Meet Our Team
Our team is comprised of driven and passionate individuals, spanning from undergraduate students discovering the world of research to doctoral candidates completing their dissertation.
​
Read below to learn about each lab member's work!
Principal Investigator
Dr. Mary Desrocher, Ph.D., C. Psych
​
Mary Desrocher received her Ph.D. in 1998 from the University of Toronto and has been at York University since 1999. She is currently an Associate Professor at York University and an Adjunct Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children. She specializes in pediatric neuropsychology. Populations that she has researched include children and adolescents with: pediatric stroke, epilepsy, metabolic disorders (e.g., congenital hypothyroidism), alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorders, and Type 1 Diabetes Melitus. Her research has explored the neurocognitive profiles of these conditions and the mental health issues that are concurrent with these diagnoses. When she is not being an academic, Mary enjoys baking and cooking, gardening, writing, needlework and knitting, photography, long walks, and traveling.
DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Sabine Johnson
Sabine is a senior doctoral student who recently completed her Clinical Psychology Residency at The Ottawa Hospital. She holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and an M.Sc. in Kinesiology and Health Science (specialized in Epidemiology). Her research pursuits reflect the intersection between her interests in program evaluation, health, and psychological adjustment; spanning topics including injury prevention (identifying gaps in parental water safety knowledge and parental supervision practices) and health promotion (evaluating the psychological needs of individuals living with atrial fibrillation). She is completing her dissertation, which employs structural equation modelling to test a modified model of stress and coping in a Canadian sample of informal caregivers of individuals living with chronic illness.
Sara Oczak-Arsic
Sara is completing her Ph.D. in Clinical-Developmental Psychology, with an additional specialized diploma in Neuropsychology. Sara’s doctoral dissertation is investigating suicide risk factors in adults with Epilepsy, specifically examining the fit of the Three-Step Theory of Suicide in Epilepsy as compared to individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury. Sara is clinically trained in both comprehensive assessment and evidence-based intervention. She has completed practica at the Toronto District School Board, Kindercare Pediatrics, and McMaster Children’s Hospital. At her pre-doctoral residency at the Family Psychology Centre, she works with children, teens, parents and families with a variety of mental health concerns. In her spare time, Sara enjoys playing with her two small children, doing Pilates.
Claire Champigny
Claire recently completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Neuropsychology. Her dissertation research examined neurocognitive outcome and psychological adjustment following pediatric stroke. Claire is currently completing her predoctoral residency at SickKids (2022-2023). She has completed clinical practica in the Brain Injury Rehab Team at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, the Mood and Anxiety Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Children's Stroke Program at SickKids. Her clinical interests revolve around neuropsychological assessment of neurological populations, especially youth with acquired brain injuries. In her spare time, Claire enjoys spending time with her family, baking French desserts, fitness training, and discovering cafes across the city.
Raman K. Sehra Bhalla
Raman recently completed her PhD in the program, specializing in neuropsychology. Her dissertation research examined autobiographical memory in youth with stroke. Raman is completing her predoctoral residency at Surrey place. Raman has extensive experience working with children, adolescents and families. She has worked in a variety of different clinical settings including SickKids Hospital, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, York University Psychology Clinic, and private practice settings. She has received specialized training in neuropsychological assessment and psychoeducational assessments of children and youth. Raman has experience in the assessment of individuals with a wide range of diagnoses including learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities. attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder alongside medical and neurological conditions such as pediatric epilepsy and stroke. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and trying new foods.
Erin Ruttle
Erin Ruttle is a Senior Doctoral Student completing her Ph.D. in Clinical-Developmental Psychology. Her doctoral research examines the benefits of a mental health treatment for fire-involved children and youth through a randomized controlled trial conducted within The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Erin has several publications in the area of youth firesetting. Erin has completed clinical practica, as well as a clinical internship, at CAMH where she provided both assessment and treatment services for children, youth and their families across a variety of programs and services. These programs and services included the TAPP-C program, Adolescent Service, Gender Identity Clinic, Mood and Anxiety Clinic, and the Youth Addictions and Concurrent Disorders Service. In her free time Erin enjoys travel and being active with her family and two young children.
Marie Hooper
Marie is a senior doctoral student in the Clinical-Developmental Psychology program. Funded by Mental Health Research Canada and the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, Marie’s doctoral research is adapting and delivering the first mental health virtual intervention for siblings of children with special needs. She is currently a Clinical Research Project Manager at the Hospital for Sick Children and a Psychoeducational Consultant for the York Region District School Board. Marie has completed practica at the Hospital for Sick Children, the Toronto District School Board, and Etobicoke Psychological Services. Broadly, Marie has a personal interest in psychological health and wellbeing
Leila Kahnami
Leila is a second year PhD student in Clinical Developmental Psychology specializing in Neuropsychology. Leila’s research focuses on the role of inflammation in neuropsychological outcome in pediatric survivors of ischemic stroke. Leila’s research is conducted at the Hospital for Sick Children. She has completed her assessment practicum at the Hospital of Sick Children and is currently completing her intervention practicum at the RedOak Center. When she’s not in the lab, she loves to go camping, to travel, and to try new foods.
Samantha Feldman
Samantha is a second year PhD student in Clinical Developmental Psychology within the Neuropsychology stream at York University. Her research is conducted at the Hospital for Sick Children and is focused around evaluating potential neuroimaging biomarkers to assist in understanding cognitive outcomes following pediatric stroke. This research will hopefully aid in identifying subgroups of children who may benefit from cognitive remediation. Outside of the academic sphere, Samantha enjoys spending time running, watching films, and finding great coffee shops.
Tamara Tavares
Tamara is completing her PhD in Clinical-Developmental Psychology with specialization in neuropsychology. Broadly, her research focuses on investigating social cognitive processing in healthy and clinical populations including Frontotemporal Dementia, youth with behavioural disorders and pediatric epilepsy. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Western University (London, ON), where she investigated the early behavioural and neural risk factors associated with Frontotemporal Dementia. Currently, her research is delineating emotion recognition and empathic responding in adolescents with epilepsy.
Kaitlyn Butterfield
Kaitlyn is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology. Her dissertation examines predictors of neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric stroke patients. Her research is conducted in the Pediatric Stroke Program at The Hospital for Sick Children. Kaitlyn’s neuropsychology research interests extend to mild traumatic brain injury in university-level athletes, where she evaluates neurocognitive outcomes following concussion. Kaitlyn’s Master’s thesis research at York University involved testing an unstructured performance-based task and metacognitive ratings of effort in a community sample of children. Her Master’s thesis research at Wilfrid Laurier University examined the role of executive function in a school-based mindfulness program. In her spare time, Kaitlyn enjoys gardening and weightlifting.
Jenna Barnhardt
Jenna is a first year Indigenous Ph.D. student from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in the Clinical Developmental Neuropsychology program. She received her Bachelors degree (B.Sc. Hon.) from Toronto Metropolitan University in Biomedical Science with a minor in Psychology and a certificate in Mental Health & Addictions from TMU's Chang School of Continuing Education. She is focused on neuroscience and Indigenous mental health working to provide relevant and culturally significant intervention/assessment services to Canada’s Indigenous people using her experience with traditional Indigenous knowledge and knowledge mobilization to community. Her research aims to learn more about the Indigenous brain and focusses on measures that explore development of executive functioning (impulsivity and emotion regulation), paediatric oncology (namely brain cancer), and intergenerational trauma of Indigenous children and families.
MASTERS STUDENTS
.jpeg)
Danielle DuPlessis
Danielle is pursuing her M.A. in Clinical Developmental Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology. Her work focuses on helping educators accommodate children with acquired brain injuries in the classroom, and is carried out in collaboration with scientists at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. She is also currently a research coordinator for the NOvEL and PEARL labs at Holland Bloorview, where she facilitates a variety of research projects focused on neurorehabilitation following pediatric brain injury. Outside of school, Danielle is a wheelchair basketball player and Paralympian who competed with team Canada for four years. Her previous Master’s thesis in Cognitive Rehabilitation at the University of Toronto merged her interests in sport and neuroscience, as she developed a novel return-to-play assessment for youth athletes following concussion. In her spare time, Danielle loves riding her bike, camping, and making trips to her home province of New Brunswick.
HONOURS THESIS AND RESEARCH PROJECT STUDENTS
Casey Aurin
Casey is currently completing his undergraduate training with a specific interest in working with neurodevelopmental disorders specifically, children with autism. His interest was sparked following his participation in the Special Olympics World Games 2019 in the sport of tennis. Casey plans to pursue his Master’s degree and eventual PhD, and aspires to become a clinical neuropsychologist. His current thesis will explore autobiographical memory details in children with ASD, in relation to their varying aspect of functioning, to ensure their adequate integration to society. The inclusion of children with neurodevelopmental disorders into the community is a cause that Casey holds dearly to his heart. Outside of academic research, he takes pleasure in baking, particularly the French pastries; he also enjoys marveling at nature through walks, and likes playing tennis, and knits in his spare time
Noah Jeydon Couto
Noah is a fourth year psychology undergraduate student in the specialized honours program. His academic interests include research based on the 2SLGBTQ+ community and neuropsychology. He is currently working on an independent research project which involves exploring events experienced by the LGBTQ+ community and the neurological impact they may produce on memory systems; specifically autobiographical memory. He is currently extending this research into a specialized thesis. He hopes to pursue graduate school upon completion of his undergraduate degree, work in a clinical practice for 2SLGBTQ+ youth while pursuing his Ph.D to become a professor at a university. Aside from academia, he has a strong interest in music and various forms of self-expression. He enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his friends, family and pets.
Jenna Zorik
Jenna is currently a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology. Jenna is interested in intersectional perspectives on parenting, the interaction of child development and parental adversity, and ways to make families and children thrive. Jenna is a winner of Richard Goranson Memorial Award for Critical Thinking (September 2021) and has presented at an EE symposium on February 2, 2022 on the effects of interaction of authoritative parenting and the environment in successful child rearing. In her free time, Jenna enjoys spending time with her young daughter, volunteering with Girl Guides of Canada, hiking with her dogs, gardening and reading.
Krystal Bridgelal
Krystal is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology. Her thesis looks at the effects of Covid-19 on pregnant women during or after birth. Aside from university, Krystal works at a veterinary clinic as a veterinary assistant and volunteer at Brampton Civic Hospital. She is passionate about spreading awareness on domestic violence and hopes to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology or to become a veterinarian. She enjoys watching sports, hiking, swimming, and playing video games.
Taylor Zieper
Taylor is a fourth year undergrad in the specialized honors psychology program. He aspires to become a clinic psychologist so that he can apply his own future research on ASPD to novel therapeutic practices. Taylor wants to improve upon the current diagnostic tools used in the diagnosis of ASPD by developing a set of tests for differentiating between those with sociopathy and those with psychopathy. Taylor wishes to apply this research to develop separate treatments for those diagnosed with sociopathy and those diagnosed with psychopathy in order to achieve more significant treatment outcomes for both groups. Taylor is currently completing his honors thesis concerning ADHD, background noise, and sustained attention under the supervision of Dr. Desrocher.
Allya DaCosta
Allya is a Specialized Honours Psychology student at York. She hopes to meaningfully contribute to the field of clinical developmental neuropsychology, through applying and generating knowledge related to children, adolescents, and families who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, the neurodevelopmental and/or psychological effects of living with brain-based disorders, such as pediatric stroke, epilepsy, pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis, etc., and/or of being exposed to toxic chemicals. In the lab, Allya is currently working on projects related to pediatric stroke and exploring the developmental outcomes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (developmentalhub.com). During her spare time, Allya loves knitting, exploring nature, and spending time with loved ones (i.e., humans and dogs alike)!
Saba Nasseri-Moghaddam
Saba is in her last year of Honours BSc degree in Psychology. She has worked on several research projects in the lab and is currently working on a research project on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) with Dr. Desrocher. She has an academic interest in music therapy and she has also been working on an independent project conducting a narrative review on music therapy as an adjunct/primary therapy for children/adolescents with brain injury. She is interested in clinical neuropsychology and is planning to pursue her career in this area. Outside the lab, she enjoys playing piano (especially for her cat and plants) and teaching music to children.
Taylor Alves
Taylor is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in the Specialized Honours Psychology program at York University. Her research interests include children, adolescence, cognition, neurodevelopmental disorders, abnormal psychology, mental health, and psychological outcomes. She hopes to help children and adolescents who are struggling and give them a voice through her work and research. Taylor wants to become a child psychologist and obtain her Ph.D. in clinical developmental psychology. She is working on an IRP this year looking at neurodiversity and COVID-19. The project will consist of qualitative interviews with people who are neurodiverse and examine how COVID-19 has impacted various parts of their lives. This will result in a website where others can share their experience, read about others, and build a community.
Tamiko Isaacs
Tamiko is a Specialized Honours Psychology student at York University. She is currently working on her honours thesis comparing parent and child reports on a measure of quality of life following an online group intervention, with Dr. Desrocher and Dr. Scratch (Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital). Tamiko is also working a project that is exploring the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on developmental outcomes. Tamiko is interested in pursuing graduate studies in Clinical-Developmental Psychology and hopes to specialize in Clinical Neuropsychology. Outside of the lab, Tamiko enjoys spending time with family and friends, eating good food, dancing, and travelling.
Andreea Manea
Andreea graduated from York University in 2022 with a Specialized Honours BSc in Psychology. Her thesis focused on studying clinician confidence when treating children and adolescents presenting with autism and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. She has also completed an independent research project that investigated the relationship between the drive for muscularity and masculinity in young men. Next, Andreea would like to examine factors associated with resilience in children diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Andreea is interested in pursuing studies in Clinical Neuropsychology with a focus on development. She enjoys spending quality time with her daughter.
Jessie Ly
Jessie is a third year undergraduate student enrolled in the Honours Biology program. She is currently working on a project looking at fetal epigenetic changes associated with prenatal cannabis exposure and effects on postnatal brain structure. Outside the Desrocher lab, she is doing research practicum in the Biology department. Jessie is interested in the biological basis of behaviour, personality psychology, and clinical psychology. She hopes to continue working in research by pursuing an MSc in biology and physiology.
Patrick Hewan
Patrick is a 4th year specialized honors student interested in how decision-making changes across the lifespan and in neuropsychological disorders. He is currently working on an independent research project supervised by Dr. Desrocher examining decision-making in pediatric epilepsy and he hopes to pursue graduate studies in clinical neuropsychology. Outside the lab, Patrick is a professional musician who performs across Canada and globally, and his hobbies include computer programming, photography, and swimming.
Zahra Kazemi
Zahra is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience. She is currently working on a project looking at fetal epigenetic changes associated with prenatal cannabis exposure and its effects on postnatal brain structure. Her research journey began with her collaboration with Physician-scientist Dr. Hantoushzadeh, which led to her first publication in The University of Toronto Medical Journal (UTMJ). In that study, she, alongside her co-authors, proposed a stem cell therapy to reduce Amniocentesis-caused miscarriages. She then moved to an Autism spectrum disorder research lab before joining the Desrocher lab. Outside the lab, she is a science recruitment and campus ambassador lead, and she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family and trying new food recipes from different cultures.
LAB VOLUNTEERS
Alisa Torchia
Alisa is a recent undergrad graduate pursuing various research interests. She is currently working towards achieving a Masters in Clinical Psychology and a PhD in years to come. Her primary interests are adolescent and adult psychopathology, but has interests in every area of psychology. Outside of the lab, Alisa is a behaviour therapist for children with ASD and enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Meagan Girard
Meagan is an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. She is a research assistant working with fellow lab members in their various research areas. Recently she has been assisting in individual research projects regarding epilepsy. She is interested in pursuing an M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Developmental Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Mehr Singh
​Mehr is a third year specialised honours student at York, and plans to become a clinical psychologist and specialise in psychotherapy. She wants to make mental health accessible to all individuals by eradicating the high end costs. She has been assisting lab members with their individual research projects based on PTSD. She has previously volunteered in various NGO’s related to ASD and been a part of their rehabilitation therapies. Ever since, she has been highly intrigued by the idea of psychopathology. She further aims to focus on various neurocognitive aspects of mentally impaired individuals. She wants to pursue an M.A. followed by a Psy.D in clinical and counselling psychology.
Julien Carusone
Julian is in his third year of the Specialized Honours B.A. degree in Psychology at York University. Julian aspires to become a clinical psychologist and wants to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology, conducting research on substance use and addiction. Julian also hopes to practice psychotherapy, in his own future clinical practice. As an Undergraduate Research Assistant, Julian is working on many projects in the lab, including a project that investigates the effects of COVID-19 on children's development. He is also working on an Individual Research Project, with Dr. Mary Desrocher, on elucidating certain neural pathways, related to executive functioning, from childhood trauma to substance use in adolescents and young adults.
Derya Somnez
Derya is currently a York University student and is the Research Coordinator for The Academic Wellness Project. Derya takes special value in organizing reach into different concepts and refining the accumulated knowledge for the organization.
Silina Ziad Boshmaf
Silina is a third-year student at York University in the Specialized Honours program in Psychology.
She aspires to pursue graduate studies within the clinical neuropsychology field. She is helping graduate students with their research on cognitive resilience in pediatric stroke and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders (FASD). She hopes to contribute to studies of brain-behaviour with the lens of cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging techniques. She is excited to be a member of the Desrocher lab and contribute in any capacity to pediatric research.
Deyontia McClacken
Deyontia is a 4th-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. She aspires to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology to become a school psychologist. Her primary interest is to work with students who are neurodivergent and with learning disabilities. In her free time, she volunteers as a mentor to autistic individuals. She also enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family and friends and listening to music.
Arianna Leguia