Dr. Jen Ervin
Details
Department: School of GUSS
Campus: City Campus Australia
jen.ervin@rmit.edu.au
ORCID: 0000-0002-1887-6575
About
I am a Social Epidemiologist and Research Fellow at the Social Equity Research Centre at RMIT University. I hold a PhD in Social Epidemiology and a Master’s in Public Health, specialising in Quantitative Research and Gender and Women’s Health. My work focuses on the social determinants of health and health equity, with particular emphasis on gender (in)equality, unpaid caregiving, employment, gender norms, and mental health. I use robust quantitative methodologies to understand and improve population health and wellbeing, with a focus on women and girls.
Much of my research seeks to quantify the mental health impacts of complex drivers of gender inequality, generating evidence that informs social policy and highlights critical but under-examined issues.
Beyond individual-level analysis, I have contributed to the development of a composite gender equality index through the IMAGINE Gender Equality Project, applying index construction methods to measure and track gender inequality across multiple domains. I have also contributed to research and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the integration of sex and gender considerations in health research and clinical practice guidelines. Prior to academia, I worked as a clinical veterinarian and later as a technical consultant in a large international corporation, bringing a combination of analytical expertise, commercial experience, and leadership to my research career.
Teaching interests
In 2026, I commenced co-supervision of a PhD candidate on the project Life Stage, Cohort, and Shifting Gender Ideologies as Moderators of the Area-Level Gender Equality–Health Relationship. I have also co-supervised four University of Melbourne Master’s research projects through to successful completion in recent years, with resulting publications either published or in development. These projects have examined gender, health, and equity across a range of topics, including mapping gender equality using the Australian Gender Equality Index (MScEpi, 2024), survival analysis of cardiovascular events associated with unpaid care (MScEpi, 2022), a systematic review of cardiovascular impacts of caregiving (MScEpi, 2022), and a systematic review of programs and interventions for young carers (MPH, 2021).
Research interests
My research focuses on the social and structural determinants of health and health equity, with particular emphasis on gender (in)equality. I am interested in advancing the measurement and monitoring of gender inequality at the population level, and in understanding how factors such as unpaid care, employment conditions, and gender norms shape mental health and wellbeing. I also examine the role of sex and gender in shaping health outcomes and healthcare.
A key focus of my work is how these intersecting drivers can either support or erode progress toward gender equality, in Australia and globally, and how robust quantitative evidence can inform policy and practice.
