PEAR Lab Members (Fall 2023-Winter 2024)
PEAR Lab Members (Fall 2022-Winter 2023)
Lab Director
Dr. Lindsay Bodell
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Dr. Bodell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Western University. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University under the mentorship of Drs. Pamela Keel and Thomas Joiner. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh (Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic) and the University of Chicago under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Wildes. In her free time, Dr. Bodell enjoys spending time with her family and watching shows on Netflix.
Graduate Students
Abby Kinnear is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology. She defended her MSc in Clinical Psychology under the supervision of Dr. Bodell in 2021, and received her BA in Honours Psychology from the University of Waterloo in 2019. She is interested in the shared mechanisms that drive both eating pathology and non-suicidal self-injury. In her spare time, she likes to hike and watch tiny house videos.
Samantha Withnell is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology. She defended her MSc in Clinical Psychology under the supervision of Dr. Bodell in 2021, and received her BA (Hons.) in Psychology from the University of Calgary in 2017. Her doctoral research examines the transdiagnostic role of weight suppression and dietary restriction on cognitive inflexibility in eating disorders. In her free time, she enjoys cuddling with her cat and reading Terry Pratchett novels.
Genny Bianchini is a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology. She received her BA Honours in Psychology from Queen’s University in 2019 and her MSc in Clinical Psychology from Western University in 2022. She is interested in suicidal thoughts and behaviours and developing accessible interventions for 2SLGBTQIA+ populations. In her free time, she enjoys bouldering, reading, and baking cookies.
Kendall Schmidt is a PhD 1 student in the PEAR Lab. She received her BS in Psychology from Yale University in 2019 and her MSc from Western University in 2023. She is interested in transdiagnostic factors that contribute to eating disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In her free time, Kendall likes to read and embroider.
Brianna Meddaoui is a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology. She received her BA Honours in Psychology from Queen’s University, her MA in Psychology from Columbia University, and her MSc in Clinical Psychology from Western in 2022, under the supervision of Dr. Erin Kaufman. She is interested in examining how vulnerability factors (e.g., cognitive, affective, physiological) transact with contextual stressors to confer risk for suicide among adolescents and adults, particularly those vulnerable to Borderline Personality Disorder. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her pups, reading, baking, and musical theatre.
Lisa Y. Zhu is a second year MSc student in Clinical Psychology. She completed her BSc in Honours Psychology at McGill University in 2022. Lisa is interested in the shared mechanisms between anxiety disorders and eating pathology, particularly maladaptive exercise in men and women. In her spare time, she likes to read and run.
Lab Coordinators
Taylor Breddy is a lab coordinator and a second year Master's student in neuroscience. She is interested in transdiagnostic biopsychosocial factors (i.e., reward processing, cognitive biases) related to eating disorders and substance use disorders. Taylor is also passionate about swimming, traveling, and animal conservation. (tbreddy@uwo.ca)
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Monica Sadowski is a lab coordinator at the PEAR Lab, and just graduated from UWO with an honours specialization in psychology. She is interested in learning about how positive psychology can be used to understand and treat eating disorders, especially in the context of self-compassion versus self-criticism. She loves baking and hiking!
Honours Thesis Students
Claire Gilbert is a fourth year Psychology student completing an honours specialization. She is interested in the role that food insecurity plays in the development of eating disorders, particularly among different ethnic/racial groups. She hopes to continue her education in counselling psychology. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her two kitties and going for early morning walks.
Helena Burrows is a fourth year student working towards a BSc Honours Specialization in Psychology. She is interested in muscularity-oriented disordered eating, particularly associated traits and shared mechanisms with other eating disorders. In the future, she hopes to become a practicing clinical psychologist. In her free time, she enjoys working out, spending time with friends, and watching sports.
Research Assistants
Michelle Paik is a third-year Medical Sciences student pursuing an Honours Specialization in One Health. She is passionate about exploring the onset of mental disorders through an interdisciplinary approach, focusing on psychological, social, and biological factors. At the PEAR Lab, Michelle is eager to study the role of reward processing in the development of eating disorders. In her spare time, she enjoys watching Netflix, going for runs, and making the perfect cup of coffee!
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Avery is a fourth-year student pursuing an Honours Specialization in Psychology. She is passionate about understanding the development and maintenance of eating disorders across an individual's lifetime, as well as the various treatment approaches available. Avery is also intrigued by the impact of eating disorders on an individual's peers. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing hockey, and traveling. (abender7@uwo.ca)
Hi! My name is Valentina. I am a third year student at Western working towards an honours specialization in Psychology. I am very interested in the study of causes and effects in eating disorders. My future goal is to become a clinical psychologist with my own practice. I like to workout, travel and cook.
Kira Cocco is a third year candidate for an Honours Specialization in Psychology and a Minor in Childhood and Youth Studies. She is interested in researching the biopsychosocial risk factors related to eating disorders in adolescence, as well as the development of proactive interventions based on these factors. Kira hopes to pursue further education in clinical psychology as she aspires to work in child psychology. In her free time, Kira enjoys hiking, singing, and playing volleyball.
Honorary Members
Morty is a basset hound born in March 2017. He is very food motivated and loves to eat sticks, chase bunnies, and cuddle. He also loves to socialize with other dogs at the dog park. Dislikes include baths and being alone.
Post-Doc Alumni
Dr. Cassandra Lowe – Lecturer, University of Exter (Exter, England)
Alumni
Honours Thesis Students
Carly Biderman – MSc in Clinical Psychology, Windsor University
Caroline Farrelle – Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Gillian Shoychet – MSc in Clinical Psychology, York University
Kamila Anna Szcyzglowski – MSc in Social Psychology, Wilfred Laurier University
Jina Kim – Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
Riley Keast – MSc in Counselling Psychology, Western University
Shelby Ochshorn
Sara Ceresia
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Lab Managers
Parveen Dhadly- Starting Msc in Clinical Health Counselling, PennWest University
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Research Assistants
Brianna De La Perrelle-Talbot
Connor Elbe – MSc in Psychology, San Diego State University
David (Yi) Diao – Medical School, McMaster University
Emma Truffyn – MSc in Clinical Psychology, Guelph University
Iris Kwon
Kaitlyn Yu
Muskan Sait
Nadia Khan
Olivia Pearson
Risha Soud
Sarah Chondon – Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Kevin Lau
Disha Rawal – MSc in Clinical Psychology, Windsor University
Mariam Elnazali – Lab Manager, St. Joes Hospital
Melynda Thompson – MSc in Psychotherapy, McMaster University
Andrew Vincent
Paige Bjornson
Hiruthika Ravi​