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C3 LAB DIRECTOR

Kristina Gicas, Ph.D., C.Psych.

Dr. Gicas completed her graduate training in Clinical Neuropsychology at Simon Fraser University under the supervision of Dr. Allen Thornton, and a Pre-Doctoral Residency with the London Clinical Psychology Residency Consortium. She obtained further training as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. William Honer and Dr. William Panenka. Currently, Dr. Gicas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University where she conducts multidisciplinary clinical neuroscience research, trains masters and doctoral-level graduate students, and teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses. Dr. Gicas is actively involved in the Canadian Psychological Association as Past Chair of the Clinical Neuropsychology Section. She is also a licensed Clinical Neuropsychologist in Ontario.
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Graduate Student (Masters)

Farzaneh Mashhadi, B.A. (Hons)

Farzaneh obtained her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology from York University in 2017. She completed an undergraduate honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Walter Heinrichs on the subject of brain abnormalities, cortical thinning, and neuropsychological outcomes in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Farzaneh is interested in the functional abnormalities and structural profile of network-associated brain regions in major mental disorders and marginalized populations. She is also interested in studying the neuropsychological functioning in substance using populations and psychiatric illnesses.
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Graduate Student (Masters)

Michelle Blumberg, M.Sc.

Michelle obtained her Bachelor of Science with Honours in Life Sciences from Queen’s University in 2019. She then completed a Masters of Science degree in Cognitive Neuroscience at Queen’s where her research focused on developing a laboratory task that allows us to reliably measure self-reported daily life inattention as measured by ADHD symptomatology in healthy adults. Michelle is interested in integrating her research experiences in Cognitive Neuroscience with her interests in Clinical Psychology to better understand cognitive functioning and impairments in the context of various psychopathologies. 
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Graduate Student (Masters)

Katie Benitah, M.Sc.

Katie obtained her Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology from Western University in 2018. She then went on to complete her MSc in Neuroscience at Western and defended her thesis in 2020. Katie is interested in exploring substance use in precarious populations. She is particularly interested in research around individuals with variable manifestations of psychosis and the functional neurological consequences associated with substance use. When Katie isn’t working, you can find her attempting new and strange baking creations or discovering new music! She is excited to work toward evolving her understanding of the brain-behaviour relationship in the context of mental illness and addiction.
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Graduate Student (Masters)

Audrey Li-Chay-Chung, B.A. (Hons)

Audrey obtained her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology with a Specialization in Cognitive Neuropsychology from York University’s Glendon Campus. She completed her undergraduate Honours thesis on autobiographical memory & future thinking in older adults at risk of mild cognitive impairment under the co-supervision of Dr. Donna Rose Addis and Dr. Guy Proulx at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Health Sciences. She also worked on an independent research project with Dr. Richard Lalonde at York on interethnic perceptions of interracial dating. Audrey is interested in combining her research experience in aging, cognition, and social psychology to further understand the trajectory of neuropsychological functioning in marginalized groups and optimize rehabilitative treatment plans. Outside of work, Audrey enjoys running, traveling, and talking about movies. 
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RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Caitlin Terao

Caitlin is a third-year student in the Honours Psychology program at York University. She aspires to obtain a Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology with the intention of working with patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Her research interests include neuropsychology, cognition, aging, and addiction. She is interested in the impacts that aging and disease have on neuropsychological functioning as well as the treatments or interventions that can improve functioning. Caitlin is excited to learn more about research and cognition as a member of the C3 Lab.
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RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Eva Friedman

Eva recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology from York University. She aspires to obtain a degree in clinical psychology with the intention of working with precarious populations. More specifically, she hopes to gain a better understanding of the long-term impact of social cognitive processes on the lives of substance users. Eva has research experience in exploring the experience of boredom, and individual differences that impact on susceptibility to boredom. She joined the C3 Lab to better understand the brain-behaviour relationships in the context of mental illness and addiction. 
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RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Petra Legaspi

Petra graduated from York University with a B.A. Honours in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration. She is very excited to be a part of the C3 Lab and learn more about brain-behaviour relationships in the context of mental illness and addiction. Petra is looking forward to assisting the research team with studying the impacts of COVID-19 on neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning in adults. Outside of the C3 Lab, Petra is also assisting with a longitudinal ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study of alcohol and cannabis use behaviour in young adults. She is passionate about mental health research and aspires to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology.

Former Lab Members

  • Anh Nguyen, B.A. (Hons) - Specialized Honours Student
  • Alma Rahimi, B.A. (Hons) - Research Assistant
  • Edman Abukar, B.A. - Independent Research Project Student
  • Giulia Fabiano, B.Sc. (Hons) - Research Assistant
  • Puneet Parmar, B.A. (Hons) - Research Assistant​