Owerko Centre Trainee Award Recipients

Stephanie Andreasen

“I am a Master’s student in the School and Applied Child Psychology program in the Werklund School of Education and a member of The ENHANCE Lab under the supervision of Dr. Carly McMorris. I returned to graduate school after a lengthy ‘gap year,’ bringing over 15 years of experience working in the disability services field supporting children, youth, and adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families to access supports and services in their communities. My research interests include the mental health of late diagnosed autistic girls and women, as well as understanding and improving accessibility of mental health services for neurodivergent youth and young adults.”

Stephanie Andreasen, Master's Student
Supervisor: Dr. Carly McMorris 

Noah Bloom

"I am working towards receiving my Masters Degree supervised by Dr. Sarah MacEachern. My project investigates the role that the gut microbiome and fatigue have on behaviours of concern in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Co-occurring conditions like sleep and Gastrointestinal problems are common in children with NDDs, but there is little research on their connection to behaviour. These co-occurring conditions may potentiate behaviours of concern and could therefore represent a potential therapeutic target. I am very passionate about continuing my career in research related to children with NDDs and furthering this important field.”  

Noah Bloom, Master's Student
Supervisor: Dr. Sarah MacEachern 

Taylor Groulx

“I am thrilled to conduct my master’s research in Dr. Catherine Lebel’s Developmental Neuroimaging lab at the University of Calgary, where I explores how threat and deprivation may impact regional brain volumes in children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). By investigating the complex interplay between PAE and postnatal adversity, I help inform strategies to enhance cognitive and emotional outcomes in this vulnerable population, while also ensuring that these children and their families receive the care and support needed to help them thrive. I aspire to make a lasting impact through her research and community advocacy.” 

Taylor Groulx, Master's Student
Supervisor: Dr. Catherine Lebel 

Anika Mamun

Master's Student
Supervisor: Dr. Gerald Giesbrecht 

Amsal Rajan

“I am deeply grateful to have been awarded the Owerko Centre Graduate Scholarship, which will significantly aid in the completion of my master's thesis. My project focuses on investigating whether brain stimulation of different cortical regions in children with ADHD can impact specific executive functioning and motor skills. By identifying and understanding these cortical targets based on individual differences, I aim to contribute to the development of personalized treatments for ADHD in children. This funding opportunity represents a significant milestone in my journey as a researcher, and I am very excited to continue working on this project!” 

Amsal Rajan, Master's Student
Supervisor: Dr. Kara Murias 

Weng-Sam Siu

“I am truly honored to be selected for the Owerko Centre Graduate Scholarship. My research focuses on understanding how genetic factors influence responses to ADHD medications in children. By identifying genetic markers that predict medication efficacy and side effects, I aim to develop personalized treatment strategies. My goal is to transform ADHD management, making it more effective and less stressful for families. Inspired by my clinical experiences, I am passionate about turning research into real-world solutions that improve children’s lives. I’m also excited to collaborate with industry partners to make pharmacogenetics more accessible and practical in everyday healthcare.”

Weng-Sam Siu, PhD Student
Supervisor: Dr. Chad Bousman 

Nathan Thomson

"Receiving the Owerko Centre Graduate Scholarship is a significant milestone in my academic journey. This award allows me to advance my research on the long-term effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on immune function and mental health in adults, an often-overlooked area. My goal is to delve into the influence of postnatal factors such as socioeconomic status and life adversities on these outcomes to uncover the underlying mechanisms behind immune dysfunction and mental health challenges. This scholarship empowers me to make meaningful contributions to science and gain deeper insights into the effects of PAE over the course of a lifetime. This support is essential for propelling innovative research and nurturing international collaboration."

Nathan Thomson, Master's Student
Supervisor: Dr. Tamara Bodnar 

Ryan Verbitsky

“I am currently pursuing my MDNS degree under the supervision of Dr. Kara Murias, where I am excited to utilize a novel neuroimaging technique known as neuromelanin MRI to better understand the role of dopamine in children diagnosed with ADHD. My additional aims are to explore the relationship between the neuromelanin-MRI signal and executive function performance, as well as the cumulative effect of stimulant medication on the neuromelanin signal. My recovery from concussions as a teenager serves as my driving force for understanding cognitive and developmental neuroscience, encompassing learning and memory, neuroimaging, and neuropharmacology. My goal is to earn and complete my masters of neuroscience degree, which will equip me with the education and training to pursue a pediatric neurology or neuro-optometry medical career.”

Ryan Verbitsky, Master's Student
Supervisor: Dr. Kara Murias 

Stefan Kurbatfinski

"Children of mothers who have adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more likely to develop mental health problems, including behavioural problems, however, we are less certain about how these effects are transmitted. My work has helped synthesize existing literature on potential mechanisms and modifiers to explain the association between mothers' ACEs and preschool children. Preschool children are an important target group as this period consists of rapid brain development, affecting children’s vulnerability or resilience to mental health conditions. This award will help support my dissertation research which will investigate some of the identified mediators and moderators identified in this review."

Stefan Kurbatfinski, PhD Student
Supervisor: Dr. Nicole Letourneau 

Dr. Meaghan Perdue, PhD

“I am honoured to receive the Owerko Centre Publication Award for my research examining developmental changes in brain metabolites across childhood. We published the first large-scale, longitudinal study of brain metabolite development spanning early-middle childhood (ages 2-11 years). This work is critical for characterizing the role of the brain’s natural chemicals in emerging behaviour and cognitive skills, and for highlighting alterations in neurodevelopmental conditions. Since the publication of this work, I have built upon this research to identify associations between metabolites and brain microstructure, and to examine brain metabolites in the children with prenatal alcohol exposure and in relation to executive functioning. I am grateful to the Owerko Centre for supporting my ongoing research efforts to thoroughly characterize brain development in typical and neurodiverse populations.”

Dr. Meaghan Perdue, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow
Supervisor: Dr. Catherine Lebel 

Dr. Myka Estes

“I manage the Precision Neurodevelopment lab which is focused on improving the lives of children with profound disabilities. I came to this work via a circuitous path as I have worked in many fields (e.g., cancer biology, immunology, molecular neuroscience, infectious disease) and at many stages of development (drug development through Phase IV clinical trials). My current work is both the most challenging and most rewarding of my career. I love our lab’s focus on pragmatism: we aim to help families now with the tools we have currently and, in parallel, develop new tools in collaboration with impacted families. It is a great gift to feel that the work you do has an impact for families and that this mission is shared across the Owerko Centre.”

Dr. Myka Estes, PhD, Research Manager
Dr. Sarah MacEachern's lab 

Selma Low

“I am honoured to receive the Owerko Centre Staff Recognition Award for my work supporting the P3 Cohort study and P3 Brain Health sub-study. My energy is sustained by the many wonderful families I meet and the stories they share about their experiences with preterm birth. I am also privileged to work alongside a passionate and collaborative team of researchers every day. I believe both the families and our team are motivated by the same goal, which is to utilize the data we are collecting to improve outcomes for future parents and their babies.” 

Selma Low, Research Coordinator
Dr. Lara Leijser's lab 

Delaney Barth

“Receiving funding from the Owerko Center allowed me to take part in the Omics Data Science Course offered by the Xia Lab at McGill University. This opportunity has helped me develop skills and proficiency in multiomics data analysis (specifically in tools like MetaboAnalyst), and I have been able to directly apply the concepts from the course to my master's thesis on the relationships between hygiene practices, social contact and the early-life gut microbiome. I am incredibly grateful for the support and hope to use what I've learned as a foundation in the next steps of my research career!”

Delaney Barth, Master's Student
Supervisor: Dr. Gerry Giesbrecht, PhD 

Yu-Yun Gao

“I am honored to receive this funding for my lab visit at the University of Montreal. My project aims to delve into the underlying mechanisms of direct neuronal reprogramming and enhancing efficiency. Receiving the Owerko Centre funding not only alleviates financial constraints but also acknowledges the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. This opportunity will enable me to acquire essential skills for my thesis and further my research endeavors."

Yu-Yun Gao, PhD student
Supervisor: Dr. Guang Yang, PhD 

Shefali Rai

“The Owerko Centre Spark Grant is pivotal for my PhD by enabling collaboration with Dr. Deanna Greene's lab in UC San Deigo, which will enhance my third and last thesis aim. My supervisor and I first met Dr. Greene at the Flux Congress in California and discovered our research was complimentary to theirs. Through this lab exchange and training week, I will gain expertise in novel tools and methods that I can apply to our pediatric precision fMRI study. Funding opportunities like this grant are crucial as they help foster innovate research and international collaborations.”

Shefali Rai, PhD Student
Supervisor: Dr. Signe Bray

Mashiat Zaman

“Being awarded the Owerko Centre Trainee Spark Grant is truly transformative. It empowers me to surpass the boundaries of my current expertise, whether by investigating cells directly derived from the human brain or testing therapeutics in disease models for currently-incurable conditions. I'm deeply grateful for the chance to push boundaries, overcome obstacles, and make significant contributions to the progress of science and society. I sincerely hope that more funding opportunities like this one emerge to ignite curiosity in young scientists and encourage them to explore the uncharted territories of knowledge."

Mashiat Zaman, PhD student
Supervisor: Dr. Tim Shutt, PhD 

Dr. Marcela Davoli Ferreira

"I am thrilled to be awarded with the Owerko Centre Pathways to Independence Grant as it represents an important step in my career as a researcher. It will provide crucial financial support to develop my project that focuses on investigating the role of microbiota in neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, it will give me a better chance to obtain more external funding in the future as an independent researcher. I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to making the most of it to advance further with important contributions to the field."

Dr. Marcela Davoli Ferreira, Postdoctoral Associate
Dr. Kathy McCoy's lab

Dr. Dorit Moehrle

"The Owerko Centre Pathways to Independence Grant means invaluable support for my research investigating sound hypersensitivity and associated pain in neurodevelopmental disorders through funds for supplies & materials and for dissemination of results. I hope that my research will contribute to a better understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in sound hypersensitivity and, in the long term, promote targeted support options to help improve the daily lives of affected individuals and their families/caregivers.Funding opportunities like this are essential for students, trainees and postdocs; to acquire more advanced skills, make significant and innovative discoveries, and prepare for future independent research."

Dr. Dorit Moehrle, Postdoctoral Associate
Dr. Ning Cheng's Lab
 

Dr. Perri Tutelman

Project: Co-create and evaluate the first eHealth transdiagnostic CBT intervention for adolescent survivors of childhood cancer

Dr. Perri Tutelman, Postdoctoral Scholar
Dr. Melanie Noel's lab 

Dr. Jing Zheng

“I am grateful for being awarded the Owerko Center Pathways to Independence Grant. My research hope is to provide mechanistic evidence as to how maternal microbiome affects offspring sleeping and identify potential therapeutics for sleeping issues. The funding opportunities provided by the Owerko Center plays indispensable roles in empowering the students, trainees, and postdocs to conduct innovative research with adequate flexibility in the field of brain and child mental health.”

Dr. Jing Zheng, Postdoctoral Scholar
Dr. Deborah Kurrasch's Lab