Dr. Benoit is assistant professor in the Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, assistant professor – cross appointment at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and adjunct scientist at the Women’s College Research Institute.
Dr. Benoit attended the Université de Moncton and Mount Allison University for her undergraduate work in biology and mathematics, and Dalhousie University for a master’s degree in microbiology and immunology. She obtained her PhD in microbiology and immunology at the University of Ottawa. She recently earned her second Master of Science degree in Health Services Research at the University of Toronto.
Her research interests include indigenous women’s health, indigenous methodologies, research ethics, HIV pathogenesis, health services and intervention research, and mental health and life stressors such as racism.
She was a CTN Postdoctoral Fellow from 2011 to 2013 during which time she conducted research on stress and mental health-related problems in indigenous and non-indigenous women living with HIV. She has since written several CTN research publications using data from the study, one of which discussed a correlation between high levels of perceived stress and high depressive symptoms and the elevated level of mental health concerns among indigenous women.
