About Us The Lab

Glenda Maru

Administrative Assistant

Glenda is Admin Assistant to the whole CAIR team and “Lab Mom” when needed! I have BA in Sociology and Political Science. I worked in front line social work for many years. Now I enjoy working at the Med. School helping research and supporting students. I hope to speak Neuroscience one day!

Xiangyu Long, PhD

Research Associate

I began my postdoc training in the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab then became a research associate in this lab. I finished my Ph.D. in neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Germany. My research is focusing on the implementation of resting-state fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging on the brain development in preschool children and children with prenatal alcohol exposure, as well as infants who were born during pandemic. Besides work I am a fan of sci-fi movies and badminton.

Bryce Geeraert, PhD

Research Program Manager

I am fascinated by the brain and neuroscience. During my PhD, I used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the adolescent brain and how we learn to read. I’ve also found other opportunities to use brain recordings and brain stimulation methods to study the brain. Now, I’m using my broad background to support the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab’s research program, teach new students, and get the kids that participate in our research excited about the brain!

Mary Kate Hapin

Research Assistant

Though I graduated with a Commerce degree, I have high interests in the psychology and neurology department. I also enjoy working with kids as my current research focus is cognitive development in children.

Kate Cordero, BSc/BA

Research Assistant

I am the newest research assistant in Dr. Lebel’s lab. I was born and raised in Northern Canada but now call Calgary home. I have a BSc in Biological Sciences and BA in Psychology from the University of Calgary. I spent the last few years working in a clinical psychology practice in the city. My focus is the Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Childhood Mental Health research. I enjoy every opportunity to help with MRI scans and cognitive assessments. And my favourite part about the job is connecting with our fantastic participants!

Ashley Ware, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

I am from Wilmington, North Carolina, and I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab. I obtained my PhD at the University of Houston, where I investigated differences in brain structure and function in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and in individuals with acquired brain injury. My current research focuses on structural brain development across the lifespan in children with acquired brain injury through the use of MRI. Outside of work I enjoy going to the mountains, skiing, pilates, traveling, and going to the beach.

Kathryn Manning, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab. I completed by PhD in the Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University under the supervision of Dr. Ravi S. Menon at the Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping at the Robarts Research Institute where I investigated the longitudinal effects of sports-related concussions and impacts. With Dr. Catherine Lebel I aim to explore the development of the young brain using multi-parametric MRI techniques combined with data-driven image analysis approaches. By relating these signatures of brain development with comprehensive clinical scores we aim to isolate differential trajectories that underlie compromised health and disease.

Jing Zheng, PhD

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab. I earned my Ph.D. from China Pharmaceutical University, before which I was a visiting student at University of California at Davis, where I studied the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which environmental pollutants disrupt intracellular Ca2+ signalling and neuronal plasticity in in vitro primary culture models under the supervision of Dr. Isaac Pessah. I am currently learning how to analyze MRI data in Dr. Catherine Lebel lab. My current projects are to investigate how maternal environment (such as Bisphenol A and obesity) affect brain development of the offspring by applying anatomical MRI techniques to preschool kids and mice, and using molecular biological approaches in mice models to interpret underling mechanisms observed in human sample. Outside of work, I am into playing soccer and running.

Meaghan Perdue, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

I joined the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in 2021 after completing my PhD in Psychological Sciences at the University of Connecticut. My dissertation research focused on how the structure, function, and chemistry of the brain relate to reading ability in children. In my current research with Dr. Lebel, I aim to apply advanced neuroimaging techniques in multiple modalities to characterize links between specific properties of brain structure and reading ability. I will also examine patterns of brain development in the preschool and early school years as they relate to the acquisition of reading and related skills. Outside the lab, I enjoy exploring the mountains with my family, running, baking and knitting.

Daphne Nakhid, B.Sc.

Graduate Student, Neuroscience Program

Originally from Toronto, I graduated with a BSc. Double Major in Biology and Psychology from Dalhousie University. As a Neuroscience graduate student, my research looks at brain development in adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure. In my spare time you can find me running, climbing or reading a book.

Claire Donnici, BHSc

Graduate Student, Neuroscience Program

I completed my degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Calgary. I am now working towards my MSc/MD as part of the Leaders in Medicine joint degree program. My project looks at associations between maternal mental health during the perinatal period and the development of brain structure and function in infants and young children. Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my big Italian family and volunteering in the community.

Ti-Amo Richards, BSc

Masters Student, Neuroscience

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted every aspect of our lives, and the effects on child brain development are no exception. As a Master of Neuroscience student, I am particularly interested in understanding how the pandemic stressors have affected the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children from vulnerable populations. This is not only a crucial area of research in its own right, but it is also a key concern for future public health practitioners working with these populations in the years to come. In my current study, I aim to investigate how the stressors of the pandemic have impacted child brain development and to identify strategies for mitigating these effects to promote healthy growth. With this research, I hope to make a meaningful contribution to the public health field and pave the way for a career working with vulnerable populations.

Mohammad Ghasoub, B.Sc

Graduate Student, Neuroscience Program

I am an International MSc student in Neuroscience. I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology and minor in Biological Sciences from the University of Alberta. My research focuses on white matter correlates of pre-reading abilities in typically developed children as well as children with prenatal alcohol exposure. In my free time, I enjoy traveling to new places, spending time with my friends and family, and listening to music.

Madison Long, M.Sc

Graduate Student, Neuroscience Program

I am a PhD student in the Neuroscience program and I use structural MRI to map trajectories of brain development in typically developing children and those prenatally exposed to alcohol. Before coming to Calgary, I received B.S. in Psychology from the University of Oregon and completed my M.Sc. thesis in Developmental Psychology jointly between Leiden University in the Netherlands and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognition and Brain Science in Leipzig, Germany. Outside of work, you can find me working in my garden or running mountain trails with my dog.

Xinyuan Li, MD

PhD Candidate

I won the DOHaD Trainee Brain Mobility Award, and joined the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab for three months as a visiting student to learn the Diffusion Tensor Imaging analysis. I am a PhD Candidate from Integrated Program in Neurocience, McGill University. My current research is to examine whether amygdala-prefrontal structural connectivity mediates associations between prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) caused by 1998 Quebec Ice Storm and young adults' autism traits and whether, and whether it mediates associations between PNMS from the COVID-19 pandemic and infants' developmental outcomes.

Jamie Roeske, BSc

Masters Student, Biomedical Engineering

I recently graduated with my BSc (Hons) in neuroscience from UCalgary. I am now completing my MSc in biomedical engineering in the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab. My project uses three imaging modalities to investigate mismatches between the typical developmental rates of brain regions. When I’m not in the lab, you can find me consuming an excessive amount of lattes, working at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, or posting on my book blog.

Sam Miller, BHSc

Masters Student, Medical Sciences

Sam's research explores the relationship between positive parent-child interactions and healthy brain development in infants. Specifically, she is interested in the structural and emotional qualities of parenting and their contribution to optimal white matter connectivity. Sam hopes that the findings of this project may lead to early interventions to help improve parent-child relationships, to optimize brain development in children.

Irene Manalastas

I am currently in my second year of Nursing at the University of Calgary. My interest in research stems from my passion for improving patient outcomes in pediatric populations. My current project investigates white matter microstructure and its relation to externalizing behaviors in young children with prenatal alcohol exposure. In my free time I enjoy running, playing the guitar and eating sushi!

Taylor Groulx

I am originally from Northern Ontario, and I graduated from Western University with a BSc double major in Medical Science and Psychology. I then completed a graduate certificate degree in Biomedical Neuroscience from the University of Florida before moving to Calgary. My research interests include neurodevelopment, neural plasticity, and concussion. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the piano, dancing, hiking in the mountains and doing yoga!

Aliza Jaffer

I am a second-year undergraduate student in Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. My project focuses on identifying resting state functional networks and inter-network connectivity in infants and relating the findings to measures of maternal mental health reported during pregnancy. In my spare time, I love playing basketball, spending time with my friends and family, and travelling!

Curtis Ostertag

I’m an undergraduate student heading into my fourth year of Neuroscience at the University of Alberta, and I also happen to be conducting my fourth summer of research at the lab! My research mainly focuses on structural brain development during the preschool period, and the relationship between brain development and the emergence of reading and language skills. In my free time, I love to be active!

Darpal Patel

I'm a second-year undergraduate student studying Neuroscience at the University of Calgary. My current project focuses on effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on hippocampal subfield volumes and determining if these differences are associated with Full Scale IQ. In my spare time I enjoy running, playing badminton, and listening to music.

Martina Min

I am an undergraduate student studying Neuroscience at the University of Calgary. I will be completing my honours thesis in the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab. My research project focuses on maternal mental health during the perinatal period and children’s brain structure and language development. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, crocheting, and volunteering in the community.