Amy Finn
CV
[email protected]
4002 Sidney Smith Hall
[email protected]Lab Manager
Hello! I am Alan (Jing Chiuan) Peng. I completed my Bachelor of Science at UofT, with a major in Neuroscience, and minors in psychology and immunology. Previously, with the Duncan Lab, I examined the role of interference on a rhythmic sub-second scale. I was also a research assistant for the Neuropsychopharmacology group at Sunnybrook. Broadly, I am interested in how cognition works, ways to prevent cognitive declines, and ways to make our minds flourish.
[email protected]Outreach Coordinator
Hello! I’m Josie Davies, the Outreach Coordinator. I completed my BSc in Psychology at Cardiff University in the UK, and was previously the Lab Manager at the Finn LAND Lab, where I investigated the effects of novelty on children's visual attention to scenes. As part of the lab’s outreach efforts, I work with community centres and programs to teach kids about psychology research, and I’m passionate about making science engaging and accessible for all. In my spare time, I love spending a day at Toronto Islands and trying out the amazing coffee shops the city has to offer.
[email protected]Post-Doctoral Fellow
I received a joint PhD in Psychology and Social and Decision Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University. I study cognitive psychology with a focus on intelligence and decision-making. At the moment I am attempting to reconcile the notion of the positive manifold - that a single factor 'general g' underlies all individual differences in intelligence - with emerging evidence from dual systems approaches that Type 1 (procedural, implicit) cognition appears uncorrelated with g.
Johnny Dubois
[email protected]
@Johnny_Dubois_
Graduate Student, Psychology
I graduated from Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba, with a BSc (hons) in Psychology, working with Dr. Nicholas Watier on mindfulness and cognition. Prior to grad school I worked as a research assistant at Pine River Institute, a residential treatment center for youth with addiction, near Shelburne, ON. My PhD work focuses on exploring developmental changes in implicit/non-declarative memory, and the neural correlates of these processes.
Erika Wharton-Shukster
[email protected]
@whartonshumthin
Graduate Student, Psychology
I recently completed my Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Toronto. Previously, I had the pleasure of working as study coordinator in a neuroimaging lab studying functional neurosurgery at the Toronto Western Hospital. As someone who finds children as fascinating as they are entertaining, I’m excited to study their learning! Specifically, I’m hoping to investigate the mechanisms behind how children process and remember information differently than adults and across development. Outside the lab, I play drums in two bands, write music, and compulsively add to my plant collection.
Justine Vorvis
[email protected]
Graduate Student, Psychology
Hi! I just completed my undergraduate degree in the Psychology Research Specialist and Neuroscience Major programs at U of T, and am excited to begin PhD studies with Dr. Amy Finn and Dr. Donald Mabbott this fall. I am broadly interested in research with the potential to inform educational practice and policy. Recently, I’ve been especially curious as to how prior learning and performance shape subsequent learning, and how cognitive and neural development vary based on contextual factors like income. Outside of the lab, I love to sing, play piano, draw, bake, and spend time biking and running outdoors!
Bailey Agard
[email protected]
Graduate Student, Psychology
Hi 🙂 My name is Bailey, and I am so excited to be starting my PHD in the LAND lab. I recently graduated from York University with a Specialized Honours BA in Cognitive Science. This past year, I worked as a Summer Research Opportunities Program student, then as a research assistant in the Child Language and Speech Studies lab at the University of Toronto Mississauga. There, I developed a project to look at how a speaker's accent may affect children's memory for what was said. I am eager to explore questions in cognitive development and psycholinguistics. Outside the lab, I can be found reading, making puzzles, playing piano, and laughing at dog videos.
Aarthi Ravi
[email protected]
Graduate Student, Psychology
Hello! I graduated with a Master’s degree in Developmental Science from York University, Toronto, and a Bachelor’s degree (Honors) in Psychology from Christ University, Bangalore. Now, as a PhD candidate at the Finn LAND Lab, my research investigates how children remember specific details of events and how these memories evolve into category-based, generalized thinking observed in adults. I'm particularly interested in the neural mechanisms that underpin this transition, as well as how different factors—such as attention and learning experiences—impact memory development. Through this work, I aim to shed light on cognitive milestones that mark children’s journey from detail-oriented memory to broader conceptual understanding. When I’m not immersed in the lab, you’ll find me exploring diverse cuisines through cooking, sketching, singing along with songs on the radio, or getting lost in a good book!
Levi Antle
[email protected]
Graduate Student, Psychology
Hi! My name is Levi, I’m excited to be starting my PhD in the LAND lab this year. I graduated from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a BA in Psychology. My undergraduate research at UBC focused on investigating the neural circuits and molecular mechanisms underlying non-associative learning in C. elegans. I also was a visiting student at Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, where I used fMRI and mathematical modelling to investigate human learning and decision-making in relation to gambling. Outside of the lab I can often be found immersing myself in nature, especially water related activities. I also enjoy gaming, reading and travelling to new places.
Jaden Dilda
[email protected]
Graduate Student
Hey! I’m a PhD student supervised by Dr. Donald Mabbott at SickKids and I’m working with the LAND lab to study how socioeconomic status affects both biological and cognitive development. My research typically involves MRI analysis of the impact of socioeconomic status on brain structure and organization, so I’m excited for the opportunity to work with this group to approach the same questions, but from a different angle. In my spare time, I enjoy reading fantasy, cooking, and hiking.
Elena Greatti
[email protected]
Graduate Student
Hi! I am an Italian graduate student in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience from Davide Crepaldi's Language, Learning, and Reading lab, currently visiting the University of Toronto as part of my program. My research investigates the interplay between attention and statistical learning, using EEG to examine how attention modulates neural entrainment to statistical regularities. By exploring how this neural tuning affects the encoding, storage, and recall of patterns in memory, I aim to advance our understanding of the brain mechanisms that underlie pattern recognition and learning. I’m excited to make the most of this experience by exploring Canada and getting to know this amazing country!!
Sangje Park
ROP student
Hello! My name is Sangje, and I am a third-year student pursuing a specialist in psychology and a major in cognitive science. I am currently interested in learning about sub-personal cognitive basis of human behaviour and how this relationship can be, at times, realized by mechanisms that lie outside our organismic boundaries. In my spare time, I enjoy watching football, playing the guitar, and watching YouTube!
Serena Ho
Hi! I’m an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto studying Cognitive Science and Economics. With over five years of experience working with children, I’m especially passionate about understanding how cognitive abilities and memory develop across the lifespan. My broad research interests include learning and memory, developmental cognitive science, and the integration of artificial intelligence in cognitive development. In my spare time, I enjoy making music, exploring photography, and spending quality time with my loved ones.
Simon Iwan
Hallo! My name is Simon, and I am an undergraduate exchange student from the University of Heidelberg, Germany. I will spend one year studying at the University of Toronto as part of my Bachelor of Science in Psychology. At the Finn LAND lab, I analyze eye-tracking data from children and adults looking at similarity within age-groups, across time and across repetitions. In my free time I like to play beach volleyball, go hiking, ice bathing or just spend time in nature.
Kevin Huynh
ROP Student, Psychology and Human Biology
I am a third-year undergraduate with a double major in psychology and human biology at the University of Toronto. What mechanisms help us better learn and retain memories? That is the research question I want to focus on. Some of my hobbies include video editing, playing piano, and photography.
Jasmine Collins
Mini-thesis student (Honours Thesis Student, Psychology Research Specialist)
Hi, my name is Jasmine! I am a third-year undergraduate student in the Psychology
Research Specialist program and am so excited to be completing my mini-thesis with the
LAND Lab! I am interested in learning and memory and in using fMRI to explore the neural
mechanisms underlying these processes. In my spare time, I enjoy playing tennis, baking,
and binge-watching TV show
Bilge Guven
Honours Thesis Student, Psychology Research Specialist and Linguistics
Hi! My name is Bilge and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Psychology Research Specialist and Linguistics Minor programs. I’m excited to be working on my thesis project exploring explore-exploit trade-offs during cognitive development, as relating to differences in the environment. Previously in the lab, I worked with EEG to examine relations between attention and statistical learning. My other research interests include well-being, equity and access in education. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking for friends and going on walks around the city!
[email protected]Research Assistant, Psychology Specialist Programme
Hi! I am a third-year student in the Psychology Specialist program with a strong interest in investigating the effects of adverse childhood experiences on adult learning and memory, substance use, social relations, and perception. My past research experience included examining stereotype endorsement among younger adults and studying the accuracy and consensus in individuals’ social inferences from faces and other stimuli. In my free time, I enjoy painting, singing, and watching true crime documentaries!
[email protected]Research Assistant, Psychology Specialist and Physiology
Hey! I am a third-year undergraduate student specializing in Psychology and minoring in physiology. I have previously worked in language and developmental labs specifically looking into spontaneous pitch acquisition in young children. My current research interests are in developmental psychology, specifically the neurophysiology behind attention and how this process changes during development. I enjoy working with children and getting to see each of their unique personalities hence why developmental psychology is my area of interest! Outside of the lab I enjoy learning new recipes, trying new restaurants and I’ve recently taken up acapella.
[email protected]ROP Student, Psychology, Neuroscience, and Immunology
Hi! My name is Gloria, and I’m a third-year student pursuing a double major in Psychology and Neuroscience, with a minor in Immunology. Broadly, I have a strong interest in the intersection between neural development and behaviour. More specifically, I am drawn to how early brain changes influence cognitive outcomes, and how these developmental differences may represent themselves in the adult brain. In my free time, I love to read, listen to podcasts, and play with my cat!
Research AssistantHello! My name is Reema, and I’m a third-year Neuroscience Specialist and Psychology Major. I previously assisted in a neuropsychology study with elderly patients, but my job as a gymnastics coach sparked my curiosity towards children’s learning and development. I'm excited to be part of this lab, as I can now combine my interests in brain development and working with children!
[email protected]
Community Research Outreach Ambassador
Hi! My name is Amanda, and I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with minors in Sociology and Political Science. I’m excited to be working as a Community Research Outreach Ambassador.
[email protected]
Community Research Outreach Ambassador
Hi everyone! My name is Cathy and I'm a third year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology, and minors in Education & Society and Immunology. I love working with children and teaching, and am super excited to contribute to the FINN LAND Lab as an Outreach Science Ambassador! 🫶🏻
[email protected]
CSC Work Study Student
Hi! My name is Janeth, and I'm a second-year undergraduate student.
I'm pursuing a Psychology Specialist with the goal of becoming a behaviour analyst. I love working with children and have had the opportunity to do so in many contexts: coaching sports, working in a daycare, babysitting, and tutoring. These hands-on experiences have strengthened my interest in developmental research, particularly in understanding how children think, learn, and behave as they grow. I find the relationship between brain development and changes in behaviour and cognition fascinating — especially how neural changes over time shape the way children interact with the world andexpress themselves. Fun fact: I can do the splits!
[email protected]
Volunteer Research Assistant
Hi! My name is Ada, and I’m thrilled to be joining the LAND lab as I wrap up my Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto, where I specialized in Psychology and minored in Immunology. My research interests center on the individual and reconstructive nature of cognition and memory. Previously, I’ve worked with children on a project investigating how demographic factors influence French language reading fluency. More recently, I designed and led a study exploring how the strength of people’s self-schemas may affect their susceptibility to false memories. Outside the lab, I love cooking new recipes and watching cartoons!
Akshita Srivastava
[email protected]
Independent Project Student, Psychology and Neuroscience
Hi! I’m a fourth-year undergraduate student, double majoring in psychology and neuroscience. Previously, I’ve worked in a variety of roles with children who have learning disabilities, and am therefore very interested in studying the development of memory, language acquisition, and other cognitive skills. In my spare time, I love baking, reading, and painting!
Insiya Samji[email protected]
Research Assistant, Mental Health Studies and Neuroscience
Hey! My name is Insiya, and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student doing a double major in Mental health studies and Neuroscience at UofT. Overall, my research interests lie in neuropsychology. Specifically in learning processes, memory, perception, personality, and behaviour across development. Aside from my academic life, I binge read fiction novels, play soccer, and hang out with my family (including my cat Leo) and friends!
[email protected]ROP Student, Psychology and Pharmacology
Hi there! I am a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, double majoring in Psychology and Pharmacology with a minor in Physiology. Currently, my research interests lie in exploring the neuropsychopharmacological mechanisms that underlie memory processing in adults and children affected by trauma and neurological disorders. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading and binge-watching series while psychoanalyzing the characters, playing the piano, and exploring new places on leisurely walks.
Shelby Suhan
[email protected]
Honours Thesis Student, Psychology Research Specialist and Linguistics
Hello! My name is Shelby Suhan, and I am a fifth year Psychology Research Specialist and Linguistics Minor student. I am passionate about mental health, learning, language, and early childhood development. My past research has explored aspects of psycholinguistics such as language acquisition in bilingual children and sentence processing in Tagalog adults. I am currently working on my honours thesis at the Finn Lab, which is an eye-tracking study investigating the effects of novelty on children's visual attention to scenes. I plan to pursue graduate studies in child clinical psychology and am interested in studying the effects of early childhood trauma and adversity on developmental outcomes. Outside of campus, I enjoy crocheting and teaching singing lessons at my vocal studio.
Alyssa (Mengyuan) Li
[email protected]
Lab Programmer, Computer Science & Psychology
I am a third year undergraduate student studying Computer Science and Psychology in University Of Toronto. I have rich experience working in psychology-related lab driven by my passion for applying professional programming skills to the field of cognition, memory and brain. In my spare time, I love all outdoor activities such as hiking and canoeing, I also enjoy creating healthy recipes in different styles!
Jia Gu
Research Assistant, Psychology, Cognitive Science and Computer Science
Hi! I am a third-year undergrad student studying Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Computer Science. My research focus is on the mechanisms of change in human cognition, especially learning and networking, and ways to mechanize them with computational and neural network models. I enjoy music, cooking, nail art, and tarot reading in my spare time!
Anusha Ramesh
[email protected]
Research Assistant, Psychology and Nutritional Sciences
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto doing a double major with Psychology & Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Physiology. I am interested in child development especially in terms of trauma and learning. In particular, how and why are some children so resilient. Additionally, I am excited to gain hands-on experience working in a lab and hope to work up to collaborate with other members of the lab on my own project! Outside the lab, I like to sing and am actively a part of the UofT theatre scene 🙂
Alumni - Post-docs and Students
Johnny Dubois[email protected]
@Johnny_Dubois_
Graduate Student, Psychology
I graduated from Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba, with a BSc (hons) in Psychology, working with Dr. Nicholas Watier on mindfulness and cognition. Prior to grad school I worked as a research assistant at Pine River Institute, a residential treatment center for youth with addiction, near Shelburne, ON. My PhD work focuses on exploring developmental changes in implicit/non-declarative memory, and the neural correlates of these processes.
Yaelan Jung
CV
Website
[email protected]
Postdoctoral Researcher, Emroy University
Yaelan is a postdoc in the Dilks Lab working with Dr. Daniel Dilks. She previously worked as a postdoc with Dr. Lauren Emberson at Princeton University. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, working with Dr. Dirk Bernhardt-Walther and Dr. Amy Finn. Her research is focused on high-level vision and how top-down factors (e.g., tasks, attention, and learning) interact with visual perception. She also asks how this interaction occurs in the developing brain. She uses fMRI and other behavioral measures to investigate these questions.
Andrew Bauer
Lead Data Scientist, FICO
[email protected]
Website
Post-Doctoral Fellow Alumni
I received my PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Waterloo, where I found that children and adults use information very differently, and made some interesting discoveries about the emergence of heuristics and biases in decision-making. During my post-doc, I’m examining how the unique ways in which children experience the world (via their limited knowledge, and developing perceptual and cognitive abilities) actually help them conquer many incredible learning feats.
[email protected]
@tessforest
Graduate Student, Psychology
Hello! I'm Tess, a PhD student in the LAND lab. I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and completed my undergraduate degree in Cognitive Systems and Linguistics at the University of British Columbia. I also spent some time working at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at the Max Plank Institute for Psycholinguistics, in the Netherlands. I'm interested in how language learning mechanisms operate, their development over time, and how that contributes to differences in language learning abilities between adults and children. In my free time I like to cook, knit, and spend time outside... either running, backpacking, skiing, or canoeing!
[email protected]
Visiting Graduate Student, Psychology
Hello! My name is Daniela and I'm a visiting Ph.D. candidate from Brigitte Roeder's Babylab in Hamburg, Germany. I'm broadly interested in learning and memory from a developmental cognitive neuroscience perspective. For my visit in the fall, I am looking forward to finding out more about the development of statistical learning/memory and the development of neural event segmentation. I am very excited to meet all members of the FinnLAND lab! I will be in the lab from September to November 2022.
Alumni - Lab Managers
Marlie Tandoc (2018-2019)
Hannah Cho (2019-2020)
Gloria Rebello (2020-2022)
Michaela Karam (2022)
Josie Davies (2023-2025)
Alumni - Undergraduate Students
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Victoria Antinucci Megha Banka Andrew Bauer Yifan Bai Gwyneth Campbell Victoria Colaluca Elizabeth Chan Marina Charalampopoulou Heidi Cheng Hannah Cho Kath Choi Audreymoore David Carissa DeMarinis Francesca Di Perna Hailey den Elzen Arshee Faizullah Priscilla Fung Voula Giannoulis Luosha Ha Alyssa Ho Natalie Holtby |
Tri Quang Huynh Minju Kang Lavania Jeganathan Tuana Tia Kant Ribhav Kapoor Parandis Kazemi Mashal Khan Erin Kim Jaehee Kim Jiin Kim Ahskan Kiyomarsi Danielle Lim Angelina Lui Kiara Lu Henrique Matulis Maria Mazaharally Shannon Meikle Asha Mohamed Kanza Naveed |
Ed Ntiri Nika Zahedi Neysiani Emily Onyshko Kay Otsubo Alyssa Payne Theresa Pham Remsha Rana Maryam Refai Alex Sahar Adnan Shahid Chana Sharrington Chuyun Shen Inayat Singh Christa Shi Sabrina Szkolmowski Marlie Tandoc Tiffany Teng Clarissa Wang Ophelia Wang Aria Wills |
Katrina Wugalter Qianwen Xu Yvette Xie Jordan Yang Noel Yuen Harry Zhu Gloria Rebello Jialin Song Maeve Beckwith- Jamieson Lama Alomrani Luis Andres Vazquez Mishel Alexandrovsky Valeria Khudiakova Michaela Karam Wujiamei (Grace) Sun Valerie Nguyen Zahra Abolghasem Denise Arefhaghi Yi Lin (Elaine) Wang
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Collaborating Post-docs and Students
Collaborators
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Taraz Lee |