OH:SS S02E02: A Conversation with Iqra Devlani, 4th Year Psychology Student

Much of what students encounter of research arrives finished: validated measures, clear-cut findings, confident conclusions. What that polished surface tends to hide is everything that makes research worth doing: the flawed instruments, the unruly data, the detours, and the people behind it all. 

For the final episode of Office Hours: Student Spotlight in the 2025–2026 academic year, Varun talks with Iqra Devlani, who at the time was a fourth-year student pursuing an Honours Specialization in Psychology and a Minor in Disability Studies. Due to some unforeseen hurdles, this episode is airing well after the interview took place. (Spoiler alert: Iqra graduated and is now pursuing a Master's in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Alberta, specializing in Adult, Community, and Higher Education. Congrats, Iqra!) 

The thread running through their conversation is what happens when classroom knowledge meets actual research. Doing research, Iqra found, exposed limitations and nuances that rarely come up in class. It also demanded creativity at every stage, from deciding what to study, when, and with whom, to making sense of messy data. It's a useful reminder that creativity doesn't belong to the arts and humanities alone. It sits at the heart of scientific work, too. 

Iqra also reflects on how her experiences as an international student shaped her research, and she and Varun talk candidly about imposter syndrome and the myth of the linear pathway. Her reframe is worth borrowing: when you present your work, "people aren't there to judge what you're doing. They're there to see how cool what you're doing is." 

Listen as Varun asks Iqra about: 

• her longitudinal study of seasonal depression and student adjustment
• her honours thesis on anesthesia and cognition in older adults
• why what felt like starting research "late" may have been the best thing that could have happened 

As Iqra's story suggests, the complications aren't a detour from research. They're where much of the learning happens. And yes, Varun still gets his quickfire round, including a ban on Arial and Times New Roman.