Meg Schlichting, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology PhD in Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin BA in Cognitive Science, University of Pennsylvania Meg is the Principal Investigator of the Budding Minds Lab at U of T. She is interested in how the episodic memory system (especially the hippocampus and its surrounding medial temporal lobe cortex) interacts with prefrontal brain regions to update our stored memories with new information. Her work aims to characterize how these neural operations happen in healthy young adults, as well as how they might change as the brain develops across childhood and adolescence. In her spare time, Meg loves to cook, try new restaurants, and explore all that her new city of Toronto has to offer. Meg's CV |
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Sagana Vijayarajah
BSc in Psychology, York University MA in Psychology, University of Toronto PhD in Psychology, University of Toronto Sagana is a post-doctoral researcher in Dr. Schlichting’s lab and Dr. Mack's lab. She is interested in exploring the developmental changes in memory that occur from childhood to adulthood and how they impact decision-making and learning strategies. In her spare time, she likes to bike, paint, and spend time with family and friends. |
Graduate Students
Merron Woodbury
BSc in Neuroscience, Minor in Computer Science, McGill University MA in Psychology, University of Toronto Merron is a PhD student in Dr. Schlichting’s lab. They are interested in using various neuroimaging and computational techniques to study structural and functional changes in the brain underlying the development of memory processes. In their spare time, Merron loves to paint, read feminist science fiction and fantasy, and spend time outdoors. |
Emily Heffernan
BASc in Electrical Engineering, Queen's University MA in Psychology, University of Toronto Emily is a PhD student in Mack Lab and is doing an outside project with Dr. Schlichting on hippocampal white matter development. She is interested in how behavioural, neuroimaging, and computational modelling data can be combined to understand how we learn. When she's not studying the brain, Emily enjoys doing yoga, reading, and hiking. |
Alex McArthur
BA in Political Science and Philosophy, University of Western Ontario BSc in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario Alex is a PhD student in Dr. Schlichting’s lab. He is interested in using different neuroimaging techniques to explore how learning and memory systems change across development. In his free time, Alex is almost always reading, but he also enjoys painting, yoga, and visiting used bookstores. |
Lab Manager
Sanjivan Loganathan
BSc in Psychology & Human Biology, University of Toronto Sanjivan is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student graduating this June with a focus on psychology and human biology. His research interests are in understanding how dynamical systems interact and give rise to such nuanced cognition. His current research investigates the effects of goal-directed locomotion on memory to better understand how memory processing is cognitively embodied. Outside of the lab, he plays chess, watches TV shows, or catches up with friends! Contact info: [email protected] |
Research Assistants
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Louise Boulard
BSc in Cognitive Science, University of Toronto (in progress)
Louise is a fourth-year undergraduate student with a major in Cognitive and a double minor in English and Creative Expression. She is interested in the neurodevelopment of learning and memory and how these processes evolve with age. Outside of the lab, Louise enjoys producing music, baking and going on hikes with friends.
BSc in Cognitive Science, University of Toronto (in progress)
Louise is a fourth-year undergraduate student with a major in Cognitive and a double minor in English and Creative Expression. She is interested in the neurodevelopment of learning and memory and how these processes evolve with age. Outside of the lab, Louise enjoys producing music, baking and going on hikes with friends.
Stephanie Cardillo
BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Toronto (in progress) Stephanie is currently finishing her third year at UofT, majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience. She is interested in learning more about the development of the brain, specifically the areas involved in learning and memory and how these differ among atypically developing populations. Outside of the lab, Stephanie enjoys trying new restaurants, going on walks, and playing video games with her friends. |
Mariana Castrillon
BSc Psychology Research Specialist Program, University of Toronto (in progress) Mariana is going into her third year at the University of Toronto, intending to pursue a degree from the Psychology Research Specialist Program. Her experience working with child refugees and conducting research on alternative strategies to manage traumatic memories that have led to PTSD have made her passionate to learn more about memory integration and its connection to cognitive development in children. Outside of the lab, Mariana enjoys playing her cello, travelling, and spending time with her family and friends. |
Dana Huang
BSc in Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Toronto (in progress) Dana is a first-year undergraduate student studying neuroscience and physiology. She is interested in studying memory and learning, and how that develops and changes from childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, reading, and playing the piano! |
Amira Kabir
BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Toronto (in progress) Amira is an incoming fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. She is interested in understanding how memory is affected in neurodegenerative disorders, and how the brain changes over time. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and going out with friends. |
Siena von Rosen
BSc in Psychology, Buddhism, Psychology & Mental Health, and Religion, University of Toronto (in progress) Siena is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology and minoring in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health, as well as Religion. She is interested in how memory formation changes through development and what impacts this. In her spare time, she can be found reading, cooking or enjoying the outdoors! |
Jessica Sah
BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Toronto (in progress) Jessica is a third-year undergraduate student with a double specialist in psychology and neuroscience with a minor in physiology. She is interested in studying memory and learning in neurodevelopmental disorders. In her spare time, she is regularly found reading, baking, singing, and spending time with friends and family! |
Tien Yang
BSc in Psychology and Anthropology, University of Toronto (in progress) Tien is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and Socio-cultural Anthropology. She is interested in developmental psychology and how culture may impact development and learning. In her free time, she enjoys running around the city, travelling, and reading. |
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellows
Anna Blumenthal
Postdoctoral Researcher in Cognitive Psychology & Neuroscience at Université Laval
Xiaoping Fang
Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Beijing Language and Culture University
Graduate Students
Tess Forest
PhD in Psychology at the University of Toronto
MA in Psychology, University of Toronto
BA in Cognitive Systems and Linguistics, University of British Colombia
Lab Managers
Emmy Wang 2022-2024
Graduate student in the MA-PhD Program in Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Windsor
Carleigh Pace-Tonna 2022
Graduate student in Psychology PhD program, UofT
Zahra Abolghasem 2020-2022
Graduate student in Psychology PhD program, University of British Columbia
Sarah Berger 2019-2020
Research Coordinator, Sunnybrook Health Sciences
Isabelle Vanasse Grosdidier 2018-2019
Business Information Management Analyst, TD
Chuyun Shen 2018
Engineer at RAVL
Hailey Benedict 2017-2018
OT, Providence Healthcare Unity Health Toronto
Sarah (Sam) Bray Kingissepp 2017-2018
Registered Psychotherapist, Advance Health
Research Assistants
Evelina Aghayan
Mrinal Anagal - BSc in Nursing (BScN), University of Toronto
BSc in Neuroscience, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Toronto
Sasha Arnett - BSc in Life Sciences, University of Toronto
Sara Bawany - BSc in Fundamental Genetics and its Applications, Psychology, and Immunology, University of Toronto
Eryk Brol - BSc in Computer Science, University of Toronto
Freeman Chan - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Eric (Xingjian) Che - BSc in Physiology, Neuroscience and Immunology, University of Toronto
Katherine Lili Chen - BA in History and Philosophy of Science, University of Toronto
Nathan Chen - BSc in Neuroscience and Immunology, University of Toronto
Sua Cho - BSc in Human Biology, Physiology, and Psychology, University of Toronto
Andrew Chun - BSc in Psychology and Sociology, University of Toronto
Catherine Clarke - BSc in Psychology and Human Biology, University of Toronto
Natanela Dain - BSc in Psychology and English, University of Toronto
Brad Dalgleish - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Carissa DeMarinis - Juris Doctor, University of Toronto
BSc in Neuroscience, Psychology and Physiology, University of Toronto
Vardhan Deorukhkar - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Sahir Dhalla - BSc in Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Computer Science, University of Toronto
Ashiana Dhanani - BSc in Human Biology and Psychology, University of Toronto
Simran Dhir - BSc in Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology, Education and Society, University of Toronto
Oceana Ding - BSc in Cognitive Science, Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Toronto
Yujie Du - BSc in Neuroscience and Nutritional Science, University of Toronto
Lana Duan - MSc in Medical Science at the University of Toronto and SickKids Research Institute
BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Toronto
Joshua Duong - BSc Global Health Specialist Program and Neuroscience Major, University of Toronto
Zosia Gontarz
Keevyn Hirschfield - BSc Psychology Research Specialist Program and Cognitive Science Major, University of Toronto
Alyssa Ho - BSc in Neuroscience, University of Toronto
Rachel Ho - BSc Psychology Specialist, University of Toronto
Angel Hsieh -BSc in Health and Diease Specialist, University of Toronto
Nicole Hung - BSc in Psychology and Urban Studies, University of Toronto
David Huynh - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Jessica Im - BSc in Psychology, Environment & Behaviour, and Urban Studies, University of Toronto
Cindy Jean - BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Toronto
Zachary Johnson - BSc in Psychology Specialist, Linguistics Minor, Buddhism/Psychology/Mental Health Minor, University of Toronto
Fariha Kaosar
Nisha Klein - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Ezra Laker - BSc in Cognitive Science and Psychology, University of Toronto
Sherry Li - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Tianyu Lu - BSc in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Specialist, University of Toronto
Krystyna MacRae - BSc Psychology Specialist and Neuroscience major, University of Toronto
Eilidh McAlister - BSc in Psychology and Immunology, University of Toronto
Lily Meng - BSc in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, University of Toronto
Shernise Mohammed-Ali
Elida Nexha - BSc in Psychology, Health Studies, and French, University of Toronto
Amy Pan - BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Toronto
Julia Pearce
Eden Prosser - BSc in Neuroscience, Molecular Genetics, and Psychology, University of Toronto
Cheryl Quan - BSc in Psychology, Biology, and Anthropology, University of Toronto
Anusha Ramesh - BSc in Psychology, Nutritional Sciences, and Physiology, University of Toronto
Sarah Ripley - BSc in Psychology, Statistics, and Mathematics, University of Toronto
Rena Rivera - BSc in Nursing, University of Toronto
Valeria Sarangova
Riveea Satkunaratnam - BSc in Immunology and Physiology, University of Toronto
Katarina Savel - BSc in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Spanish, University of Toronto
Vanessa Sgambelluri - BSc in Psychology and Health and Disease, University of Toronto
Abigail Siu
Hasaan Sobaan
Jordan Starenky - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Hannah Tarder-Stoll - PhD in Psychology at Columbia University
BMus in Classical Voice Performance, University of Toronto & BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Toronto
Thurka Thillainathan - BSc in Psychology and Anthropology, University of Toronto
Mila Valcic - BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Toronto
Mia Vucurovic - BSc in Psychology and Philosophy, University of Toronto
Chen Yang - BSc in Pharmacology, Physiology and Psychology, University of Toronto
Wangjing Yu - PhD in Psychology at Columbia University
BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Toronto
Xuan Zhang - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Sophia Zhao - PhD in Psychology, University of Toronto
BSc Psychology and Physiology
Cindy Zhou
Cherrie Zhu - BSc in Neuroscience and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
Anna Blumenthal
Postdoctoral Researcher in Cognitive Psychology & Neuroscience at Université Laval
Xiaoping Fang
Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Beijing Language and Culture University
Graduate Students
Tess Forest
PhD in Psychology at the University of Toronto
MA in Psychology, University of Toronto
BA in Cognitive Systems and Linguistics, University of British Colombia
Lab Managers
Emmy Wang 2022-2024
Graduate student in the MA-PhD Program in Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Windsor
Carleigh Pace-Tonna 2022
Graduate student in Psychology PhD program, UofT
Zahra Abolghasem 2020-2022
Graduate student in Psychology PhD program, University of British Columbia
Sarah Berger 2019-2020
Research Coordinator, Sunnybrook Health Sciences
Isabelle Vanasse Grosdidier 2018-2019
Business Information Management Analyst, TD
Chuyun Shen 2018
Engineer at RAVL
Hailey Benedict 2017-2018
OT, Providence Healthcare Unity Health Toronto
Sarah (Sam) Bray Kingissepp 2017-2018
Registered Psychotherapist, Advance Health
Research Assistants
Evelina Aghayan
Mrinal Anagal - BSc in Nursing (BScN), University of Toronto
BSc in Neuroscience, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Toronto
Sasha Arnett - BSc in Life Sciences, University of Toronto
Sara Bawany - BSc in Fundamental Genetics and its Applications, Psychology, and Immunology, University of Toronto
Eryk Brol - BSc in Computer Science, University of Toronto
Freeman Chan - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Eric (Xingjian) Che - BSc in Physiology, Neuroscience and Immunology, University of Toronto
Katherine Lili Chen - BA in History and Philosophy of Science, University of Toronto
Nathan Chen - BSc in Neuroscience and Immunology, University of Toronto
Sua Cho - BSc in Human Biology, Physiology, and Psychology, University of Toronto
Andrew Chun - BSc in Psychology and Sociology, University of Toronto
Catherine Clarke - BSc in Psychology and Human Biology, University of Toronto
Natanela Dain - BSc in Psychology and English, University of Toronto
Brad Dalgleish - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Carissa DeMarinis - Juris Doctor, University of Toronto
BSc in Neuroscience, Psychology and Physiology, University of Toronto
Vardhan Deorukhkar - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Sahir Dhalla - BSc in Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Computer Science, University of Toronto
Ashiana Dhanani - BSc in Human Biology and Psychology, University of Toronto
Simran Dhir - BSc in Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology, Education and Society, University of Toronto
Oceana Ding - BSc in Cognitive Science, Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Toronto
Yujie Du - BSc in Neuroscience and Nutritional Science, University of Toronto
Lana Duan - MSc in Medical Science at the University of Toronto and SickKids Research Institute
BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Toronto
Joshua Duong - BSc Global Health Specialist Program and Neuroscience Major, University of Toronto
Zosia Gontarz
Keevyn Hirschfield - BSc Psychology Research Specialist Program and Cognitive Science Major, University of Toronto
Alyssa Ho - BSc in Neuroscience, University of Toronto
Rachel Ho - BSc Psychology Specialist, University of Toronto
Angel Hsieh -BSc in Health and Diease Specialist, University of Toronto
Nicole Hung - BSc in Psychology and Urban Studies, University of Toronto
David Huynh - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Jessica Im - BSc in Psychology, Environment & Behaviour, and Urban Studies, University of Toronto
Cindy Jean - BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Toronto
Zachary Johnson - BSc in Psychology Specialist, Linguistics Minor, Buddhism/Psychology/Mental Health Minor, University of Toronto
Fariha Kaosar
Nisha Klein - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Ezra Laker - BSc in Cognitive Science and Psychology, University of Toronto
Sherry Li - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Tianyu Lu - BSc in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Specialist, University of Toronto
Krystyna MacRae - BSc Psychology Specialist and Neuroscience major, University of Toronto
Eilidh McAlister - BSc in Psychology and Immunology, University of Toronto
Lily Meng - BSc in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, University of Toronto
Shernise Mohammed-Ali
Elida Nexha - BSc in Psychology, Health Studies, and French, University of Toronto
Amy Pan - BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Toronto
Julia Pearce
Eden Prosser - BSc in Neuroscience, Molecular Genetics, and Psychology, University of Toronto
Cheryl Quan - BSc in Psychology, Biology, and Anthropology, University of Toronto
Anusha Ramesh - BSc in Psychology, Nutritional Sciences, and Physiology, University of Toronto
Sarah Ripley - BSc in Psychology, Statistics, and Mathematics, University of Toronto
Rena Rivera - BSc in Nursing, University of Toronto
Valeria Sarangova
Riveea Satkunaratnam - BSc in Immunology and Physiology, University of Toronto
Katarina Savel - BSc in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Spanish, University of Toronto
Vanessa Sgambelluri - BSc in Psychology and Health and Disease, University of Toronto
Abigail Siu
Hasaan Sobaan
Jordan Starenky - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Hannah Tarder-Stoll - PhD in Psychology at Columbia University
BMus in Classical Voice Performance, University of Toronto & BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Toronto
Thurka Thillainathan - BSc in Psychology and Anthropology, University of Toronto
Mila Valcic - BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Toronto
Mia Vucurovic - BSc in Psychology and Philosophy, University of Toronto
Chen Yang - BSc in Pharmacology, Physiology and Psychology, University of Toronto
Wangjing Yu - PhD in Psychology at Columbia University
BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Toronto
Xuan Zhang - BSc in Psychology, University of Toronto
Sophia Zhao - PhD in Psychology, University of Toronto
BSc Psychology and Physiology
Cindy Zhou
Cherrie Zhu - BSc in Neuroscience and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
Our lab is growing - join us!
We are recruiting students for the work study program at UofT. We are also still looking for postdoctoral fellows to join our team!
Visit the Get Involved page for more information.
We are recruiting students for the work study program at UofT. We are also still looking for postdoctoral fellows to join our team!
Visit the Get Involved page for more information.