Biography

Afrin Mehtaj is a doctoral candidate and graduate teaching assistant specializing in medical anthropology at the University of Central Florida. She received Bachelor’s in 2022 and Master’s in 2023 from the Department of Anthropology, University of Dhaka. Her master’s thesis focused on the health-seeking process during COVID-19 and its aftereffects on health.  

Afrin is working under the advisement of Dr. Melina Sherman. Her doctoral research examines socio-cultural and structural factors behind widespread and non-prescribed use of painkillers among Bangladeshi people. Her work contributes to medical anthropology and cultural anthropology by informing policies on global health interventions for safe medication practices in lower and middle-income countries.  

Before enrolling at UCF, Afrin received professional research experience at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) and teaching experience at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).  

• Research Interests/Specialization