Substance Use, Psychedelic Research, Attitudes, Cognition, and Education (SPACE) Lab
The SPACE lab consists of psychologists, Dr. Jill Robinson and Dr. Jhotisha Mugon, and students from psychology, statistics and health disciplines, all dedicated to advancing knowledge, promoting harm reduction, and fostering health education. Follow us to stay updated on our research, learn about developments in the community, and explore the latest insights in the field of substance use studies.
Meet the Team!
Dr. Jill Robinson
Dr. Jill Robinson (she/her) is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria. Jill teaches several mental health courses in the Mental Health and Wellbeing stream of the undergraduate program and teaching graduate courses in the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program. Her research interests span domains including substance use, cannabis, psilocybin, attitudes, personality, motives, OCD, and clinical education. Dr. Robinson is a registrant with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (#2914).
Dr. Jhotisha Mugon
Tristan Rendell (2025/26 Honours Student)
Tristan Rendell is a UVic student in the 5th year of a BSc in psychology with a minor in statistics. Tristan is interested in the emerging science of psychedelic therapy, couples therapy, neurodiversity, statistics and open science. Long term, Tristan plans to continue his research and strive to advance psychedelic science and make evidence-based psychedelic psychotherapy more accessible outside of a clinical trial setting.
Tristan’s honours project is investigating why people use magic mushrooms and aims to develop a more complete understanding of the diverse reasons why people use psilocybin.
Outside of the SPACE lab, Tristan is the assistant study manager for the UVic Child Neuropsychology Lab’s Social Camouflaging Study. Tristan is also the lab manager for the UVic Healthy Relationship Lab, where he formerly was an RA on the Expectant Couples Check-Up Study. Previously, Tristan volunteered on the Victoria Association for Psychedelic Studies leadership board, and he continues to help out with community events when he has time.
In his spare time, Tristan enjoys hiking, tinkering with his homelab, and reading.
2024-2025
Molly Mifsud (BSc Hons. 2025) Lab Coordinator
My name is Molly, and I am a final-year BSc Psychology student with a research focus on the cognitive foundations of health promotion, harm reduction, and substance use, particularly among youth and young adults. This field is important to me as I aim to shift the narrative from problematizing pathology and reactive care to fostering empowerment through health promotion, preventative behaviour change, and early intervention to mitigate risk factors and improve health outcomes. My passion for health psychology is fueled by my fascination with human biology, cognitive neuroscience, and the social determinants of health.
My current work in the SPACE lab centers on identifying the personality traits, attitudes, and motives associated with psilocybin use. The goal is to refine user profiles to inform harm reduction strategies and shape effective policy.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time on the volleyball court, practicing yoga, cooking with friends, foraging, reading, and exploring new hobbies or crafts.
Ethan Warchol (BSc Microbiology)
My name is Ethan. I’m a 2022 graduate from the University of Victoria with a major in microbiology. My curiosity about human behaviour and counselling began two years ago while reading several deeply resonating books, including The Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Maté. In terms of research, I am particularly interested in bridging the gaps between clinical psychology, conventional medicine, and mental health. Currently, I work at UVic as a Psychology Research Assistant and a Biology Teacher Assistant. My long-term goal is to become a physician and educator specializing in psychiatry, with hopes of studying and practicing in British Columbia. One of my favourite hobbies is reading both fiction and non-fiction; a novel I hold close to my heart is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I also enjoy writing poetry, grabbing coffee with friends, and drawing, especially the wildlife around me. A fun fact about me is that I have created scientific illustrations for laboratory manuals, helping explain undergraduate concepts in cell biology, microbiology, and biochemistry. If I were to possess a superpower it would most likely be interdisciplinary creativity, given my previous aspiration for graphic design and biomedical visualization.
Mackenzie Dagenais (BSc Psychology 2025)
Hi! My name is Mackenzie, and I’m a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Psychology. My primary areas of focus are clinical and social psychology, and I aspire to pursue a career in counselling or social work after completing my undergraduate degree. Currently, I’m working alongside Dr. Robinson on research that explores the overall “health” of clinical training clinics at universities across Canada. Our goal is to advocate for better resources and funding for these facilities. As someone deeply passionate about improving access to adequate mental health support for all individuals, contributing to this project has been incredibly fulfilling, and I hope it makes a meaningful impact. Outside of my academic life, you can usually find me on the lookout for a great camping spot, discovering new restaurants with my roommates, or—when I get the rare chance—reading a good book (though as a student, spare time is hard to come by :)). A fun fact about me is that I love stickers and have quite the collection!
2023-2024
