Staff Members

Manvi Arora (she, her, hers or they) is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at University of Montreal and a Volunteer Researcher with Association for Transgender Health in India (ATHI). She holds a Ph.D degree in Education, from the University of Delhi, along with three post-graduate degrees in the disciplines of Psychology, Sociology and Education respectively. She has been closely working with the Indian transgender community for their educational and identity based rights at the grassroots for over a decade now. She is one of the authors and panel members for developing National Guidelines and Training Material for inclusion of Transgender Children in School Education focusing on their concerns and way ahead, with National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Government of India. Interdisciplinary knowledge supports her pursuit to unravel lived realities and social challenges of non-conformity to prescribed gender norms, which is otherwise a neglected area of research in Indian academics and currently through making voices of  Indian transgender and non-binary youth heard at a global platform in CIHR funded international, longitudinal, research project titled “Growing Up Trans” where she is one of the co-author.

Maxime Banville (he/him) is currently pursuing a BA in Social Work at the Université of Montréal while also being general coordinating of the UdeM student social work association. He began his sixth year at university after completing a bi-disciplinary BA in psychology and sociology and a minor in feminist studies, both at UdeM. He was hired to be part of this wonderful team as a research assistant. His main tasks will be to create infographics, vignettes and article summaries to enable dissemination and accessibility of research data.

Holder of a BA in Cultural Animation and Research from UQAM and a short graduate program in EDI management in the workplace from UQAR, Mathé-Manuel (he/him – neutral or male agreements) is the coordinator of the Trans Youth and Their Families Research Team. He is also a trainer and consultant for the inclusion of  gender and sexual diversity and neuroinclusion, and writer-reviewer in inclusive writing as a freelancer, in addition to being a research professional at the Université de Sherbrooke’s Inclusive Research and Development Laboratory.Manu has previously worked with several community organizations, including Montréal Pride, Gender Creative Kids, GRIS-Montréal, Jeunes Queer Youth and Sexualité & Influence$. In addition, his many years of experience in youth leisure intervention and teaching make him an effective and engaging educator accustomed to working with young people and their families in a variety of contexts.

Coordinator of the Canada Research Chair on transgender children and their families and coordinator of the project – discontinuation of transitions

Morgane Gelly has an atypical career path that has been shaped by their insatiable curiosity. After studying fashion design, they completely reoriented themselves and fell in love with human sciences. After obtaining a double bachelor’s degree (equivalent to a double bachelor’s degree) in anthropology and sociology in France, they flew to Montreal to further their interest in gender studies. They completed a master’s degree in sociology at UQAM in 2018 with a thesis on access to gynecological care for trans men. They then completed a DESS in journalism at UdeM which led them to an internship at La Presse. Since 2019, Morgane Gelly has held the position of research coordinator at the Canada Research Chair on Transgender Children and their Families, which allows them to work on multiple projects and dimensions of research: recruitment, interviewing, data analysis, writing, team coordination. And because they still wants to nurture their passion for human relationships, Morgane has also just trained as a relationship and sexuality coach!

Research Assistant – Discontinuation of transitions project – youth pilot

Rosalie Gravel holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the Université de Montréal and studies psychology. As an experienced guitar teacher for children and teenagers, they feel concerned for the sense of belonging and the inclusion among youth. Their interests span the areas of resilience, authenticity, emotions, and social support, especially through intersectionality. Aiming to participate in destigmatising diversity, they engage in research surrounding gender as multiplicity. Their ideal: to work towards a world where everyone can flourish trough validating experiences and social acceptance.

Partnership Coordinator

Sei Laroche-Tanguay (il/they) is a student in Sexology at UQAM. In the interest of deepening his knowledge in gender study and meeting the needs of trans and non-binary populations, he completed a BAC in sexology and realised an internship at Action santé travesti(e)s et transsexuel(le)s du Québec (ASTT(e)Q). His master’s subject touches the practice of cosplay in Quebec and the exploration of gender of trans and non-binary people. Within the research team, Sei is responsible for coordinating partnerships.

Research professional for the project Discontinuation of transition – professional pilot

Tommly Planchat (he/him) is a research assistant for the Chair since 2021. He specialized in social psychology of health, with a particular interest in gender studies. He then worked as a project manager and facilitator with LGBTQI+ people, people with disabilities and more recently with adolescents. He was a clinical coordinator at a youth center, where he began training in inclusive and anti-oppressive professional practices.

Research Coordinator – Growing up trans project

Charles-Antoine Thibeault is a music therapist and doctoral student in social work at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Annie Pullen Sansfaçon. He completed a Master’s degree in music therapy at Concordia University in 2017, where he was involved as a research assistant and then as a lecturer. Since his graduation, he has been involved on the board of directors of the Association Québécoise de Musicothérapie, where he sits as President. He accumulates several years of experience as a music therapist in social pediatrics as well as with the organization Gender Creative Kids Canada.