs. International Conference on Applied Chemistry, held on March 5-7^th, 2014, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji.
Siemann, D. N., Strange, D. P., Maharaj, P. N., Shi, P. Y., Verma, S. 2017. Zika virus infects human Sertoli cells and modulates integrity of the in vitro blood-testis barrier, American Society of Microbiology (ASM)-Hawaii Chapter, held on 15th April, 2017, Sullivan Conference Center, University of Hawaii-Cancer Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Maharaj, P. N., Aalbersberg, W., Orcherton, D. and Subramani, R. 2012. Human health security and climate change: Investigation of therapeutic compounds from marine sponge associated fungi, Pacific regional climate change and health symposium (PRCC&H), held on 13-14th September 2012, University of Fiji, Saweni, Fiji.

Final Stakeholder Consultation for the National Ocean Policy of Fiji (organised by the Ministry of Economy-Fiji), 18th November 2020, Yatulau Conference Room, Studio 6, Suva, Fiji.
Biennial Meeting of the Pacific Regional Federation of Resilience Professionals (PRFRP), 4th September 2020, SPC Conference Room, Lotus Complex, Nabua, Suva, Fiji
SDGs & Blue Economy Analysis Workshop (organised virtually by Dr. Holly Niner of Plymouth University), August-September 2020.
Medical Mycology workshop (Dr. Nancy Miller), 20th January 2017, Sullivan Conference Room, UH Cancer Center, Hawaii, USA.
19th Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation (Coordinated through SPREP), 14-15th July 2016, Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji.
Communications Strategy Workshop from cChange/SeaWeb Asia Pacific, 29-30th March and 27-30th June 2016, Veitiri Conference Room of IUCN, Suva, Fiji.
Strategic Planning Workshop from Change Factory, New Zealand, as part of SPREP’s Strategic Planning Workshop for all SPREP staff, March-July 2016, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Apia, Samoa.
ArcGIS 10.1 Introductory course workshop from ESRI representative from Eagle Technologies, New Zealand (Instructor: Claire Thurlow), 7-11th April 2014, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
Climate Smart Seaports workshop with Fiji Ports Authority, RMIT & USAID, 28th February 2014, Fiji Ports, Suva, Fiji.
IRD/PACE-SD Collaborative Scientific Workshop on Climate Change held on 27th-29th August 2013, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
Marine Sponge Taxonomy Workshop, Sponge taxonomy skills learnt from Prof. John Hooper, held on 15th -17th July 2013, IAS, University of the South Pacific, Suva Fiji.