Researchers

Dr. Theone Paterson is an Associate Professor in psychology at UVic, a Visiting Researcher at Baycrest Health Sciences Centre & the Rotman Research Institute, and is a registered psychologist in the Province of BC with declared competence in clinical neuropsychology across the lifespan. Her focus is on neuropsychological research with clinical applications, with interest in improving our understanding of the interplay between neurocognition and psychosocial functioning, and predicting real-world health outcomes in aging and chronic illness groups.

Her research examines health behaviours such as medication adherence in individuals with chronic illnesses, and explores the utility of emerging cognitive measures for assessment and diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Aims of this work are to translate basic research to clinical settings through design and implementation of screening measures with utility in diverse groups, as well as to develop psychological and cognitive programs aimed at improving real-world outcomes.

She is the chair-elect of the Neuropsychology Executive of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), and is currently a Co-Locally Responsible Investigator (Co-LRI – Victoria), and member of the Psychology Working Group and Data and Sample Access Committee of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).

You can find her recent publications on Google Scholar and view her Neurotree here.

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Dr. Kristina Gicas is the Laboratory Director of the Cognition & Complex Conditions Lab at the University of Fraser Valley.

Dr. Gicas completed her graduate training in Clinical Neuropsychology at Simon Fraser University under the supervision of Dr. Allen Thornton, and a Pre-Doctoral Residency with the London Clinical Psychology Residency Consortium. She obtained further training as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. William Honer and Dr. William Panenka. Currently, Dr. Gicas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of the Fraser Valley where she teaches undergraduate psychological courses and conducts multidisciplinary clinical neuroscience research. Dr. Gicas is actively involved in the Canadian Psychological Association as Past Chair of the Clinical Neuropsychology Section.

You can find her recent publications on Research Gate.

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Dr. Vina Goghari is a Professor in Psychology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Vina Goghari is also the Vice Dean, Research and Program Innovation at the UofT School of Graduate Studies. A primary aim of Dr. Goghari’s research is to advance the understanding of the causes, course and outcome, and treatment of psychosis. A secondary aim includes better understanding the basic cognitive and social processes in the healthy population.

Current projects and research areas include brain, blood, behaviour markers of bipolar disorder, cognitive training in schizophrenia, and brain changes after cognitive training in a healthy population.

Dr. Goghari is the Editor of Canadian Psychology and an Associate Editor of the Clinical Psychological Science.

To learn more about Dr. Goghari’s work, visit Google Scholar.

Dr. Mauricio Garcia-Barrera is an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Victoria. Dr. Garcia-Barrera’s focuses on the neural and behavioural foundations of executive functioning.

Current research aims include developing a theoretical and evidence-based model of executive functioning, developing instruments to assess executive functioning, and exploring the relationship between exercise, concussion history and executive functioning in young athletes.

Dr. Garcia-Barrera is the President-Elect of the Latin American Association of Neuropsychology.

For more information on Dr. Garcia-Barrera’s work, visit CORTEX.

Cian obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The Ohio State University in 2016. She then completed a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Psychology at Loyola University Maryland, where her thesis research focused on post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in Canadian steelworkers following job-related traumas to better understand the effects of psychological stress. Cian also worked for the University of Pennsylvania researching traumatic brain injury patients in the ICU unit. Now, Cian is a Clinical Psychology graduate student in the Neuropsychology stream at the University of Victoria under the supervision of Dr. Theone Paterson. She is interested in exploring the psychophysiological and neurological factors of trauma and stress. Cian is also a former Division 1 lacrosse player and has represented Team Canada from a young age.

Taylor is a fourth year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology graduate program at UVic. With a background in neuroscience, his current interests are in neuropsychology. As a master’s student, he developed a strong interest in sport-related concussion, examining the post-acute phase following injury using self-report measures in addition to cognitive testing. During his training at UVic, Taylor hopes to explore executive functioning more closely in this population, as well as general outcomes associated with physical exercise, sport participation, and mindfulness.

Morgan is a PhD candidate in the Clinical Neuropsychology program at the University of Victoria. He previously holds an Honours BSc in Psychology from the University of Calgary. Morgan is a member of the Behavioural Research on Aging and Illness in Neuropsychology (BRAIN) lab under the supervision of Dr. Theone Paterson. Broadly, he is interested in the interplay between neurocognition, psychosocial factors, and chronic illness. For his MSc thesis project, Morgan will be investigating the influence of personality traits on the development of specific dementia syndromes in older adults. For the current study, Morgan will be assisting with participant testing.

You can find his recent publications on Research Gate.

Shelley completed a Bachelor of Science with a major in Psychology in Spring 2021. Her previous research experience has been within the Child Neuropsychology Lab at the University of Victoria. Her research interests include the early identification, assessment, and remediation of executive function deficits, as well as the moderating role of executive function on quality of life and academic achievement. She currently works at the Victoria Brain Injury Society, and hopes to pursue a graduate degree in School Psychology. In her free time, Shelley enjoys hiking, spending time at the beach, and exploring beautiful Vancouver Island.

Samantha Feldman is a first year PhD student in Clinical Developmental Neuropsychology at York University. She previously obtained an MSc in Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia and recently completed an MA in Clinical Developmental Neuropsychology at York University. Her PhD dissertation research is being conducted at the Hospital for Sick Children and is focused around evaluating potential neuroimaging biomarkers to assist in understanding cognitive outcomes following pediatric stroke. Additionally, she is interested in social cognitive processing following acquired brain injury across the lifespan.

You can find her recent publications on ResearchGate.

Katie obtained her Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology from Western University in 2018. She then went on to complete her MSc in Neuroscience at Western and defended her thesis in 2020. Katie is interested in exploring substance use in precarious populations. She is particularly interested in research around individuals with variable manifestations of psychosis and the functional neurological consequences associated with substance use. When Katie isn’t working, you can find her attempting new and strange baking creations or discovering new music! She is excited to be joining the C3 lab team and working toward evolving her understanding of the brain-behaviour relationship in the context of mental illness and addiction.

Eva has obtained her Bachelor of Arts with Honours at York University. She completed an undergraduate research thesis exploring the impact of social media usage on jealousy. Through her volunteer work at crisis lines, Eva gained insight to the challenges that individuals face with addictions. Eva is interested in studying the influence of cognitive and psychological processes on people with addictions. In the future, she plans to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology. Eva hopes that by studying and researching the changes in brain-behaviour processes, she could develop a new intervention for people with substance dependency that takes into consideration those psychological and cognitive changes.

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Petra graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration from York University. She is very excited to be a part of the C3 lab and learn more about the brain-behaviour relationship in the context of mental illness and addiction. Petra is looking forward to assisting the research team with studying the impacts of COVID-19 on neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning in adults. Outside of the C3 lab, Petra is also assisting with a longitudinal ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study of alcohol and cannabis use behaviour in young adults. She is passionate about mental health research and aspires to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology.

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Maddie is a second year PhD student in the Clinical Neuropsychology program. She is currently working on a patient-oriented research project as part of a Graduate Fellowship in conjunction with the BC SUPPORT unit and Island Health. Broadly, the project involves investigating the genetic, psychological and social determinants of risk for cognitive decline. She is also involved as a Research Assistant in a large-scale survey study (on which Dr. Paterson is a PI) aiming to study the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health, and is working on several publications.

You can find her recent publications on Google Scholar.

Saja is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in biology with a concentration in neurobiology. Her research interests include the psychological impacts of brain injury and methods of rehabilitation. She plans to pursue medical school to become a neuropathologist or continue in academia through graduate studies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, yoga, and meditation.

Kudrat is a third-year undergraduate student studying psychology at the University of Victoria. She is currently working on a project involving the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functions. Her interests lie in the realm of cognitive functioning, TBI and neurocognitive disorders and wishes to pursue clinical neuropsychology in graduate school. Apart from this, she likes to hike and read.

Caleb is a fourth-year psychology undergraduate at the University of Victoria. He is currently a research assistant for the Cognitive Impacts of COVID-19 study, and contributes through participant screening and data entry. Following his graduation from UVic, he plans to pursue a masters degree and career in clinical psychology. His primary interests include the ongoing treatment of mental health disorders, the accessibility of therapeutic services, and patient outcomes in a clinical setting.

Taleesha is an undergraduate student in the mind and brain stream of the psychology program. She is hoping to pursue clinical neuropsychology in the near future. Taleesha is currently a research assistant on the Investigating Neuropsychological Consequences of COVID-19 on adults, and Examination of Associated Risk and Resilience Factors Study. She enjoys baking, baseball, animals and the outdoors.

Dawna is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with focus on the mind and brain stream. She is currently assisting with a systematic review examining the impacts of COVID-19 on cognition. Her primary research interests are Multiple Sclerosis and Dementia. With a strong biology background, she is planning to pursue a master’s degree in medical neuroscience in the future.

Anastasiya is taking a gap year abroad and starting her third year at University of Victoria in September. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. At the moment she is assisting with a research project revolving around the impacts of COVID-19 on cognitive function. Her plans for the future include completing a Master’s program and becoming a relationship therapist. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, brewing kombucha, and learning languages.

Kimberly Le-Ba is a fourth-year psychology student at UVic. She is currently a Research Assistant at the Brain Lab, helping on the cognitive impacts of COVID-19 study. Additionally, she works as a Research Assistant in the Branch Lab, focusing on projects related to community and newcomer health. Her research interests include the neurobiology of early stress and trauma and their effects on cognition and behavior. She aspires to enter a Clinical Psychology graduate program with the goal of making a meaningful impact on community health.

Emily finished her Bachelor of Science in psychology at Uvic in April 2024, where she wrote her honours thesis on social media use and misinformation. She is a research assistant involved in various projects at the brain lab. She is currently assisting with research on the Neuropsychological Consequences of COVID-19 and also helps manage the lab website and social media. In her free time, she enjoys decorating, singing, and yoga.

Micah is completing her final year as an undergraduate student, focusing on the mental health and wellbeing stream in psychology.  She is currently a research assistant on the Investigating Neuropsychological Consequences of Covid-19 study. Her long-term goal is to become a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and addictions or forensic psychology. Her research interests include the protective role of connectedness and community on addiction and the social determinants associated with substance use disorder.

Ian Petula is currently in his fourth year at the University of Victoria for his undergraduate in psychology. Outside of his studies, his hobbies include weightlifting and spending time with friends playing games or going on hikes.

Paria is a third- year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Biology and Psychology at the University of Victoria. She is currently a research assistant working on systematic reviews that examine long-term impacts of COVID-19 on cognition. Passionate about neuropsychology, she hopes to pursue clinical neuropsychology graduate programs. Outside of academics, she enjoys spending quality time with friends and family while also doing any outdoor activities.

Amanda is in her fourth year of undergraduate studies in Biology and Psychology.  She is currently a research assistant helping with the Investigating Neuropsychological Consequences of Covid-19 study. Her interests include brain health, substance use disorders, and the relationship between physical and mental health. Her long-term goal is to become a neuropsychologist or a doctor. In her free time, Amanda loves to hike, travel, and spend time in nature.

Amelia is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Her primary interests are neurodegenerative disorders and counselling psychology, she hopes to pursue a career in psychology. Currently she is a research assistant contributing to a systematic review that examines the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on cognition.  Outside of work Amelia enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and being with family or friends.

Alysha is a second-year psychology student with a plan to minor in education. She hopes to go on to graduate school for clinical or cognitive psychology with a focus in childhood development and well-being. During her free times, she enjoys reading, the outdoors, and hanging out with her dog!

Henley is in her fourth year of her biology and psychology degree with a concentration in Neurobiology. She wants to either pursue medical school to become an adolescent psychiatrist or get involved with researching the brain in a graduate degree. She is particularly interested in drug impact, trauma and strokes on behaviour and development. She is also very interested in memory loss research. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, painting, pilates, baking, travel and spending time with friends and family.

Sabina completed her BA honours in psychology last spring and intends to apply for graduate studies. Her research interests include sleep, health, and wellbeing. Currently, she is working as a research assistant on the Cognitive Impacts of COVID-19 study. When she isn’t doing research, Sabina enjoys going on walks and exploring.

Jacqueline is in her second year of pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her research interest is emotion regulation and mental health in children with autism spectrum disorder. She aspires to become a clinical psychologist specializing in children and youth. In her spare time, Jacqueline loves to travel, hike, and enjoy board games with friends and family.

Sara is a third-year BSc Psychology student at the University of Victoria. She is currently involved in the Brain Lab and will join the EEG Lab next year to deepen her understanding of brain function. Her research interests include brain and cognitive science, as well as biopsychology. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in neuroscience in the future. In her free time, she enjoys dance, pilates, and walking. 

Reaghan is a second-year psychology student at the University of Victoria. She is currently a research assistant with the BRAIN Lab, assisting with the Cognitive Impacts of COVID-19 study and the Pain, Cannabis, and Aging study. Her interests include neurological disorders and their cognitive impacts, particularly the interplay between aphasia, apraxia, and stroke recovery. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking, walking her dogs, and spending quality time with friends and family.