“Exposing students to timely research encourages them to produce unique ideas”
Meet Siddartha Aradhya, a post-doctoral researcher and a teacher at the Department of Sociology, home to the Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA).
SUDA is an international group of scholars and doctoral students, working on many facets of population dynamics.
Why do you think international students should choose Stockholm University as their study destination?
“Because it is a diverse and inclusive academic environment that attracts students and researchers from all over the world. Stockholm University offers several programmes in English that integrate Swedish and non-Swedish speaking students. This environment fosters many opportunities to build global networks. In addition, Stockholm is a beautiful location and offers many employment opportunities in multinational organisations.”
How does the presence of international students in the classroom affect the learning environment?
“International students add to the vibrancy and richness of the discussions we have in the classroom by contributing different perspectives. It is particularly interesting to see the students from different parts of the world collaborate on group assignments and contribute to each other’s learning outcomes.”
What would you say to a student considering studying Demographics at Stockholm University?
“Demography is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the three sources of population change: immigration, fertility, and mortality. The Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA) has a strong research profile in all three of these processes. Studying Demography at Stockholm University also comes with the advantage of being exposed to exceptional data, the Swedish administrative registers, which are often considered the gold standard in demographic data.”
How does your research influence your teaching? And how does your teaching affect your work as a researcher?
“My lectures integrate ongoing research, allowing students to engage the latest debates and findings in the field. The students often generate thoughtful insights that challenge me to think critically about my work and help develop new ideas to follow up on. Exposing students to timely research encourages them to produce unique ideas for thesis projects and their future career opportunities.”
How do you prepare the students for the future job market?
“I try to prepare my students for the job market by linking all aspects of my courses to practical applications. I try to explicitly show the students how the skills they are developing are transferable.”
How did you discover Stockholm University?
“I chose to work at the SU Department of Sociology because it is an internationally diverse and highly competitive research environment. In addition, access to interdisciplinary networks within the university and with other research institutions in Stockholm help to expand the scope of my research. I have been in Sweden since 2012 and at SU since 2017. I am originally from the United States.”
What is your field of research and your current project?
“My field of research lies at the intersection of Demography, Sociology, and Public Health. I am currently leading a project aimed at understanding labour market and poverty dynamics among the Swedish-born children of immigrants. I am also part of a project that examines health inequalities from the COVID-19 pandemic and specifically focuses on the disproportionate burden that immigrants faced.”
What other interests beside researching and teaching do you have?
“In my free time, I like to spend time with my children, play sports, and travel.”
Last updated: August 10, 2023
Source: Student Services