Meet The Team

Tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, my name is Courtney. I love… the colours mustard yellow and emerald green, peonies, to oil paint, time in Montréal with my love, my children, art history, walks with my dog, fashion week, vintage/antiques, and meeting new people. Say hi to me! 

 

What does your work in the lab involve?

A chunk of everything. I began as a research assistant, then became an undergraduate honours student. Afterward, I joined as a graduate student and took on the roles of lab manager and research coordinator. I have been involved with every project thus far, but primarily center around our research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). 

 

What most interests you about the work in the lab? 

I love that the work in the lab is filled with passion, encourages creativity, and pushes the boundaries of current knowledge and techniques. 

 

What drives you? 

The desire to be a better person than I was yesterday.

 

If you could have any superpower to enhance your research, what would it be?

Probably, read literature in a flash! 

Tell us a little about yourself?

I’m from Grand Bank, Newfoundland and Labrador. I left my former career as a structural designer in shipbuilding in 2020 to pursue my passion for psychology. Outside of academics, I enjoy cooking, knitting, caring for my houseplants, and spending time outside.

 

What does your work in the lab involve?

My work as a research assistant centres around how traumatic experiences can permeate an individual’s subsequent relational and sexual experiences. In particular, I investigate how the death of a prior romantic partner impacts the bereaved’s sexuality and new relationships. I also explore how individuals’ past traumatic experiences can vicariously impact their romantic partner in day-to-day life. 

 

What most interests you about the work in the lab?

The Love Lab presents a unique opportunity to explore relationships and sexuality using a robust methodological approach. It is exciting and fulfilling to contribute to research using novel methods that can deepen our understanding of relational/sexual processes and better inform clinical practice. 

 

What drives you? 

Passion and endless curiosity! While I am passionate about the topics I study, I also feel strongly about destigmatizing experiences that are not often talked about or are considered taboo. The research I’ve been a part of so far has been centred around shedding light on experiences that have been traditionally pushed out of visibility, such as how bereaved individuals approach sexuality after the death of a romantic partner. 

 

If you could have any superpower to enhance your research, what would it be? 

Bot repellent!

Tell us a little about yourself?

I spend most of my time reading (classics are my kryptonite), walking, seeking obscure science documentaries online, and hanging out with my tabby cat, Mildred Cathrine (Millie Cat for short). Finding new music and making art are also big passions of mine, working with clay has been particularly challenging and rewarding medium! 

 

What does your work in the lab involve?

I am currently working on my masters thesis which is exploring the relationship between sexual functioning and life satisfaction using structural equation modeling. Over the past two years I have also been involved in a variety of projects ranging from qualitative analysis in transgender populations, quantitative analysis relating to measurement models, to working through early stages of project creation/launch.  

 

What most interests you about the work in the lab?

I am a big fan of anything measurement and statistics oriented! Exploring these interests and incorporating them into my research has been endlessly encouraged within the Love Lab which something I am incredibly thankful to have experienced. The passion that everyone brings towards research and the advancement of knowledge within our field inspires me everyday! 

 

What drives you?

The "whys". Challenging, questioning, and exploring the way we conduct science is my driving force. Exploring long upheld mechanisms of research can reveal interesting and sometimes concerning information as highlighted by this statement from our beloved Chronbach (2004) "to make so much use of an easily calculated translation of a well-established formula scarcely justifies the fame it has brought me. It is an embarrassment to me that the formula became conventionally known as Cronbach’s α." 

Tell us a little about yourself?

I am a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph, and I am broadly interested in findings ways to maintain and enhance long-term romantic partnerships. I am a proud dog mom, avid hiker, and houseplant enthusiast.
 

What does your work in the lab involve?

I joined the lab after one of our annual conferences after Chris and I had a very lengthy (and nerdy) statistics/methods talk. I am involved in a variety of projects within the lab, contributing at different levels—from taking on first-author roles to collaborating with and supporting other lab members' projects in whichever way I can be most helpful.
 

What most interests you about the work in the lab?

I am incredibly grateful to be part of this lab, where I have the privilege of working alongside some of the most thoughtful, knowledgeable, and supportive individuals I have encountered in my academic journey. Being ‘adopted’ into their community has enriched my experience, allowing me to engage in a variety of complex and exciting projects.

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What drives you? 

Generally speaking, I have an innate curiosity about the way things work "behind the curtain," and I really believe in making this research accessible. On a personal level, the research I pursue resonates deeply with me, as my passion for many of these topics stems from my own lived experiences with trauma. I want others with similar experiences to feel empowered and enabled by the research we're doing. 

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If you could have any superpower to enhance your research, what would it be?

I think if there was a way to give myself infinite time to read and learn, I would do that in a heartbeat. I find myself always enrolling in new courses and reading new materials, but my "wish list" never seems to get any shorter! 

Tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, I’m Emily! Growing up in a competitive family of six, sports were a huge part of my life - I played just about every sport offered in the province, but I definitely come from a soccer family. My love for soccer eventually turned to coaching, and that passion for working with kids led me to pursue a career as a child clinical psychologist. Now, you’ll find me reading, watching reality TV, travelling, hanging with my dogs Snoopy & Charlie, convincing my friends to play games with me (I carry a deck of cards wherever I go), and living vicariously through my two younger superstar sisters.

 

What does your work in the lab involve?

My work in the lab focuses on researching adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their long-term impacts on individuals. As a clinical psychology student, I’m particularly interested in working with those who have experienced ACEs. This allows me to combine my research with practical experience, creating a unique opportunity to engage with the population I study.

 

What interests you about the work in the lab?

What interests me most about working in the lab is the opportunity to blend my research and clinical interests. I really enjoy being part of the Love Lab because it's an inclusive and supportive space that encourages curiosity and creativity while ensuring we’re making a meaningful impact in the field.

 

What drives you? 

I have had incredible opportunities to work with kids who have encountered significant challenges in their lives (e.g., youth in care, youth with exceptionalities, youth with ACEs). These experiences drives me to become a child psychologist. I am passionate about ensuring youth have access to the resources and support they need to foster their development and succeed despite the challenges they face.

 

What fictional character do you think would make a great research assistant?

Rory Gilmore
 

If your research had a mascot, what would it be?

Snoopy

Tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, I’m Alex! I’m a stats nerd, a bookworm, and I run a STEAM summer program for very smart teenagers every year. On a normal day you might find me reading fantasy novels, writing fiction, playing Dungeons and Dragons, or watching horror movies.

 

What does your work in the lab involve?

I study adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how they are processed by both members of an adult romantic relationship. Right now, most of my work involves reading about statistical procedures and then programming them in R. It’s fun, I promise!

 

What most interests you about the work in the lab?

My original interest in joining the lab was getting to learn about advanced statistics with Chris. However, the actual research content is very important to me, and I think it offers incredibly valuable insight into what strengthens a romantic relationship in the face of challenging experiences.

 

What drives you?

For me, research is an exploration into the unknown. By discovering new findings and presenting them to the world, I hope to give others a solid foundation of knowledge that can be used to inform “real world” practice. I’m very passionate about continuing to learn throughout my life and research is an amazing way for me to do that.

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If you could have any superpower to enhance your research, what would it be?

Being able to speedread and instantly retain everything I read.

 

What’s your favourite research-related pun or joke?

I don’t have a joke ready, but my drag name is literally Cora Lation!

 

If you could time travel to witness one scientific discovery, what would it be?

I’d go to the future to witness the discovery of time travel!