Post-Doctoral Fellows
Kaitlin (Katie) Di Pierdomenico
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Pillai Riddell
Department: Psychology
Email: katiedp@yorku.ca
My research focuses on understanding the tensions between policy and practice in the transition towards integrative, person-centered mental health care. Guided by Mad activism, critical psychiatry, and institutional theory, I aim to expose the social and structural inequities that influence access to services and supports responsive to individual mental health needs. Currently, I am exploring mental health interventions targeting children and youth, with an emphasis on mental health promotion and prevention.
Caitlin O’Riordan
Supervisor: Dr. Thanujeni (Jeni) Pathman and Dr. Ellen Bialystok
Department: Psychology
Email: caitorio@yorku.ca
I am interested in how language experience can influence cognitive processes such as attention, inhibition and memory using neuroimaging methods (EEG/ERP) across the lifespan. I am working on a range of projects connected to these interests including exploring how culturally biased information is remembered by bilinguals with access to two distinct cultures and investigating the similarities and differences between how bilingualism and musicianship can impact the deployment of attentional processes. My work exploring memory, language and culture has been the recipient of an SLC Research Award at the International Neuropsychological Society (INS) conference in 2024.
Dr. Joel J. Katz
Supervisor: Dr. Melody Wiseheart
Department: Psychology
Email: joelkatz@yorku.ca
Music cognition, music performance, music memory, memory for structurally complex materials.
Larissa Panetta
Supervisor: Dr. Jonathan Weiss
Department: Psychology
Email: lpanetta@yorku.ca
Broadly, my research explores how our internal patterns of physiological functioning shape our subjective experiences of ourselves in relation to the external world. As a clinical developmental psychologist, I am most interested in identifying these relationships in child and youth populations with neurodivergences or developmental disabilities. Currently, my post-doctoral research examines how a therapeutic photography intervention impacts the psycho-physiological well-being of autistic youth. Historically, my research has examined links between unseen bio-physiological patterns (e.g., heart rate variability, circadian misalignment), observable behaviours (e.g., parenting, academic performance), and self-reported social-emotional functioning (e.g., anxiety, depression).
Doctoral Students
Marette Abdelmaseh
Supervisor: Dr. Yvonne Bohr
Department: Psychology
Email: mjabd@yorku.ca
My current research focuses on the impact of early relationships on children’s development. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how the quality of maternal-infant interactions is related to children’s socioemotional well being later in life. My masters thesis examined the predictive validity of a novel measure of disrupted maternal behaviour (the AMBIANCE-Brief) in comparison to other measures of maternal-infant interaction quality. For my doctoral research, I hope to investigate the underpinnings of maternal sensitivity by examining how experiences of trauma may impact a mother’s ability to attend and respond to her child’s needs. I am also actively involved in a LaMarsh project called “Making I-SPARX Fly in Nunavut”, which seeks to enhance resilience and wellness among Inuit youth by adapting an existing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based e-intervention (SPARX) created in New Zealand to be Inuit specific.
Melody Asghari
Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Connolly
Department: Psychology
Email: masghari@yorku.ca
My current research is focused on prevention and intervention for youth involved in sex trafficking. Specifically, I will be working alongside York Region Children’s Aid Society to help develop a risk assessment tool used for identifying risk factors associated with sex trafficking involvement. Early identification will help prevent the exploitation of at-risk youth while also supporting healthy development through early intervention. Identifying the associated risk factors through a risk assessment tool will aid in reducing the number of youths involved in sex trafficking within Ontario.
Ana Badal
Supervisor: Dr. Lara Pierce
Department: Psychology
Email: anabadal@yorku.ca
My research focuses on understanding the complex effects of socioeconomic status (SES) and stress on parenting and infant neurodevelopment. I aim to develop innovative research strategies to investigate how these factors influence early development, with a particular emphasis on the neural mechanisms by which SES and stress impact both parents and their young children. My ultimate goal is to inform targeted strategies and policies that can buffer the adverse effects of socioeconomic disparities on early neurodevelopment by enabling parents to spend more quality time with their children.
Oana Bucsea
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Pillai-Riddell
Department: Psychology
Email: obucsea@yorku.ca
Past research has demonstrated an inconsistent association between cortical and behavioural indicators of pain-related distress in infancy. Specifically, some studies have shown that babies can show pain-related cortical activity in the absence of behavioural expressions. My current research is focused on gaining a deeper understanding of the relationships between cortical and behavioural indicators of pain-related
distress in hospitalized newborns. Ultimately, this program of
research will inform the development of evidence-based pain
assessment tools, thus mitigating the serious health conse
quences of unmanaged pain in infancy.
Samantha Chan
Supervisor: Dr. Jenine Rawana
Department: Psychology
Email: sachan@yorku.ca
My research focuses on emotion regulation, relationships, and well-being among adolescents and emerging adults. Specifically, I will examine the interpersonal nature of emotion regulation and the impact of young people’s emotion regulation on their well-being and relationships. I am also interested in understanding the associations between romantic relationships and resilience among youth at risk.
Katerina Disimino
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Bassett-Gunter
Department: School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences
Email:kdisim@yorku.ca
The goal of my research is to foster quality physical activity for children living with a disability. My specific focus involves exploring strategies to disseminate and implement recommendations that will support community-based organizations in the development of targeted physical activity information for parents of children living with a disability. This knowledge mobilization initiative aims to bridge the research to practice gap and generate community-level impact through enhancing physical activity engagement among children living with a disability, thereby supporting their positive development and encouraging lifelong health habits.
Carly Goodman
Supervisor: Dr. Christine Till
Department: Psychology
Email: goodmanc@yorku.ca
My research focuses on the impact of prenatal and early postnatal exposure to neurotoxic chemicals on brain development. During my master’s thesis, I conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to uncover the sex-specific effects of pre- and postnatal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on children’s IQ. My dissertation will investigate how prenatal and postnatal fluoride exposure influences various neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral outcomes in a US-based cohort study. In addition to my core research, I have actively contributed to multiple projects within the Till lab. These projects explore prenatal exposure to a spectrum of chemicals, including fluoride, phthalates, and PFAS, and examine the influence of key moderators such as iodine levels, sex, and socioeconomic status. I am also passionate about translating complex scientific findings into accessible knowledge, empowering the public to understand and mitigate the risks associated with chemical exposures during the most critical periods of development.
Meagan Hall
Supervisor: Dr. Christine Till
Department: Psychology
Email:mkhall@yorku.ca
Meaghan’s current research interests lie in the realm of women and children’s environmental health. In particular, she is interested in examining the effects of prenatal neurotoxicant exposures on women’s health and children’s brain development. She is currently investigating mechanisms that may explain the developmental neurotoxicity of environmental chemicals, including endocrine disruption.
Natan Levi
Supervisor: Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst
Department: Psychology
Email: natanac@yorku.ca
Natan (he/they) is in the final year of his MSc with Dr. Jessica Fraser-Thomas. In 2013, he graduated from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto with a specialization in management.
Prior to starting his studies at York University, he spent 5 years working with Jane/Finch Community Tennis Association, Ontario Tennis Association and Tennis Canada delivering and evaluating grassroots sport for development programs.
Natan came to Canada as refugee from Sarajevo, former Yugoslavia, which shape his anti-oppression perspectives. His research interests explore the intersections of sport for development, social justice, and governance.
Rachael Lyon
Supervisor: Dr. Maggie Toplak
Department: Psychology
Email: lyonr@yorku.ca
My research interests center around brain-behaviour relationships and treatment innovation in children and youth with neurodevelopmental and acquired brain disorders. My master’s research investigated the extent to which executive function task performance and parent-ratings of ADHD symptomatology capture age related variance in a longitudinal sample of children and youth. This work has important methodological implications for the measurement of developmental change and may, in part, explain why rating scales and performance-based measures are weakly/modestly correlated in child and youth samples. My dissertation will likely build on this work in a clinical sample.
Alexandra Markwell
Supervisor: Dr. Heather Prime
Department: Psychology
Email: alexmark@yorku.ca
My research focuses on understanding the interactions between contextual risk, stress, and the well-being of children and their families. Currently, I am investigating the effects of climate change-related stressors on child and family functioning. Additionally, I am passionate about developing and adapting accessible, technology-delivered interventions to support higher-risk families.
Annie Mills
Supervisor: Dr. Jonathan Weiss
Department: Psychology
Email: millsas@yorku.ca
My research focuses on the well-being and mental health of individuals with developmental disabilities. My master’s thesis investigated associations between child autism characteristics, parent factors, and emotion regulation in youth with autism. My doctoral research will use photo-elicitation methods and qualitative interviewing to investigate what thriving means for those with developmental disabilities. Collaborating with those with developmental disabilities and their families in creating a conceptualization of thriving is an important step in learning how best to support the well-being of this group.
Nathania Ofori
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Fraser-Thomas
Department: School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences
Email: oforin@yorku.ca
My current research is focused on exploring the perceptions, experiences, and outcomes of an Active Start Special Olympics program for children with intellectual disabilities. In particular, this project will investigate childrens’ physical activity/physical literacy (cognitive, physical, and affective development) at home (indoors or outdoors) in lieu of the cancelled Active Start programming during the pandemic, and whether the activities learned within Active Start could be translated to the home environment. Research findings will provide valuable insights on physical literacy among young children with an intellectual disability and serve as a first step towards assessing the effectiveness of the Special Olympics Active Start program.
Kathryn Pierce
Supervisor: Dr. Debra Pepler
Department: Psychology
Email: kpierce4@yorku.ca
My research is focused on school-based day treatment for young children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Using a qualitative approach, I am working on developing a program model encompassing the strategies used by day treatment staff on a moment-to-moment basis to promote the development of school readiness skills. This work will pave the way for further research on this intervention and help with sharing knowledge about day treatment amongst children’s mental health agencies.
Ana Radmilovic
Supervisor: Dr. Christine Till
Department: Psychology
Email: aradmilo@yorku.ca
Early life environmental factors emerge as determinants of mental health among children and youth, underscoring the significant influence of prenatal experiences on neurodevelopmental trajectories. Guided by the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis, my research examines how prenatal environmental exposures affect behaviour and cognition throughout childhood and adolescence. My thesis explored maternal immune activation as a potential mechanism underlying the association between gestational fluoride exposure and child neurodevelopment. Future research will aim to identify risk factors and periods of increased susceptibility to help inform strategies that mitigate health risks for pregnant mothers and their children.
Sepehr Rassi
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Bassett-Gunter
Department: School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences
Email: sep2017@yorku.ca
My research is focused on establishing a physical activity program for autistic children, with an emphasis on fostering meaningful participation. Central to my work is the collaboration with community-based organizations, including Autism Ontario, and closely working with parents of autistic children to ensure the program we create meets the unique needs of these children. Another aspect of my research is identifying best practices in the design of training modules. This knowledge is applied to create a comprehensive training module for facilitators who will lead these specialized physical activity programs. The goal is to ensure facilitators are well equipped with the skills and insights necessary to effectively support autistic children.
Teresa Sellitto
Supervisor: Dr. Jonathan Weiss
Department: Psychology
Email: tsellitt@yorku.ca
I am interested in understanding the factors that promote positive well-being outcomes for people with developmental disabilities. My Master’s thesis employed a positive psychology lens to investigate the links between COVID-19-related stressors, community assets, thriving, and mental health problems among youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For my dissertation, I plan to provide an overview of the available literature on aspects of flourishing among autistic youth and highlight gaps within it, as well as adapt and validate a measure of flourishing based on input from autistic youth.
Gillian Shoychet
Supervisor: Dr. Heather Prime
Department: Psychology
Email: gshoyche@yorku.ca
My research focuses on examining child and youth mental health through a family systems lens. I am particularly interested in studying the impact of early life adversity on child and adolescent mental health with the goal of promoting resilience and positive functioning in youth and families. Currently, I am working on a project with the Prime Lab in collaboration with SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health to assess the feasibility of a brief intervention aimed at supporting families struggling during COVID-19.
Josephine Mary Francis Xavier
Supervisor: Dr. Nazilla Khanlou
Department: School of Nursing
Email: JXAVI27@yorku.ca
Josephine Francis Xavier is a dedicated nursing scholar with a focus on maternal-child health, breastfeeding promotion, and fathering within Indian immigrant families. Her research explores parenting experiences during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, with an emphasis on understanding intergenerational and cross-cultural dynamics. Using methodologies such as Straussian grounded theory, dyadic analysis, and intersectional approaches, Josephine seeks to develop strategies that improve fathers’ mental health and well-being in immigrant contexts, challenging traditional cultural stereotypes. In addition to her work on fatherhood, Josephine is passionate about gender diversity in nursing. She investigates the use of gender-inclusive language and the challenges it presents for both immigrant and non-immigrant maternal-child health nurses. Her commitment to intersectional, decolonized, and inclusive education drives her teaching philosophy, where she emphasizes critical thinking, clinical judgment, and equity. Josephine is recognized for creating supportive learning environments and is highly regarded by her students for her mentorship and dedication to nursing education.
Sara Jasim
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Pillai Riddell
Department: Psychology
Email: Jsjasim@yorku.ca
My master’s research examined the influence of repetitive behaviors on mental health in children and youth with autism spectrum disorders. With an unwavering interest in neurobiological mechanisms of behavior, my current research at the OUCH Lab focuses on unraveling the mechanisms subsuming infant pain processing. I have a special interest in how maternal factors, such as maternal mental health, influence infant pain responses by examining underlying physiological biomarkers of regulation. I am currently working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where I collect pain-related infant EEG signals during premature infant’s heel lance procedure as well as infant and maternal cardiac measures.
Vanessa Basurto
Supervisor: Dr. Melody Wiseheart
Department: Psychology
Email: vbasurto@yorku.ca
My current research focuses on the beliefs and biases people have and how these biases may influence various areas within their lives. Specifically, my graduate research explored the impact of implicit biases on relationship quality and group diversity. I aim to further our understanding of implicit biases to determine how they are formed and whether they can be changed.
Marika Wildeboer
Supervisor: Dr. Parissa Safai & Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst
Department: School of Kinesiology and Health Science
Email: marikaw@yorku.ca
My research focuses on the development and implementation of sexual and gender-based violence prevention in high-performance youth sports. I draw on my MA in Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto and my training as a developmental volleyball coach as I continue to engage in youth and university programs. I am passionate about researching and implementing sustainable prevention with an emphasis on positive community development within the context of youth high-performance sport.
Master’s Students
Jenna Barnhardt
Supervisor: Dr. Yvonne Bohr
Department: Psychology
Email: jrmb@yorku.ca
My current research interests are focused mainly on neuropsychological characteristics of Indigenous peoples and the treatment that is needed in various Indigenous communities. My interests include neurophysiological and cognitive aspects of Indigenous family/generational trauma, postpartum in Indigenous mothers and fathers, suicide in Indigenous youth, and relationships between Indigenous children and animals. My research interests look to better the mental health treatment currently offered to Indigenous people of Canada with a complex Neuroscientific approach including understanding of Indigenous minds/brains, and cognitive development.
Katherine Benvenuto
Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Connolly
Department: Psychology
Email: kb15@my.yorku.ca
My research interests include romantic relationships, attachment, sexual and mental health, emotion regulation, early adversity, risk and resilience factors among at-risk youth, and the prevention and intervention of sex trafficking. Currently, my research focuses on the romantic relationships of female youth involved in child protective services.
Kaitlyn Butterfield
Supervisor: Dr. Maggie Toplak
Department: Psychology
Email: kmarieb@yorku.ca
My broad research interests include neurodevelopmental disorders in children and youth. My most recent Masters degree explored the inclusive nature of mindfulness-based interventions in the context of students executive functioning. My current research is focused on the longitudinal evaluation of a performance-based measure of executive function. This work will contribute to the development of an unstructured performance task, allowing us to better understand and support those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Fenote Selam Girma
Supervisor: Dr. Jennine Rawana
Department: Psychology
Email: fgirma@yorku.ca
My current research is focused on interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) in emerging adults (ages 18-29). Specifically, I will examine how context is an important factor in determining whether IER strategies have adaptive or maladaptive outcomes. To that end I will validate a new measure, the Difficulties in Interpersonal Emotion Regulation (DIRE) scale (Dixon-Gordon, 2018), that incorporates context in its measure of IER strategy use. I will also use the DIRE to develop an emotion regulation (ER) variability score, an indicator of the number of ER strategies a person can access. I will use this score to determine if ER variability is a factor in meeting the contextual needs of a regulatory situation. Accounting for context in measures of IER strategy use can improve our understanding of the complex nature of emotion regulation.
Nichaela Garvey
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Pillai Riddell
Department: Psychology
Email: kaylagar@yorku.ca
I will complete a master’s thesis on pediatric pain. My particular research interests lie in exploring the use of novel technologies for the assessment and management of pain in preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). As a researcher committed to knowledge mobilization, I am dedicated to disseminating my research findings in academic and clinical circles to inform and ameliorate the practice of infant pain management.
Julia Ferreira Gomes
Supervisor: Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst
Department: School of Kinesiology and Health Science
Email: jfgomes@yorku.ca
My current research is focused on gender-based violence prevention in and through sport for development. Specifically, I will develop a methodological framework to identify relevant gender-based violence prevention studies and develop a scoping review addressing the current definitional ambiguities of gender-based violence prevention in and through sport for development. I aim to determine what theoretical frameworks tend to underpin gender-based violence prevention and what central elements are involved, in and through sport for development.
Carly Goodman
Supervisor: Dr. Christine Till
Department: Psychology
Email: goodmanc@yorku.ca
My current research focuses on the relationship between maternal and child health. Specifically, I am interested in the impact of prenatal and early postnatal exposure to neurotoxic chemicals on brain development. Additionally, I am interested in engaging in research on knowledge translation to educate the public on the risks associated with exposures during critical periods of development.
Meaghan Hall
Supervisor: Dr. Christine Till
Department: Psychology
Email: mkhall@yorku.ca
My research will center on children’s environmental health, with a particular focus on the health risks associated with prenatal and postnatal exposure to environmental neurotoxins. More specifically, I plan to investigate a potential association between fluoride exposure and thyroid function in pregnant mothers. Future research will examine whether disruption to thyroid hormones during pregnancy may influence offspring neurodevelopmental outcome. Determining the effects of fluoride on the maternal thyroid will aid in guiding health policy to promote optimal health and safety of pregnant mothers and their infants.
Isra Iqbal
Supervisor: Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst
Department: School of Kinesiology and Health Science
Email: iisra@yorku.ca
Isra Iqbal is currently a Master of Science (MSc) Candidate at the school of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University in Toronto, Canada. Her research interests include sport for development and peace (SDP), safe sport initiatives, the sociology of sports science, policy and advocacy, international development, and exploring the dynamic nature of sport and its impact on women, children and youth globally. Currently, she is working on her thesis where she is exploring the implementation (or lack of) ‘safe sport’ policies within sport for development (SFD) organizations that operate child and youth-based programming within global South contexts. Isra hopes to venture and explore various other domains of this field including the sociology of sports medicine and rehabilitative practices through integrated approaches of biomedical and sociological models.
Ryan Jones
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Fraser-Thomas
Department: Psychology
Email: jonesr38@yorku.ca
My research centers on the establishment of conducive environments for adolescent engagement in sports. More precisely, my focus revolves around identifying the measures that sports clubs and governing bodies can implement to foster the cultivation of personal attributes in participants, fostering a sustained involvement in sports activities. My research aims to translate that knowledge so it can be effectively disseminated to those leading sports organizations in a comprehensible and accessible way.
Tida Kian
Supervisor: Dr. Thanujeni Pathman
Department: Psychology
Email: narges24@my.yorku.ca
My current research is focused to investigate the relation between both semantic and episodic memory in children and across different age groups. I will examine how episodic memory for a specific event at a particular location, may be influenced by spatial semantic knowledge about the location. Specifically, I want to understand the contribution of children’s semantic knowledge on their memory for actions and locations at different ages and across different age groups. The results of this study will benefit society by increasing knowledge of how children and adults think and remember.
Maya Koven
Supervisor: Dr. Heather Prime
Department: Psychology
Email: mkoven2@yorku.ca
My current research interest focuses on the impact of family relationships (i.e. couple, coparenting, and parent-child) on child mental health. Specifically, I am interested in exploring the efficacy of interventions (couple and coparenting) on greater family functioning. Additionally, I am passionate about removing barriers to these interventions, so that all families can access the help they need.
Kate Lee
Supervisor: Dr. Jennine Rawana
Department: Psychology
Email: katelee@yorku.ca
My research area of interest involves how individual differences in emotion regulation can affect mental health in adolescents and emerging adults, and how parent-child dynamics can influence these differences. I am also interested in identifying risk and protective factors for youth mental health, as well as strategies to develop effective evidence based treatment that can be used in community-based settings.
Melissa Major
Supervisor: Dr. Debra Pepler
Department: Psychology
Email: mmajor19@yorku.ca
My current research is focused on the wellness of Indigenous children, youth, and families, centering around experiences of love and warmth in close relationships amidst colonial harms which have caused obstacles to healthy development. Specifically, by listening to Indigenous girls receiving support from a family care centre, I will develop a conceptual model guided by their voices regarding their relationship experiences, with a focus on moments of love and warmth. This conceptual model will inform further investigation into and what gives Indigenous youth hope. Improving our understanding of what Indigenous youth need to feel supported and surrounded with love and hope for the future can lead to more culturally informed and effective mental health treatment for Indigenous children, youth and families.
Paolina Onorato
Supervisor: Dr. Jennine Rawana
Department: Psychology
Email: onoratop@yorku.ca
My current research interests involve investigating resilience factors related to depression and anxiety disorders. Specifically, I am interested in explaining the roles that emotion regulation, various relationships, and self-esteem, play in relation to these mental health difficulties in adolescents and emerging adults. Additionally, I hope to apply this research to create or inform evidence-based programs in order to promote resilience and overall positive mental health.
Megis Nadjiwon Oskalns
Supervisor: Dr. Yvonne Bohr
Department: Psychology
Email: megisn@yorku.ca
My current research involves resilience, technology and mental health for Indigenous communities. More specially, I am currently involved with the ISPARX project that teaches CBT skills to Inuit Youth via a videogame-based intervention method. Forthcoming research is geared towards the impact of social media on Indigenous communities during COVID-19. Other areas of interest include the families and intergenerational trauma. I hope to add Indigenous perspective to mental health research and treatment programs.
Flora Roudbarani
Supervisor: Dr. Jonathan Weiss
Department: Psychology
Email: froudbar@yorku.ca
My current research interest includes investigating treatment interventions to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities. I am particularly interested in studying emotion regulation, mindfulness, and the role of therapeutic alliance in treatment success.
Teresa Sellitto
Supervisor: Dr. Jonathan Weiss
Department: Psychology
Email: tsellitt@yorku.ca
My current research interests include investigating mental health treatments for children with I am interested in understanding the factors that contribute to well-being for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families. My Master’s thesis aims to understand the links between ecological resources (e.g., environmental supports and caregiver responsiveness), mental health problems, and thriving among youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I also intend to explore if thriving acts as a protective factor in the association between COVID-19-related stressors and mental health problems among these youth.
Ilana Shiff
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Pillai Riddell
Department: Psychology
Email: ishiff@yorku.ca
My master’s thesis is focused on identifying the parent beha- iours and cognitions that drive patterns of pain-related regulation in the preschool period. Recent research by our group extended the literature on early childhood pain-related distress by elucidating distinct patterns of regulation following vaccination in preschool-aged children (Waxman et al., 2017). This study highlighted an important subgroup of children who display highly distressed patterns of regulation in the acute pain context. My findings will inform interventions aimed at providing developmentally appropriate guidance for families struggling with needle fear and distress.
Adrian Torres
Supervisor: Dr. Maggie Toplak
Department: Psychology
Email: apt98@yorku.ca
My current research focuses on metacognition and performance in children and young adults with ADHD. For my master’s thesis, I plan to investigate how young adults with ADHD allocate their time on a performance-based task compared to neurotypical young adults by applying the Diminishing Criterion Model. My other research interests include cognitive ability, executive functioning, and assessment in emerging adults with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Nisha Vashi
Supervisor: Dr. Jonathan Weiss
Department: Psychology
Email: nbvashi@yorku.ca
My current research is aimed at investigating the role of families and caregivers in fostering the mental health and well-being of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. I am interested in exploring factors such as parent-child dynamics, parent mental health, socioeconomic factors (e.g. family income, ethnicity, family structure), and parent and child self-efficacy in bolstering or hindering the outcomes of these children. I will also explore how social influences such as access to resources and support networks can be optimized to support families of children with ASD and other developmental disabilities. Understanding the interactions between family, personal, and social factors aids in improving the long-term mental health outcomes of children with developmental disabilities.
Winnie Li
Supervisor: Dr. Karl Erickson
Department: Psychology
Email: liwinnie@yorku.ca
My research interests centre around working towards a sport system where all youth athletes, especially those who are systematically marginalized, can experience the lasting benefits of positive and inclusive sport participation. More specifically, I focus on exploring the lived experiences of minority athletes in community-based sport organizations and effectively mobilizing their stories in ways that could benefit both the athletes (e.g., feeling a sense of empowerment and feeling heard) and the organization (e.g., informing program development).
Abby Shimmerman
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Fraser-Thomas
Department: Psychology
Email: ashimm@yorku.ca
My current research interest is exploring the intersection between sport participation, rehabilitation and mental health within distinct populations. Additionally, I am interested in expanding on the connections between different age groups’ engagement in sports and exploring how mental training techniques can enhance participation. My goal is to contribute to a more inclusive and impactful future in sport psychology by using physical activity to support mental health throughout all stages of life.
Luke de Greeff
Supervisor: Dr. Karl Erickson
Department: Psychology
Email: lukedg@my.yorku.ca
My general research interests center on the role of coaches in supporting youth outcomes within sport. As a participant and coach in high level sport, I have seen the importance of strong, healthy relationships between athletes and their coaches in enhancing both their psychological and physical ability to perform at the highest level. My research will aim to improve the ability of coaches in youth sport to access and understand information on different approaches to coaching youth sport, with the goal of increasing positive developmental outcomes in youth sport while maintaining the production of elite athletes through grassroots programs.
Estreya Cohen
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Pillai Riddell
Department: Psychology
Email: estco@yorku.ca
My current research focuses on pain expression and management, I am currently working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where we examine behavioural responses and brain activity in premature infants during heel lance procedures. My master’s thesis will review the effectiveness of skin-to-skin for managing procedural pain in extremely premature infants.
Maneet Kaur Sran
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica L. Fraser-Thomas
Department: Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Email: maneetk7@yorku.ca
I am currently in my second year of a MSc and my research interests include understanding psychosocial aspects of sports participation and involvement. My current research uses a qualitative approach focusing on understanding psychosocial characteristics of varsity athletes across different universities and how they perceive their parents’ social, emotional, and physical involvement within their transition from high-school to varsity sports. Ultimately, we hope to gain a greater understanding of factors that lead to a successful transition to varsity sports.
Mila Valcic
Supervisor: Dr. Christine Till
Department: Psychology
Email: mvalcic@yorku.ca
My current research interests include examining the effects of environmental neurotoxicants, such as fluoride, on maternal and children’s health. I am particularly interested in validating biomarkers of prenatal fluoride exposure, as well as studying the association between prenatal fluoride exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. I am also passionate about knowledge translation in the field of prenatal health and disseminating the findings of my research in an accessible manner to the public.
Laura Harris-Lane
Supervisor: Dr. Jennine Rawana
Department: Psychology
Email: lharris1@yorku.ca
My research interests include developing and tailoring evidence-based interventions for adolescents’ and emerging adults’ mental health and substance use outcomes. My MA research will focus on developing a digital intervention to support emerging adults in strengthening their use of adaptive emotion regulation skills. Broadly, my research interests align with theoretical frameworks in implementation science, health equity, and behaviour change. I am motivated by disseminating research in accessible ways to the public, service providers, policymakers, and community and academic researchers.
Emma Resendes
Supervisor: Dr. Jonathan Weiss
Department: Psychology
Email: emmares@yorku.ca
I am interested in the development of inclusive interventions to support the mental health of individuals with neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities. Specifically, I strive to understand the factors that contribute to well-being in this population and how interventions can be adapted to better meet individual needs. Additionally, I am interested in improving clinician knowledge in working with youth with neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities.
Jessica Klein
Supervisor: Dr. Jonathan Weiss
Department: Psychology
Email: jsgklein@yorku.ca
My research interests center around goodness of fit within ecological contexts of youth with neurodevelopmental differences (NDDs), and how this affects mental health outcomes. I am additionally interested in development and implementation of interventions to support the wellbeing of youth with NDDs.
Undergraduate Students
Danah Makow
Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Connolly
Department: Psychology
Email: dmakow@my.yorku.ca
My research interests include adolescent mental health, trauma, and the bi-directional effects of familial relationships, with a particular emphasis on at-risk populations. In the Teen Relationships Lab, I contribute to research on sex trafficking risk among youth in the child welfare system. I aim to pursue graduate studies in the clinical-developmental area.
Riya Nair
Supervisor: Dr. Madison Aitken
Department: Psychology
Email: riyanair@my.yorku.ca
I am a fourth year specialised honours psychology student currently doing my honours thesis with Dr. Madison Aitken. My thesis focuses on South Asian youth perceptions of mental health treatments. I am passionate about therapeutic interventions, parent-child relationship and therapy outcomes and how to improve therapy outcomes for children and adolescents. I am hoping to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology specialising in the clinical-developmental area.
Ella Niyogi
Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Connolly
Department: Psychology
Email: ella08@my.yorku.ca
I am interested in the experiences of youth involved in the child welfare system, and their susceptibility to sex trafficking. Specifically, I am interested in the development of preventative measures for early intervention, aimed at identifying youth at risk of being involved in sex trafficking. I am also interested in identifying whether there is a relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as sexual assault, interpersonal violence, substance abuse, etc. and involvement in sex trafficking. Lastly, I also take an interest in trauma-informed care for young survivors of sexual violence.
Uswa Shafaque
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Bassett-Gunter
Department: School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences
Email: uswa@my.yorku.ca
Uswa Shafaque is a fourth-year Kinesiology and Health Science student who has joined the LaMarsh Centre for Child & Youth Research as an Undergraduate Research Student. With a deep-rooted passion for healthcare and research, Uswa aspires to continue in this field, where she intends to explore the intersection of sociocultural implications and healthcare access on a global scale within the realm of academia. Her research at LaMarsh focuses on identifying practices used in training facilitators of physical activity programs for autistic children.
Mariana Valente
Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Connolly
Department: Psychology
Email: marianavalente270@gmail.com
I am a 4th year student in the Specialized honours program. My supervisor is Dr.Connolly at the Teen relationships Lab where I’m currently researching risk factors for minors in sex trafficking. Broadly my research interest lies in youth and child trauma, attachment, parent-child relationships, and therapy outcomes. I hope to continue into a Graduate Studies Program, specializing in Clinical Developmental Psychology.
Johdeth (Jodie) Dela Cruz
Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Connolly
Department: Kinesiology and Health Science
Email: jodie02@my.yorku.ca
My independent study research project, under the guidance of Dr. Bassett-Gunter and Dr. Erickson, focuses on developing a peer mentorship program that supports the mental health of university students through physical activity. Using a qualitative approach, I am excited to contribute to a program informed and shaped by the students it targets, following a co-creation model. In my future research endeavors, I seek to understand how to promote healthy behaviors and develop effective messages that target the psychological and social factors influencing these behaviors, especially since regular physical activity is crucial for preventing health issues, and moods are shaped by habits.
Ralph Laurel
Supervisor: TBD
Department: Biology
Email: ralph27@my.yorku.ca
My research interest lies on evaluating the mental health challenges faced by children and youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autistic individuals have been found to experience higher rates of mental health issues, particularly depression. I am interested to explore the internal and external factors contributing to poorer mental health outcomes in this population, and to identify effective interventions and support systems to address these challenges. Also, I aim to examine the perspectives of autistic youth themselves, as well as their families and caregivers, on the mental health barriers they encounter and their experiences in accessing mental health services. Another research interest is to analyze factors that optimize the success of early childhood intervention programs including the role of parental involvement, socioeconomic status, treatment intensity, and the specific rehabilitation therapy approaches used. Finally, I aim to investigate the long-term impacts of early intervention in coping with the critical transition to adulthood among children and youth with autism.