I stand for: Equity. Human Rights. Decolonization. Diversity. Anti-oppression.
Erick
da Luz Scherf
Emerging scholar and researcher in the Social Sciences.
I follow a tradition of critical inquiry and human rights-based approaches to health and social care services.
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I have a passion for research and service at the intersection of immigration, health, and human rights, especially concerning vulnerable groups and historically marginalized populations.
EdLS
About me
Hello! My name is Erick da Luz Scherf, but I usually go by Erick. My pronouns are he/him/his and I am a Ph.D. student at the University of Alabama School of Social Work.
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I’m originally from Brazil, where I spent my foundational years and completed my undergraduate education in the field of International Relations and Politics (2016-2019). I have a strong passion for research and service at the intersection between human rights and social justice, which led me to pursue advanced degrees in the field of social work.
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My research and scholarly work have focused on critical inquiry in Social Work and Health Sciences and human rights-based approaches to Health and Social Care Services. In the past, I have contributed to human rights research projects in Denmark and Brazil. Nowadays, I am a part of The Initiative on Social Work and Forced Migration at Washington University in St. Louis and the Sleep Health Equity (SHE) Lab at the University of Alabama.
Since I moved to the United States to pursue my Ph.D. in Social Work, my focus has been on investigating health disparities among minoritized and racialized migrants; especially the role that immigration policy plays in lessening or widening these disparities.
In my free time, I enjoy cooking and listening to podcasts and audiobooks, and I love binge-watching my favorite shows on Netflix and other streaming services. Recently my partner and I have taken up the habit of going out for walks around town, which helps improve our physical and mental health.
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Another interesting fact about me is that I am a first-generation student, I am the first one in my immediate family to go to university since neither of my parents has finished the fourth grade. I'm also the first to have ever traveled abroad!
In terms of my professional aspirations, I have always wanted to become a university professor. I love the university environment, the intellectual stimulation and flexibility oftentimes attached to academic life. I’ve worked many jobs in my life, but somehow, I always end up coming back to academia. Advancing knowledge on social problems, mentoring students, and helping underserved populations is my purpose in life.
Writing and publishing is an essential part of one's life in academia. I'm a published co-author in at least 4 books. In addition to that, I have published over 30 peer-reviewed articles in academic journals.
"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes ... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. ... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. ... They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."
- Steve Jobs