Team — Brain, Body & Perception Lab

Kirk Geier

Scientific Associate

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

kirk.geier@camh.ca

Kirk joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab in March 2025, where he coordinates and manages multiple ongoing studies. He received his PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Toronto at Baycrest Hospital, using neuroimaging to investigate how the thalamus supports memory and cognitive control. In the BBP Lab, his work focuses on how individuals with anorexia nervosa learn and update reward associations. Outside of the lab, Kirk enjoys spending time in nature and exploring the world in its many forms.

Hayden Peel

Postdoctoral Fellow

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

hayden.peel@camh.ca

Hayden Peel joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow in January 2024. His background is in vision neuroscience, focusing on visual agnosia and form perception. Nowadays, he uses fMRI and other psychophysical methods to understand the neural and perceptual mechanisms underlying body image disturbances in psychiatric disorders such as body dysmorphic disorder and anorexia nervosa. He is particularly interested in applying principles from vision science to develop new ways of understanding and assessing body image disturbances.

Anand Barot

Clinical Fellow

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

anand.barot@camh.ca

Dr. Anand Barot is a psychiatrist with comprehensive clinical experience in the assessment and management of a wide range of psychiatric disorders. He completed his MBBS and MD in Psychiatry, developing strong expertise in evidence-based diagnosis and treatment. His academic interests include obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, and behavioral addictions. Dr. Barot is committed to integrating clinical care with research and education to advance understanding and improve outcomes in mental health.

Serenity (Fan) Shen

Research Analyst

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

fan.shen@camh.ca

Serenity joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab as a Research Analyst in November 2025. She holds a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology concentration) from Columbia University, and a post-graduate diploma in Behavioral Science (accelerated) from George Brown College in Toronto. She spent a few years working in the Developmental Affective Neuroscience Lab at Columbia University, serving as the Level III MRI console operator responsible for MRI data acquisition for children and adolescents, and supporting data management tasks. Her research interests focus on brain-behavior relationships in neurodevelopment and clinical populations. In her spare time, she enjoys learning languages.

Joel Diaz-Fong

Doctoral Candidate

University of Toronto

JOEwithanL.com

Joel is a PhD candidate in Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto. He earned a BS in Psychology from Florida State University and a Master's in Data Science from Lewis University. Prior to joining CAMH as a practicum student, he worked as a Research Associate at University of California-Los Angeles, where he managed projects examining neural oscillatory mechanisms of attention, value-based decision-making, and brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression. His research interests broadly span clinical cognitive neuroscience, with a particular focus on multimodal neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and the study of attentional and perceptual processes.

Kathy Zhang

Doctoral Student

University of Toronto

Kaixi Zhang is a PhD student in Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto. She graduated from Macau University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy in Traditional Chinese Medicine and completed her Master's in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Macau. Before joining CAMH, she worked as a Research Assistant for one year at the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine in Macau. During her Master's studies, she conducted research using fMRI to investigate the mechanisms of emotion regulation deficits in subthreshold bulimia nervosa. Her research interests focus on using neuroimaging techniques to study the mechanisms underlying eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder, with the aim of developing novel intervention methods.

Aishu (Aishvinigaa) Sathananthan

Research Co-op Student

University of Toronto

Aishvinigaa joined the Brain, Body and Perception Lab at CAMH as a Research Co-op Student. She is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto Scarborough specializing in Psychology and minoring in Applied Statistics. She has a strong interest in clinical research and is eager to learn more about eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder and other important areas currently being studied at the lab. She is motivated by opportunities to contribute to research that seeks to improve mental health outcomes and promote individual well-being. Outside of research, she enjoys long drives and trying new foods.

Libo Wang

Research Co-op Student

University of Toronto

Libo is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, specializing in Neuroscience and minoring in Computer Science. She is currently completing a research co-op term with the BBP at CAMH, where she supports ongoing projects on eating disorders. Libo has broad interests within the field of neuroscience and is particularly interested in the advanced neuroimaging techniques used in the neuroscience research to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying eating disorders. She hopes to pursue a career that allows her to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field. Outside of research, Libo enjoys watching a great show, having some quite time in the park, and video games.

Grace Ding

Student

University of Toronto

Grace Ding is entering her third year at the University of Toronto with a specialization in Psychology and has joined the Brain, Body and Perception lab for Summer 2026. In her academics, she loves discovering how different everyone is and investigating all of the "why's" underlying the differences. She is super excited to conduct research in this area and to hopefully meet lots of new faces in the field. Her main loves in life apart from academics are her family and the small details in life as well as various animes such as Avatar The Last Airbender!

Lucas Saad

Student

University of Toronto

Lukas joined the Brain, Body, and Perception lab as a research opportunity program (ROP) student in the summer of 2026. He is in his first year of undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, with plans to pursue majors in neuroscience and psychology. His academic interests are centered around understanding the neurobiology of eating disorders and exploring future treatments. Motivated by his own lived experience challenges with an eating disorder, Lukas is particularly interested in how these conditions may be experienced and perceived from a male perspective. Through his work in the lab, he hopes to contribute meaningfully to understanding the neurobiology of an eating disorder and body dysmorphic disorder using neurological imaging tools.

Sneha Philip

Psychomotrist

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Sneha Mary Philip joined the Brain Health Imaging Centre at CAMH as a psychometrist in September 2024. She is a mental health professional with over 6 years of experience in psychological assessment and therapy across hospital, academic, and community settings. Sneha holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Christ University, India, and is currently completing the required clinical supervision hours toward registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) as a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). Her clinical work spans support for both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals, including those navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity-related challenges, relationships and body image concerns. At CAMH, she collaborates closely with multidisciplinary research teams, contributing her clinical insight to brain health research initiatives. Sneha’s therapeutic approach is integrative and client-centered, drawing on evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness-based approaches, and trauma-informed care. She is known for her enthusiasm, deep presence, and her ability to create meaningful connections with those she works with—anchoring her practice in empathy, collaboration, and respect for each individual’s unique journey.

Wan-wa (Angel) Wong

Former Project Scientist

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Wan-wa (Angel) Wong joined the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in December 2021. She received her BSc and PhD degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. During her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, she actively participated in overseas internships in the Johns Hopkins University and the Massachusetts General Hospital. After completing her PhD study, she joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong as a Postdoctoral Fellow. She later joined Dr. Feusner’s lab in the University of California Los Angeles as an Assistant Project Scientist. Her research interests include cognitive neuroscience, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography and neuromodulation studies.

René Seiger

Former Postdoctoral Fellow

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

René Seiger joined the Brain, Body and Perception Lab at CAMH as a postdoctoral research fellow in November 2021. He received his PhD in Clinical Neurosciences from the Medical University of Vienna and in 2020 he joined the Karolinska Institute as a postdoctoral researcher. He utilizes structural and functional neuroimaging techniques and is currently working on projects related to gender identity and body perception as well as anorexia nervosa and anxiety/reward processing.

Darren Liang

Former Laboratory Manager

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Darren Liang joined the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in September 2022. He received his B.Sc. in psychology from the University of Toronto and the later M.Sc. from Western University. His work has varied in academia and industry spanning clinical research, statistics, and working with various neuroimaging techniques. Currently he is supporting the research at the Brain, Body and Perception Lab through administrative and project management. In his spare time, Darren enjoys exploring new places and keeping up with current events.

Sohom Dey

Former Doctoral Student

University of Toronto

Sohom Dey is a PhD student at the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto. He received his BTech in Computer Science and System Engineering from KIIT University, India. Before joining UofT he worked as a Computer Vision Engineer at Claritas HealthTech, Singapore. While artificial intelligence and medical image analysis has been the main focus of his research, his interest in neuroscience developed from his research experiences at multiple research labs including Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Institute of Computational Biology at Helmholtz Zentrum München and McGill University. He has had many hobbies during different phases of his life, including martial arts, swimming, working out, playing guitar and few others. He loves travelling and is always down for weekend getaways!

Akansha Naraindas

Former Visiting PhD Student

University College Dublin

Akansha Naraindas completed her BSc in Psychology at Durham University in 2019, followed by an MSc in Mental Health from Kings College London in 2020. Her research interests surround body representation and cognitive neuroscience, particularly within psychiatric populations. Her current research looks at body based mental imagery and its relationship to body image disturbance and interoceptive awareness from early to late adulthood. She is especially fascinated by the use of Virtual Reality (VR) in spatial cognition research and its remarkable potential to investigate unique sensory bodily experiences within experimental contexts. She also has a strong interest in the translational potential of VR within clinical health especially surrounding psychiatric care.

Qian Liu

Former Visiting PhD Student

Central South University

Qian Liu joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab as a visiting student in January 2024. She is currently in her 4th year of pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, China, dedicated to researching the neural and psychological mechanism of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Qian Liu is currently focusing on the role of habenula in the pathological mechanism of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In her spare time, Qian enjoys dancing, drawing, traveling and photography.

Mara Derissen

Former Visiting Master’s Student

Maastricht University

Mara Derissen is a visiting master’s student from Maastricht University, Netherlands. She graduated from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, with a BS in psychology and is currently completing her master thesis and a research internship at the BBP lab. Her main research interest is to help improve our knowledge of neural and behavioural factors involved in maintaining psychiatric disorders. She is specifically interested in reward processing and anxiety perception in anorexia nervosa.

Alexis Strazds

Former Research Coordinator

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Alexis Strazds joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab as a Research Analyst in April 2022. She received a M.A. in Social & Personality Psychology at York University. Her academic work has focused on transgender-inclusive research methods and gender psychometrics. She is interested in statistics, programming, and data management. In her spare time, Alexis can be found cooking, playing board games, or thinking about fictional sports.

Elnathan Mesfin

Former Research Analyst

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Elnathan Mesfin joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH as a Research Analyst in August 2021. She received her MSc. in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and her MSc. in Global Health from McMaster University. In addition to her broad research interests, she enjoys traveling, going for long walks with her two dogs, trying to learn how to play the piano, and watching Formula 1.

Khadija Hammawa

Former Research Analyst

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Khadija Hammawa joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH as a Research Analyst in January 2022. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Toronto, double majoring in Neuroscience & Psychology. Throughout university, Khadija had her sites set on Medical School but later realized she had a great passion for innovation & bioengineering. Naturally, she took a strong interest in biotechnologies and healthcare informatics. Her main research interests are to understand how AI and Machine Learning models can be applied to neuroimaging to identify and possibly predict indicators of neurological and psychiatric diseases. Besides her newfound love for programming Khadija enjoys many hobbies including reading, traveling, weightlifting, fashion, and gaming.

Sameena Karsan

Former Research Analyst

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Sameena Karsan joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH as a Research Analyst in February 2023. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from McMaster University, majoring in Kinesiology. Her academic and research work previously focused on the comorbidity of mental illness in individuals with ADHD and how mindfulness techniques can improve post-graduate mental health. She is interested in data sciences and how data can be leveraged to predict behaviours. Aside from her research interests, Sameena enjoys travelling, playing volleyball, and finding a good book!

Rutva Master

Former Research Analyst

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Rutva Master joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH as a Research Analyst in May 2024. She received her Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree and her Master of Science in Neuroscience from Western University, with a background in fetal neuroimaging and functional connectivity analysis of the fetal language network. Her research interests include analyzing neuroimaging and behavioral data involved in perceptual and attentional differences in BDD and AN. Outside of research, Rutva loves to play volleyball, squash, swim, and travel!

Jessica Qian

Former Research Analyst

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Jessica Qian joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH as a Research Analyst in September 2023. She received her Bachelor of Health Sciences Degree from McMaster University and her Master of Science in Medical Science at the University of Toronto, with a background in genetic and neuroimaging techniques. Her primary research interests include neurobiological pathways involved in perceptional and attentional differences in BDD, as well as novel pharmaceutical options in psychiatry. Outside of her research, Jessica enjoys cooking, playing volleyball, and exploring the city with family and friends.

Bea Calahong

Former Research Assistant 2

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Bea Calahong joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Research Lab at CAMH as a Research Assistant in May 2023. She received her Degree in Medicine from Cebu Institute of Medicine, Philippines and Research Analyst Certificate from Humber College. She has supported projects involving Depression and Substance Use Disorders. Her research interests revolve around understanding mood and anxiety disorders to help identify potential targets for treatment. Her hobbies include yoga, muaythai, reading and taking long walks.

Katalin Groe

Former Research Assistant 2

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Katalin Groe joined the Brain, Body and Perception Lab at CAMH as a Research Assistant 2 in June 2024. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from University of Toronto, specializing in Psychological and Health Sciences. Broadly, she is interested in research that aims to advance our understanding of mental health disorders in order to improve clinical outcomes. This has led her to support a variety of research projects, including assessing the efficacy of brain stimulation treatments for individuals with Alzheimer’s and depression, as well as exploring emotional/psychological symptom assessment and management in solid organ transplant recipients. Currently, she is excited to explore how abnormal perceptual processing may play a role in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), in order to lay the groundwork for future clinical studies to test perceptual training as a potential treatment for BDD. In her spare time, Katalin enjoys reading fantasy novels, hiking, dancing, and playing the guitar.

Zeina Beidas

Former Research Assistant 2

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Zeina is a recent Psychology graduate from the University of Toronto. She is interested in studying the etiology, neuropsychology, and treatment of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and co-morbid disorders and the re-emerging study of psychedelic substances, especially concerning their potential use in treatment. Zeina is simultaneously the lead research assistant at the Canadian Centre for Psychedelic Science. In graduate school, she hopes to explore the intersection between psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the treatment of AN. In her free time, she likes to do yoga and listen to podcasts.

Madison Lewis

Former Research Co-op Student

University of Toronto

Madison Lewis is a Bachelor of Science student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a specialist in Psychology and a minor in Biology. Her academic work has focused on health disparities faced by women in North America and on the relationship between social media use and disordered eating in adolescents. Her past experiences, including her time spent working as a Peer Support Worker, have cultivated a passion for improved diagnostic techniques, treatments options, and outcomes in psychiatric care. When she is not studying or working, Madison can be found running her student-lead cat rescue initiative, going for long walks, or reading.

Alyssa Devine

Former Research Co-op Student

University of Toronto

Alyssa Devine is a Bachelor of Science student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a specialist in Psychology. With the rise of social media and increasingly strict beauty standards, she is particularly interested in how self-perception is altered by external manipulation, and how media plays a role in the etiology behind mood disorders, BDD, and anorexia nervosa. She advocates for accessible treatment and mental health awareness, especially after witnessing first-hand how those closest to her cope with different psychological disorders. She is still exploring her passion for clinical research in Psychology, and she hopes to make meaningful contributions to the field in the future. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys crafting jewelry and crocheted accessories, and exploring aesthetic café spots across the GTA.

Hayah Siddiqui

Former Research Co-op Student

University of Toronto

Hayah joined the Brain, Body and Perception Lab as a Research Student in 2024. She is completing her BSc in Psychological and Health Sciences at UTSC, and is passionate about pursuing clinical psychology and exploring various neuroimaging techniques. Previously, her research has focused on the use of virtual reality, as well as the comorbidity of personality and substance use disorders. During her free time, she likes to bake, hang out with her cat Kobe, and read every psychological thriller out there.

Jacy Wang

Former Research Co-op Student

University of Toronto

Jacy joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab in 2025 as a Research Student. She is currently pursuing a BSc with a Specialist in Psychology and a Minor in Economics at UTSC. She is passionate about psychological research and actively explores her interests through diverse experiences. She has contributed to social psychology projects and mental health awareness initiatives, and she is now interested in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) due to her personal experiences during adolescence. In her free time, Jacy enjoys watching comedy, attending concerts, and traveling.

Sonia (Peiyun) Song

Former Research Co-op Student

University of Toronto

Sonia is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, specializing in Psychology and minoring in Applied Statistics. She is currently completing a research co-op term with the BBP at CAMH, where she supports ongoing projects on eating disorders. Sonia has broad interests within psychology and is particularly curious about the intersection of cultural influences and eating disorders, as well as the use of neuroimaging and behavioral methods to better understand the human mind. She hopes to pursue a career that allows her to interact with people and contribute to improving their education and wellbeing. Outside of research, Sonia enjoys arts and crafts, exploring foods and fun places in the city, and video games.

Chris Murphy

Former Visiting Practicum Student

Michener Institute

Chris Murphy is a visiting practicum student who started at the lab in January 2023. He completed a BSc in Medical Sciences at Brock University and is now completing an Advanced Diploma in Digital Health and Data Analytics from The Michener Institute at University Health Network, Toronto. Chris is currently studying obsessive complusive disorder (OCD) populations and builds machine learning models to assist with therapy adherence and patient outreach. He is also interested in statistics, data management, and psychadelic-assisted therapy. Chris has years of experience in industry, including cannabis manufacturing and R&D, laboratory medicine, and ESG reporting. Chris's personal interests include rock climbing, portaging, and attending live music events.

Vienna Mak

Former Student

University of Toronto

Vienna Mak is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and Biochemistry and a minor in Chemistry. Because of her previous experience with an eating disorder, she developed an interest in understanding the etiology and underlying neural mechanisms of anorexia nervosa. Beyond her academic pursuits, she is a strong advocate for eating disorder awareness and the reduction of mental health stigma. Aiming to pursue a career in medicine, she is interested in taking a translational approach to apply research in advancing healthcare. In her spare time, Vienna enjoys weightlifting and cooking.

Eva Pereira

Former Student

Toronto Metropolitan University

Eva Pereira is a Bachelor of Arts student at Toronto Metropolitan University, pursuing a major in Psychology. During her undergraduate studies, Eva has taken an interest in body dissatisfaction, and how it can manifest differently across genders in relationship to degree of dysmorphic concern. Her passion for mental health has driven her to pursue a career in law, where she aims to address the legal and ethical challenges related to mental health care. By combining her background in psychology with a legal education, Eva aspires to influence mental health policies and advocate for the rights and well-being of individuals with mental health disorders.

Sadie Gilliland

Former Student

McMaster University

Sadie Gilliland is a Bachelor of Science student in the Honours Integrated Science Program at McMaster University. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she has developed a keen interest in Neuroscience and Psychology, focusing on the physiological mechanisms underlying mental health conditions. Sadie hopes to contribute to research that will enhance clinical outcomes and create a meaningful impact in mental health care, particularly among pediatric populations. She hopes to work on bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application, striving to implement solutions that address the unique needs of children and adolescents.

Victoria Gracie

Former Student

University of Toronto

Victoria Gracie is a Bachelor of Science student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a double specialist in Psychology and Exceptionality in Human Learning. Her experience with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) has led her academic interests to focus on the etiology, neurobiological impacts, and treatment of BDD. She is also interested in best practices for supporting children with BDD in school systems. Victoria additionally volunteers with the BDD Foundation and the International OCD Foundation to raise awareness about BDD in the media. In her free time, Victoria enjoys modeling for charity fashion shows, writing essays for publications, and going on hikes with her rescue dogs.

Nikita Yang

Former Student

University of Toronto

Nikita Yang joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH as a ROP Research Student in September 2024 as a third-year student pursuing a specialist in Psychology and a major in Neuroscience. She is interested in conducting research related to mental health disorders and was drawn to learning more about Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa due to her experience with toxic ballet culture which imposes unrealistic expectations on body image. In her free time, she enjoys dancing in a variety of styles, boxing, and cooking.

Rena Xu

Former Student

University of Toronto

Rena Xu joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH in September 2024. She is currently a Bachelors of Science Student at the University of Toronto pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and Pharmacology. During her studies, she has developed an interest in investigating the pathogenesis of various neurological conditions. Her current research interests include using neuroimaging to better understand the neurobiological processes underlying psychiatric disorders. In her free time, Rena enjoys cooking, drawing, and going on nature hikes.

Stephanie Chan

Former Student

University of Toronto

Stephanie Chan is an incoming second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, intending to specialize in Pathobiology, major in Neuroscience, and minor in Education. Through her studies, she has developed a keen interest in the mechanisms underlying psychiatric conditions and how they intersect with social and environmental factors. With an interest in translational approaches, Stephanie hopes to help bridge scientific discovery and clinical practice to improve mental health care. She is also passionate about addressing healthcare disparities and advocating for equitable access to treatment. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, baking, and spending time with friends and family.

Sarvesh Sapkota

Former Student

University of Toronto

Sarv joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH as a ROP Research Student in Summer 2025. As an incoming third-year student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a double major in Global Health and Immunology with a minor in Psychology, his academic interests span from social psychology theories to neurodegenerative disorders. Driven by a passion for neuroscience and neuropsychology, Sarv hopes to contribute meaningfully to patient care through research. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, cooking, and reading manga.

Elissa Chee

Former Student

University of Toronto

Elissa joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH as an ROP student in Fall 2025. She is a third-year majoring in Psychology with minors in Philosophy and Education & Society. Her previous research involvement spans topics on developmental psychology, understanding human-AI interactions, and legal and privacy protection research. Broadly, she is interested in understanding how people perceive themselves and others through a social, philosophical, and clinical perspective. In her free time Elissa enjoys spending time with her dog, journaling, and swimming.

DeeDee Ng

Former Student

University of Toronto

DeeDee Ng joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab at CAMH as a ROP Research Student in September 2025. She is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto pursuing a major in Psychology and Neuroscience, and a minor in Applied Data Science. Aspiring to become a clinical psychologist, she is interested in conducting clinical research and raising awareness on mental health disorders. Her motivation originates from the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders, driving her to explore the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms and potential treatment approaches. In her free time, DeeDee enjoys café-hopping and going to the gym.

Maya Rueda-Cohen

Former Student

University of Toronto

Maya joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab as a research opportunity program (ROP) student in the fall of 2025. She is in the third year of her undergraduate degree in the Psychology Research Specialist Program at the University of Toronto. With a particular interest in the research of psychopathology, its treatments, and its diagnostic methods, Maya hopes to explore her interests through her various lab experiences and thesis program. She is particularly interested in the ability of novel diagnostic tools to assess the underlying perceptual distortions associated with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, which is her primary focus at the Brain, Body, Perception Lab.

Sophie Williams

Former Student

University of Toronto

Sophie joined the Brain, Body, and Perception Lab as a research opportunity program (ROP) student for the 2025-26 academic year. She is in her third year at the University of Toronto specializing in psychology, majoring in cognitive science, and minoring in statistics. Sophie is interested in psychopathology and how various neurological and psychological illnesses impact cognitive functioning. In particular, she is interested in understanding how early-life disruptions to neurotransmitter systems may underlie these impairments and contribute to the development of disorders.

Marianne Rouleau-Tang

Former Volunteer

University of Toronto

Marianne Rouleau-Tang is a Bachelor of Science student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a specialist in Psychology and a major in Nutritional Sciences. Because of her experience with an eating disorder, she has developed an interest in identifying the factors that affect the development and maintenance of disordered eating patterns. She aims to contribute to the advancement of intervention strategies by exploring the effects of self-compassion and self-criticism on implicit associations of body weight in individuals with AN.