Umida is a 3rd year PhD Student in Sociology at Mason, currently in the early stages of writing her dissertation proposal and reading through literature. Her research focuses on international migration, specifically migrants from Uzbekistan to Russia and how government officials and the country perceive their own migrants.
Umida’s interest in migration is what led her to search out the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR). The best way to learn research is to do research, and the IIR is a great place to be exposed to research, networking, and peers involved with the study of immigration and migration and is conveniently located within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences along with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The IIR provides the opportunity to apply her discipline and gain practical experience.
Moving into her 3rd year at the IIR, Umida will be taking on the role as an iDod manager, working with the most up to date U.S. Census data on immigration. There is always something new to learn and showcase every year with new updates as researchers work with data. Additionally, she will continue working on her dissertation proposal for her PhD.
While Umida’s research is not US focused, as a sociologist, she feels it is important to draw from and analyze census data, like her work with iDod, to provide tangible information tailored to the general public.
October 01, 2025