Michael Barrus
Program of study: PhD in Psychology
Research in the lab: Individual differences in disadvantageously risky decision making, the influence of cues on decision-making preferences.
Next move: Data visualisation position in private industry
What I would like the lab to remember me for: An unwavering dedication to exploring the labs’ tasks, tirelessly surfing the literature for insight and new directions, and endlessly fishing for results.
What the lab probably will remember me for: Tirelessly surfing and endlessly fishing.
Publications
Hannah Brodie
Program of study: MSc in Neuroscience
Research in the lab: Investigating the effect of chronic THC exposure on cost-benefit decision making.
Next move: MA in Counselling Psychology
What I would like the lab to remember me for: My passion for learning and work ethic.
What the lab probably will remember me for: Expertly crafting THC cocktails for my rats.
Chloe Chernoff
Program of study: MSc in Neuroscience
Research in the lab: Manipulating the noradrenaline system using various methods (ie. pharmacology, chemogenetics) to elucidate the role of noradrenaline in gambling-like behaviour and risk taking.
Next move: PhD at University of Cambridge with Dr. David Belin
What I would like the lab to remember me for: Meaningful intellectual contributions and hard work in CDM.
What the lab probably will remember me for: Having an encyclopedic knowledge of beer.
Contact: chloec27@student.ubc.ca
Publications
Mason Silveira
Program of study: PhD in Psychology
Research in the lab: Understanding cholinergic contributions to cost/benefit decision making.
Next move: Post-doctoral fellowship at University of Oxford with Dr. Mark Walton
What I would like the lab to remember me for: My baking skills
What the lab probably will remember me for: My short-lived international Quidditch career
Publications
Melanie Tremblay
Program of study: PhD in Psychology
Research in the lab: I am researching the behavioural and molecular correlates of treatments for Parkinson’s disease like dopamine agonists and deep brain stimulation, which have been found to create impulse control disorders in human patients.
Next move: Post-doctoral fellowship funded by Parkinson Canada at University of Toronto with Dr. Jean Beaulieu
What I would like the lab to remember me for: My dedication, passion, endless perseverance, and desire to perfect my techniques.
What the lab probably will remember me for: A lot of things… Being the person who has lived a thousand lives prior to becoming a scientist, and that I am famous for getting large cohorts.
Publications
Jacqueline-Marie Ferland
Program of study: PhD in Neuroscience
Research in the lab: The relationship between decision-making, drug addiction, and relapse and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to these behaviours.
Next move: Post-doctoral fellowship at Mount Sinai (ICAHN) School of Medicine with Dr. Yasmin Hurd
What I would like the lab to remember me for: A passion for learning and my projects
What the lab probably will remember me for: Being overly obsessed with labeling and organization
Publications
Paul Cocker
Program of study: PhD in Neuroscience
Current research interests: Modeling cognitive biases relevant for pathological gambling
Next move: Post-doctoral fellowship at University of Cambridge with Dr. David Belin
What I would like the lab to remember me for: Being an intellectual behemoth and really ridiculously good looking
What the lab probably will remember me for: My abject failure to acknowledge reality
Publications
Fiona Zeeb
Program of study: PhD in Neuroscience, 2007-2012
Research in the lab: Pathological gambling, impulsivity (choice and action), and environmental enrichment
Next move: Post-doctoral fellowship (funded bv OMHA and CIHR) with Dr. Paul Fletcher at CAMH, Toronto, looking at cognition in a dual-impact model of schizophrenia
Remembered in the lab for: External monologues, the colour purple, the noise made by her knees, setting up the lab,an awe-inspiring level of competence.
Publications
Jay Hosking
Program of study: PhD in Neuroscience, 2009-2014
Research in the lab: Neural and neurochemical basis of cognitive effort and its impact on decision making
Next move: Post-doctoral fellowship (grant-funded) with Dr. Josh Buckholtz at Harvard University using neuroimaging in human subjects to study decision-making processes
Remembered in the lab for: A phasic beard, being a published author (and we don’t mean his scientific papers), lead vocals, moleskin notebooks, a killer turn of phrase
Publications
Dominique Levesque
Program of study: MSc in Neuroscience, 2009-2012
Research in the lab: Behavioural and molecular effects of chronic lithium treatment.
Next move: Research and grants facilitator, BC Women’s Hospital and others.
Remembered in the lab for: Never feeling cold, beautifully diligent record-keeping, a dangerous penchant for “girlie” drinks that would lay a sailor out cold.
Dr
. Cole Vonder Haar
Program of study: Post-doctoral fellowship (CIHR), 2013-2016
Research in the lab: Modeling cognitive dysfunction resulting from traumatic brain injury
Next move: Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at West Virginia University
Remembered in the lab for: homebrew, an alarming tie-dyed lab coat, fear of pottery painting, an almost indecent love of R, a healthy amount of skepticism, becoming a PI
Dr. Wendy Adams
Current research interests: Regulation of impulse control in the context of mental illness and obesity; influence of dietary and immune factors on cognitive function; monoaminergic neurotransmitters in fronto-striatal brain circuits.
Next move: Biomedical device company in Australia
Remembered in the lab for: the best hugs, beautiful excel spreadsheets, an infectious smile, proof-reading like a boss, being the lab mom, doing all the projects
Publications
Tristan Hynes
Program of study: PhD in Neuroscience
Current research interests: Using DREADDs to interrogate the role of dopamine at the intersection of cocaine addiction, decision making, and biological sex.
Next move: Post-doctoral fellowship with Dr. David Belin at the University of Cambridge
Remembered in the lab for: his participation in research “in the field”, exotic travels, DREADDful experiments, never growing a beard, a dramatic change of hair colour
Publications
Dr. Mariya Cherkasova
Program of study: PDF/Research Associate
Current research interests: psychological and neural mechanisms of reward-related behavior and addiction
Next move: Faculty position at West Virginia University
Remembered in the lab for: getting human subjects research off the ground pretty much single-handedly, working with the biggest machines that go bing, doing more complicated analyses than anyone else, cycling EVERYWHERE, an adventurous spirit
Publications