Graduate Students

Dan Tassone

I am a fifth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. My research explores the associations between various mental skills (e.g., self-control) and different emotion regulation strategies (e.g., mindfulness), in both controlled and naturalistic environments. Prior to joining the READY Lab, I studied emotional development across the adult life-span and attitudinal predictors of men's sexual responses. Outside of work, I like spending time outside, listening to music, and reading.

Scott McQuain

I am a first-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. In my research, I hope to find specific social support behaviours that protect against and ameliorate symptoms of mental illness. My current (proposed) research investigates the influence of Loving-Kindness Meditation on relationship quality and psychological well-being in close friendships.

Stephanie Manuel

I am a first-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. I was previously an honours student in the lab. My thesis project examined positive social events and change in affect among emerging adults with and without remitted depression. In my spare time, I love being outdoors, biking, running, doing yoga, and hanging out with my dog, Mickey! I’m looking forward to a great year of learning and working with a fantastic team.

Julia Moreau

I am a first-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. For my dissertation, I look forward to investigating interpersonal mechanisms that are protective against psychopathology among Indigenous youth. Outside of the READY Lab, I contribute to research efforts aiming to better understand the holistic wellness of Indigenous post-secondary students. I also enjoy spending my time volunteering with the Clinical Psychology Outreach Program and going for runs with my dog.

Julia Davidson

I am a second-year master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program. I am interested in understanding the relationship between intrapersonal and interpersonal emotion regulation and psychosocial functioning in emerging adults. Using neuroimaging techniques, I’d like to learn more about the ways in which interpersonal processes, including the social regulation of emotion, may influence the young brain. In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors and spending time with my family and friends (and my cat, Ollie!).

Affiliated Graduate Students

Jenn Fudge

I am a recent graduate of the Cognitive Neuroscience M.Sc student at Queen’s University. Currently, I am volunteering my time to gain addition research experiences. Specifically, I am interested in using neuroimaging methods to determine the biological processes which underly emotion regulation in young adults. In my personal time, I enjoy cooking, listening to true crime podcasts and obsessing over my cats, Katie and Cosmo.

Research Staff

Talia van der Vyver

I graduated from Queen’s with a BAH in psychology in 2021 and am the project coordinator for the Goals study in the READY lab! I am starting a masters in occupational therapy and am interested in mental health and emotions in youth. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, hiking, reading, watching movies, and being outdoors! 

Honours Students (2022-2023)

Katya Hernandez Echenberg

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Gender Studies. My honours thesis will explore the role of fear of negative evaluation in the perception of close relationships and in the effectiveness of the social regulation of emotion. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music and spending time with my friends.

Justus Vasilakos McCrae

I am a fourth-year psychology student completing my honours thesis in the READY lab. My project concerns the roles of executive functioning and social context in emotion regulation. I have a passion for fitness and mental wellness. And in my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors, reading, listening to health podcasts, and playing guitar. I’m looking forward to a great year of learning and working towards a potential career in clinical and therapeutic psychology.

Current Directed Lab and Volunteer Research Assistants

Shiyi Bin

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Ready Lab. Currently a research assistant for the Goals Study and the National Psychotherapy Survey. I love hiking, fishing, kayaking, and bird watching in my spare time.

Jacob de Jong

I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology. Currently, I am a research assistant working on the Emotion Regulation Studies. I enjoy doing various creative projects (painting, knitting, etc), running, and playing the piano in my spare time.

Sierra Holas

Sierra is a recent graduate from Queen’s University with a BAH in Psychology. In fourth year, she participated in a small EDI research project with Dr. Flores; which has continued post grad. She is excited to explore further research opportunities.

Maya de Silva

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. I am currently working as a research assistant for the Troop study. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my friends, family, and cat Spanky.

Shayla Joshi

Shayla is a recent graduate from Queen’s University who obtained a BSc in Psychology. In the final semester of her degree, she worked with the READY Lab as a directed lab student; her involvement with this lab has continued post graduation as a volunteer. Beginning fall 2022, Shayla will be returning to Queen’s for law school. 

Laylin Keyes

Hi everyone! I am a fourth-year psychology major. I work in the lab with Dr. Flores and a small team of people on an EDI-related project. I have two dogs and one of my favourite things to do is go on walks with them.

Julia Kuzmich

I graduated with my undergraduate degree from Queen’s in Biology and Psychology in April of 2021. After I finished my degree, I began as a research assistant in the Emotion Regulation Studies of the Ready Lab in September of 2021. I am excited to continue as a research assistant in the Ready Lab so that I can continue to explore my interests in psychological research! 

Zara Luck

I am a third-year undergraduate student specializing in biology and psychology. I am currently a research assistant for the national psychotherapy training survey. My research interests are loneliness and the quality of social networks, which is currently the main focus of my directed lab project. Outside of academics, I love to ski, swim, and travel!

Laura Marshall

I am a second-year undergraduate psychology major. I am currently a research assistant for the Troop study and really enjoy it so far. In my spare time I love being outside, spending time with my friends and family and of course my dogs Gus and Charlie!

Colin McDermot

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology. I am a current research assistant for the parliament study, and I am also working on a directed lab project focusing on desired emotional closeness and social distancing. My general research interests concern biopsychosocial factors in the development of adolescent depression and anxiety. In my free time I enjoy playing music and hanging out with my dog.

Mayah Palmer

I recently graduated from Queen’s with a specialization in Biopsychology in April 2022. I am currently volunteering as a research assistant for an EDI-related project within the lab. I also work as a Lab Coordinator in the EMBody lab here at Queen’s! When I am not doing research, I enjoy trying new restaurants in Kingston and re-watching Game of Thrones.

Noa Shram

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student, majoring in Psychology. This year, I am working as a directed lab student in the READY Lab. I am very passionate about furthering the current understanding of features of mood disorders, specifically depression. For my directed lab project, I will be looking into perfectionism and goal setting. Outside of research, my hobbies include playing the ukulele and spinning.

Mia Shulman

I am a third year undergraduate student in psychology and health studies. I am currently working on the Emotion Regulation Studies and really enjoying it! I hope to complete a thesis focused on mood disorders in the future.

Gurdit Sood

I am a Bachelor of Health Sciences student with a keen interest in Clinical Psychology, other areas of Biomedical research, and tutoring. In my free time, I’m passionate about developing open-access educational resources and partake in charitable work in the Kingston community. Asides from staring directly at the sun, I enjoy cycling, drinking cappuccinos, and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Zewei Wang

I recently graduated from Queen's with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I was a directed lab student in the READY lab and a part-time research assistant in Organizational Behavior studies at Smith School of Business. Currently I'm volunteering to continue the data analysis of the EDI Undergraduate Research Project.

Abigail Wiliszewski

I am a third year undergraduate student with a major in psychology and a minor in health studies. I have a strong interest in clinical psychology, particularly mood disorders. As a directed lab student, I will be exploring the impacts of interpersonal emotion regulation on depression. In my free time I love to hang out with friends, go for walks outside, and watch movies!

Regan Yaraskavitch

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student at Queen's majoring in Psychology, minoring in Sociology, and working on obtaining a Certificate in Sexual and Gender Diversity. I am very interested in studying the impact of close relationships on mental illness, especially among emerging adults. Outside of the lab, I enjoy volunteering in the Kingston community, reading, and playing sports.

Honours Student Alumni

Sierra McNulty (2021-2022)
Title: Evaluating the Role of Executive Functions in the Relationship between Loneliness and Negative Emotional Reactivity

Sierra graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts (BAH) in psychology in the spring of 2022. She completed her honours thesis in the READY Lab studying the cognitive and affective correlates of loneliness in a sample of emerging adults.

Zoe Saine (2021-2022)
Title: The Relationship between Loving-Kindness Meditation and Emotional Closeness

Photo and bio coming soon!

Melodi Begetis (2020-2021)
Title: The Relationship between Interpersonal Functioning and Re-emergence of Symptoms among Mothers with Depression

Photo and bio coming soon!

Charlotte Driscoll (2020-2021)
Title: Relationships between Insecure Attachment Style, Maladaptive Perfectionism and Goal Setting

Photo and bio coming soon!

Stephanie Manuel (2019-2020)
Title: Positive Social Events and Mood-Brightening among Emerging Adults with Remitted Depression

Stephanie is now a grad student in the lab! See above for bio.

Anastasia Mikhailitchenko (2019-2020)
Title: Social Media Use and its Associations with Goal Setting, Striving, and Achievement

I was an honours student in the READY lab last year and then the project coordinator for the Goals Study. In my thesis, I investigated at how social media was related to goal setting and striving among emerging adults.

Orly Lipsitz (2018-2019)
Title: Naturalistic Recall Biases for Affective Events in Remitted Depression

Orly recently graduated from Queen’s University with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She completed her honours thesis in the lab studying naturalistic recall biases for affective events in emerging adults with remitted depression. Currently, Orly is a research assistant to Dr. Roger McIntyre in the Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit at Toronto Western Hospital.