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PEAR Lab Members (Fall 2022-Winter 2023)

Lab Director
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Dr. Lindsay Bodell 

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
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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. 

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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 research interests include the role of weight stigmatizing attitudes and perceptions of weight on the development of disordered eating behaviors. In her free time, she enjoys cuddling with her cats and reading Terry Pratchett novels.

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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.  

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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.

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Lisa Y. Zhu is a first 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 Manager/Lab Coordinator
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Taylor Breddy is a first year Master's student in neuroscience. She is interested in examining the co-morbidity of substance use disorders and eating disorders; as well as transdiagnostic factors such as reward processing and impulsivity. Taylor is also passionate about swimming, traveling, and animal conservation.

Honours Thesis Students
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Staci Berman is a fourth year student working towards a BSc Honours Specialization in Psychology. She is interested in the study of the biological and social factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of eating disorders. She is hoping to pursue further education in clinical psychology with the hopes of one day practicing as a mental health professional. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, spending time with her family and dog, and reading.

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Brooke Laraia is a fourth year student at Western University working towards an honours specialization degree in Psychology. She is very interested in the study of causes and the maintenance of eating disorders. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in the mental health field. In her spare time, Brooke likes to bake, take her dog for walks, and spend time with her friends. 

Research Assistants
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Aditya Thakur is a third-year Scholar's Electives student completing an Honours Double Major in Biology and Psychology.  His research interests include studying the prevalence of mental illness in undergraduate students, interventions, to support students with mental health issues, and implementing policy-level changes to improve access to services in radicalized youth. He also volunteers with Children's Mental Health Ontario and The New Mentality. In his free time, he enjoys doing photography, playing the guitar, and going on drives.

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Farwa Rana is a fourth-year student working towards an Honours Specialization in Health Sciences (with Western Scholars). She is interested in exploring the psychobiology of eating disorders among minority groups. In her free time, she enjoys working out, cooking, trying new things, and travelling.

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Hi! My name is Hazeema. I am a 4th year Medical Sciences student pursuing an Honors Specialization in One Health. I am passionate about contributing to translational research, identifying at-risk populations, providing them with personalized care, and improving their health outcomes. Besides research, I love reading, horseback riding, and hiking!

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Malak completed his BSc Honours in Psychology at Western University and is planning to pursue graduate school and a career in clinical psychology or psychotherapy. He is extremely passionate about mental health and the well-being of others, and is hoping to be able to support and help people with this matter as much as he can. His other passions are arts, writing, and cooking.

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Megan is a fourth-year student completing an honours specialization in psychology and a major in criminology. She is interested in exploring the various sociocultural factors that play a role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. In her free time, Megan enjoys playing softball, singing, and travelling.

Honorary Members
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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

Lab Managers

Parveen Dhadly

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

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