Lavanya Gera

Lavanya is a PhD student with the School of Population and Global Health at the University of Western Australia (UWA). Her research operates at the intersection of father involvement, menstrual health and adolescent wellbeing.

Prior to commencing doctoral studies, Lavanya earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) from UWA. Her postgraduate research included a comprehensive scoping review titled, "How are fathers involved in the menstrual experiences of their daughters? A scoping review using Michael Lamb’s framework of fatherhood involvement". This work provided critical insights into the psychosocial impacts of paternal engagement, identifying a significant gap in adolescent mental health outcomes that she is now addressing through her doctoral research in the Australian context. 

Lavanya also holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, providing her with a robust understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying menstruation. This multidisciplinary background enables her to bridge the gap between clinical science and population-level health, approaching complex challenges with a holistic approach. 

Currently, Lavanya is investigating the "dads-periods-mental health" nexus under the supervision of Dr. Dani Barrington and Professor Jeneva Ohan. Their research interests include menstrual health equity, and paternal psychosocial support.