What is Office Hours?
Office Hours (OH) is a monthly podcast produced by Huron University Librarians, Patrick Gavin and Ryan Rabie, where research takes centre stage. Once a month our undergraduate, peer-research coaches (PRCs) engage with a new Huron faculty member to discuss their academic passions and ground breaking work. Guided by student questions, faculty members share insights into their research and offer a glimpse into the world of an academic.
Office Hours: Student Spotlight (OH:SS) is an interlude between our regular faculty episodes, where undergraduate research moves to the fore. Our PRCs take their questions to their colleagues engaged in independent research to discover the unique experiences of these students–how they got involved in research, how they found mentors, and what they’ve discovered along the way. OH:SS provides Huron students with real world examples of their colleagues engaged in UREs who are not just benefitting individually but enriching the Huron community by contributing to its culture of inquiry.
OH and OH:SS provide a unique dialogue on research @ Huron. Whether you’re curious about mentorship opportunities, inspired by research stories, eager to learn, or just want to know more about your professors, colleagues and academic community here at Huron, join us monthly at the as we shackle a new Huron prof to a mic and open the door to conversations that go beyond the classroom.
Why “Office Hours”?
Aside from a catchy title, we think the concept of “office hours” describes well what we’re trying to do here with this podcast. Office hours, as Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar described them are “those moments when [professors] are held hostage by … students, shackled to [their] desks, unable to tackle [their] mountains of outer responsibilities.” It’s a long-standing academic institution meant to create deeper relationships between students and professors. The conversations are usually informal, unplanned, student-driven, informative, and interesting and the value is clear: as Sachar notes, “countless research … has demonstrated the correlation between faculty-student interactions and achievement. Frequent, positive contact encourages intellectual growth and academic self-concept, fostering a higher grade.” We want to build on the course-specific benefits students stand to reap by visiting traditional office hours and extend this notion to realms outside the classroom. By doing so, we aim to foster a culture of inquiry here at Huron University that supports and encourages student engagement with extra-curricular, undergraduate research experiences (UREs).
UREs are widely regarded as key “high-impact” educational practices, offering transformative opportunities for students to engage in authentic, independent inquiry. Despite their proven value, barriers to participation remain significant, particularly for non-curricular, independent UREs outside traditional programs or capstone projects. Students often encounter obstacles such as off-campus living and lack of involvement in campus organizations and activities; unawareness of URE opportunities; the use of an informal, word-of-mouth, first-come-first-served recruiting systems; poor curricular timing; and uneven access and incentive for faculty mentors. OH works to break down some of these barriers by facilitating connections between students and mentors, bridging communication gaps, promoting research opportunities, and demystifying the research process.
Meet the OH and OH:SS Team
Madison Thompson
Peer Research Coach, Huron University Library
Host
Madison has been a member of the Research Services team since September 2023. She enjoys assisting students with their research discovery process.
😎 About:
I’m a 4th year History major, with a minor in English and Cultural Studies.
In my spare time I like to:
🐞 Learn about bugs
🎹 Play the piano
✍️ Draw!
⭐ Top research tip:
Make sure to check the sources in academic papers. They most likely have good information that will help propel your research process forward!
Olivia Hicks
Peer Research Coach, Huron University Library
Host
Olivia has been a member of the team since September, 2025 where she enjoys helping students with their research questions and navigating relevant sources.
😎 About:
I’m in my second year, working toward an honours specialization in political science.
🎨 In my free time, I love arts and crafts, and recently taught myself how to embroider.
🚴 I also love to go biking when the weather is warmer!
⭐ Top research tip:
Make a timeline for your research projects. Try to be realistic with what you can do in a day. Final papers can feel overwhelming, so it really helps to break them down into smaller goals!
Varun Vakil
Peer Research Coach, Huron University Library
Host
Varun has been part of the team since September 2025. His strong research skills make him an excellent research guide. He supports students in staying organized, focused, and on track with their assignments.
😎 About:
Hi, I’m Varun. I’m currently in my fourth year at Huron, completing an Honours Specialization in Psychology. Like many students, I’m no stranger to procrastination—especially when it comes to starting big assignments. That’s exactly why I encourage you to visit the Research Help Desk early in your process!
When I’m not studying I enjoy:
🏋️ Fitness & working out
🎵 Listening to music
📖 Reading & writing
⭐ Top research tip:
When you’re working on an assignment involving multiple sources, it helps to create a table that includes the citation, the purpose of the source, important facts, and most importantly, how the source supports your argument.
Ryan Rabie
Digital Scholarship Librarian, Huron University Library
Project Support, Producer
Patrick Gavin
Teaching & Learning Librarian, Huron University Library
Project Manager, Executive Producer
Since starting in my current position as the teaching & learning librarian, I’ve been interested in developing projects and programs to cultivate the culture of research and inquiry here at Huron, especially amongst undergraduate students. Some of my goals with Office Hours and Office Hours: Student Spotlight include demystifying the research process, bridging communication gaps between faculty members and the faculty and students thereby enriching our community here at Huron, and helping students navigate the complexities of independent inquiry in alien research landscapes.
* Intro/Outro music composed and performed by Milo Gavin
Previous OH and OH:SS Team Members
Emilee Dagg
Peer Research Coach, Huron University Library
Host
Emilee worked as a PRC and Office Hours host during her fourth-year as an Honours English & Cultural Studies student. As a PRC, she enjoyed helping students with a variety of research questions across multiple disciplines across the arts, social science, and even STEM! Emilee extolled her “love to read, research, and write on a wide array of interdisciplinary subject areas such as English & cultural studies, global studies, and gender studies. I am particularly interested in social determinants of health in women’s communities on a global scale. Some of my favourite theorists/writers include W.E.B Du Bois and Audre Lorde!”
Alex Garcia
Peer Research Coach, Huron University Library
Host
Alex worked as a host and PRC during their third and fourth years of an Honours Psychology undergrad at Huron. They also pursued a Minor in Sociology at King’s College which, as Alex puts it, “I personally see more as a specialization in Decolonization and Abolition (of the prison industrial complex and surveillance state). I spent almost two years working at Huron Library’s front desk and now am lucky to be part of the Research Helpdesk. I’ve spent my short lifetime questioning anything and everything and have learned through trial and error that a properly framed question can be the difference between success and disappointment. I also understand that it can be tough to know how to do that which is part of my draw to the Research Helpdesk; I like helping students think through their work and framing their questions to make sure we’re both on the same page.”