Principal Investigator

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, a Full Member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, and the Parker Research Chair in Psychedelics. My research focuses on developing novel pharmacological interventions for stress-related mental health disorders, such as substance use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. My group has a particular focus on cannabinoid- and psychedelic-based therapeutic opportunities, which we explore using behavioral pharmacology, psychophysiology, and neuroimaging. Beyond developing novel treatment strategies, my group is also interested in gaining mechanistic insight into stress and social processing in healthy and clinical populations.

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Research Coordinatior

In March 2023 I began working as a Research Coordinator for the PaCT lab after working in the non-profit sector for 15 years in Calgary. Over the years I got to work in a variety of services such as child welfare group homes, open-parole housing, downtown street outreach and working in shelters and transitional housing for youth and adults who are unhoused. I learned about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in my undergrad and after years of hearing people’s stories navigating substance use disorders, I was excited by an opportunity to work on a trial exploring the effectiveness of psilocybin for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.

Research Associate

I am a registered nurse and researcher specializing in mental health, psychedelic interventions and drug policy, currently completing my PhD at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. I hold a B.Sc.N from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. My PhD research focuses on identifying the barriers and facilitators to accessing therapeutic psychedelic interventions for end-of-life care in Canada from a policy perspective.

Post-Doctoral Fellow

My research focuses on investigating how the endocannabinoid system regulates social processing. Specifically, I am exploring how varying levels of natural cannabinoids influence individual socialization. The study involves administering a synthetic version of THC and measuring physiological responses to social situations to comprehend how manipulating this system may alter social behaviors and perception. In addition to my research, I served as the Scientific Outreach Director for the Hotchkiss Brain Institute trainees during my PhD.

Post-Doctoral Fellow

I have been working as a Postdoctoral Associate in the PaCT Lab since fall 2023. I completed my PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Calgary with Dr. Signe Bray, where I used fMRI and naturalistic neuroimaging techniques to study individual differences of brain function in young children. Before that, I graduated from the University of Victoria with a BSc in Biology & Psychology. In the PaCT Lab, I apply my knowledge of MRI and brain imaging methods to investigate a wide variety of topics, including endocannabinoids, psychedelics, and psychiatric conditions.

PhD Student

I have been working as a research assistant for the PaCT lab since September 2023, helping launch the Psilocybin for Alcohol Use Disorder Trial. Starting Fall 2024, I will be starting my PhD in Medical Sciences. In 2023 I completed my MSc in Translational Neuroscience at Imperial College London, where I researched what forms a personally profound experience with 5-MeO-DMT, under the supervision of Dr. Christopher Timmerman and Dr. Malin Uthaug. For my undergrad in pharmacology, I studied the pain pathways in multiple sclerosis under the supervision of Dr. Bradley Kerr at the University of Alberta.

PhD Student

I am second-year Neuroscience PhD student in the PaCT lab. My current research focuses on elucidating the role of the subjective psychedelic experience and of the stress response in facilitating positive outcomes following psilocybin administration in a healthy population. Prior to stating my PhD at the University of Calgary, I completed a MSc in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Amsterdam and a BSc in Psychology with a Neuroscience concentration at the University of Richmond. Some of my previous research experiences include conducting a study assessing the impact of meditation on neural markers of wakefulness and working on a meta-analysis of resting state fMRI data collected under different altered states of consciousness.

PhD Student

I recently earned my MSc in Neuroscience from Carleton University, where I was co-supervised by Dr. Kim Hellemans and Dr. Alfonso Abizaid. My MSc research explored the biological mechanisms linking early life trauma to high-risk cannabis use in young adults, specifically investigating endocannabinoids and diurnal cortisol levels in blood and saliva as potential biomarkers. Prior to my MSc, I completed a BSc in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology at Carleton University, under the supervision of Dr. Kim Hellemans and Dr. Zachary Patterson. I am now moving to Calgary where I will begin my PhD in Neuroscience in the PaCT lab, supervised by Dr. Leah Mayo and co-supervised by Dr. Matt Hill. While I plan to continue some cannabis-related research, my primary focus will be on psychedelic research.

MSc Student

I am a second-year Master’s student in the PaCT lab currently looking at endocannabinoid contributions to social processing with a focus on the impact of childhood maltreatment. I completed my BSc in Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge, where I developed an interest in novel therapeutics such as cannabinoids and psychedelics for psychiatric disorders. Prior to joining the PaCT lab, I worked as a Research Assistant out of the Psynergy Centre in Medicine Hat, where I developed educational outreach tools for the public and worked directly with professionals providing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

Clinical Research Therapist

As one of the clinical research therapists for the PaCT Lab, my goal is to walk alongside you in trusting your inner knowing and intuition, learning how to connect with yourself before others and gaining clarity on the tools you already have. With over 13 years of experience in the field of social work, I have expertise in working with individuals, adolescents, couples, families, BIPOC folks and those experiencing chronic pain and illness. My training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Solution-Focused Therapy, Functional Family Therapy and as an ATMA trained Psychedelic-assisted Therapist allows me to provide flexible and responsive support to meet your unique therapeutic needs throughout the journey of psychedelic-assisted therapy.