Lab Director

Taylor Heffer

Dr. Heffer is a developmental psychologist interested in adolescence. Her primary line of research focuses on identifying cognitive and affective processes that contribute to elevated risk for mental health problems during adolescence. She is particularly interested in how these factors interact to predict individual differences as well as stability and change in adolescent wellbeing over time.

Graduate Students:

Taylor Anthony 
​Taylor Anthony is a second-year PhD student in the Forensic Psychology Program. Her research focuses on intolerance of uncertainty in adolescence. Uncertainty is something we all experience, so she wants to see how people experience it differently during such an important developmental period. Outside of school and research, Taylor likes to try new exercise classes, read, volunteer, and embroider!
Jessica Biasin
Jessica Biasin is a first-year Phd student in the Forensic Psychology Program. Her research interests are deeply rooted in understanding the complexities of human behaviour within legal contexts, with a focus on antisocial personality traits of Honesty-Humility and their non-linear development throughout adolescence. Her work aims to bridge the gap between psychological theory and practical applications in forensic settings, reflecting her commitment to advancing forensic psychology.
Celina Lobbezoo 
Celina Lobbezoo is a second-year MSc student in the Forensic Psychology program and is supported by the Government of Canada’s SSHRC scholarship. Her research is in developmental neuroscience and focuses on event segmentation, how individuals parse continuous experiences into meaningful events, and how this process relates to episodic memory in youth. Through this work, she aims to contribute to a better understanding of cognitive development and memory processes during childhood and adolescence. Outside of the lab, Celina enjoys reading, painting, and spending time outdoors.

Honours Students:

Research Assistants:
Sharuya Mathavan
Sharuya Mathavan was a past honours student and earned her BA(Hons) in Psychology from Ontario Tech University. Her research interests primarily focus on developmental and child psychology, with a particular emphasis on worries and social media use during these developmental periods. Outside of research and school, she enjoys going on walks, hanging out with friends and family, and watching her favourite shows and movies. ​

​Sharuya is also the Lab Assistant. 
Emily Tyrrell
Emily Tyrrell received her BA(Hons) in Psychology from Queen’s University. She is interested in understanding socio-emotional development and brain maturation from infancy through adolescence, focusing on synthesizing findings across domains and making scientific concepts accessible to a broader audience.
Sinthura Thuraisingam
Sinthura Thuraisingam is a fourth-year undergraduate at Ontario Tech University, completing a BSc in Psychology. Her research interests include cognition, psychopathology, behavioural psychology, perception, and decision-making. She hopes to research the intersection of cognitive and behavioural psychology, exploring how internal processes impact adolescent behaviour.

Alumni:

  • Kimberleigh Cormier (Honours Student - 2025/2026)
    • Affiliation: Queen's University (Graduate Student: Sports Psychology)
  • ​​Rebecca Olesky (Honours Student - 2025/2026)
    • Affiliation: Ontario Tech University (Undergraduate Student: Concurrent Ed)
  • Anoopa Babu (Research Assistant - 2025/2026)
  • Devlyn Yarenko (Honours Student - 2024/2025)
  • Dryden Arseneau (Honours Student - 2024/2024)
    • Affiliation: Western University (Graduate Student: Neuroscience)
  •  Julia Marriott (Research Assistant - 2024/2025)
  • ​Wania Zafar (Research Assistant - 2024/2025)
  • Andraya Rinaldi (Research Assistant - Summer 2024)