The Lab Team
Meet our dedicated team
People
The Advancing Research for Culturally Aligned Interventions is directed by Dr. Fiona Thomas, and is staffed by students at various levels of training, including undergraduate, post-graduate, masters, and doctoral. In addition, lab staff include a number of volunteer research assistants.
- All Members
- Principal Investigator
- Graduate Students
- Lab Coordinator
- Research Assistants
- Thesis Students
- Alumni
Lab Director
Dr. Fiona Thomas
Areas of Expertise: Culturally-informed clinical practice; community-engaged research; PTSD; qualitative and mixed-method research; implementation science
Biography
Dr. Thomas is an assistant professor of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), specifically with research and teaching interests in culturally-informed clinical practice. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Department of Psychology at TMU and MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science in Health, Community and Development. Additionally, she completed her predoctoral residency with the London Clinical Psychology Residency Consortium and a postdoctoral fellowship in implementation science and evidence-based trauma interventions on a joint project between labs at Stanford University and TMU.
Dr. Thomas’ research examines culturally-responsive and sustainable mental health interventions locally and globally, focused on addressing structural inequities and reducing mental health disparities among marginalized communities. She works toward improving current systems of care by using multiple methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, participatory) with diverse stakeholders to understand the interconnections and complexity of factors that influence psychopathology. A nascent research area includes adapting, implementing, and disseminating evidence-based protocols to better fit families and communities impacted by social upheaval and multigenerational traumas.
In collaboration with researchers locally (e.g., Toronto), regionally (e.g., United States) and globally (e.g., Sri Lanka, Nepal), Dr. Thomas’ works at the nexus of clinical and public health interventions. Her research has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC; Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship), the RBC Immigrant Diversity and Inclusion Project, and Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (SSHRC).
PhD Student
Mandy Wu
Hi, my name is Yufei (Mandy) Wu and I’m an incoming PhD 1 student in the Clinical Psychology program at TMU! I was born and raised in Beijing and spent the last 7 years in Montreal completing a BA (Honours) in Psychology and MSc in Cultural Psychiatry at McGill University. I also do illustrations on the side and enjoy frequenting cafes, bakeries, and ice cream parlors around the world!
PhD Student
Sofia Melendez Ron
Sofia Melendez Ron (M.A. from Toronto Metropolitan University; M.Ed. from Queen’s University; BSc.H. from Queen’s University) is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University. Sofia hails from Western Mexico, a land shared by the Wixárika, Coca, and Tecuexe Pueblos Originarios.
For almost a decade, Sofia has facilitated projects that support culturally and racially diverse queer, trans, and nonbinary people. Their SSHRC-funded research aims to build better lives for trans and nonbinary people by transforming training for mental health clinicians. She is collaborating with other genderqueer, trans, and nonbinary people to create case studies for mental health clinicians to learn about gender inclusivity and gender affirmation through an intersectional lens.
Sofia is a Vanier Scholar and a recipient of various scholarships including the Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Master’s Award, the Joseph Armand Bombardier Master’s Canada Graduate Scholarship, and the Jean Royce Fellowship. Outside of school and clinic, Sofia can be found dancing to traditional Mexican music, learning to sow, and spending time with their familia.
PhD Student
Sandhya Narikuzhy
Sandhya Narikuzhy is a clinical Neuroscience PhD candidate at McMaster University. She currently studies trauma, PTSD, dissociation, and minority stress using mixed-methods and fMRI techniques. Considering her passion for advancing culturally informed psychological care and assessments, Sandhya will be pursuing another doctoral degree in clinical psychology at McMaster University (research and clinical training stream), focusing on anxiety-related disorders and intervention research. Sandhya’s role in the ARCAI lab will be to assist the OSP project, helping with the qualitative arm of the study. Outside of school and work, Sandhya enjoys working out, practicing hot-yoga, playing with her cat, reading a good book (if she’s not too tired), rewatching harry potter movies, and hanging out with her family and friends!
MA Student
Katherine McGuire
Hi, I’m Katherine! I am a master’s student in the Clinical Psychology graduate program. I graduated with a specialized honours degree in Psychology from York University. I am most interested in understanding how to improve perinatal health and well-being among vulnerable women and strengthen maternal-child relationships. In my free time, I love being outside with my dogs, exploring new places, and reading.
MA Student
Ahmad Alftieh
Ahmad is an incoming MA 1 student in the Clinical Psychology program at TMU. He completed
his Master of Science in Neuroscience (2021) and his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and
Mental Health with a Minor in Psychology (2019) at Carleton University. His research interests
are centered on understanding and addressing mental health disparities among marginalized
populations.
Ahmad is passionate and actively works to promote Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) in
academia and the community. His personal interests include spending time with friends and
family (including his two dogs), exploring the outdoors, strength training, soccer, and video
games.
“It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” – Nelson Mandela.
Lab Coordinator
Diandra Clarabel
Diandra Clarabel is in her final year as a committed Bachelor of Arts in Psychology student at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her true passion revolves around being empathetic and providing support to those in need of mental health support. Diandra’s broad interests encompass combatting the stigma and perceptions of mental health within South Asian communities. She has the desire to obtain the qualifications and hands-on experiences that will empower her to make transformative changes in the lives of those who seek solace and growth.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/diandraclarabel
Research Assistant
Ophélie Ng Ha Kwong
Meet Ophélie Ng Ha Kwong, a dedicated psychology research assistant who completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the Toronto Metropolitan University. Ophélie’s academic journey and work experience have equipped her with a strong foundation and passion for understanding the complexities of human experience. With proficiency in literature review, qualitative research methods, and data analysis, Ophélie has embarked on a journey to contribute to significant research and has actively contributed to the ARCAI lab for more than a year. With an empathetic and research-driven approach, Ophélie is committed to promoting mental well-being and aspires to make meaningful contributions in the field of intergenerational trauma to promote a more compassionate and inclusive world.
Alumni Research Assistant (Volunteer)
Lamia Firasta
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Research Assistant (Volunteer)
Prarthna Bhambri
Prarthna Bhambri (she/her) is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. Having successfully completed her undergraduate studies, she holds a keen interest in investigating trauma within racial and ethnic minority communities, with a particular focus on the South Asian population. Prarthna has taken an active step towards her aspirations by joining the ARCAI lab to cultivate invaluable research experience. She aspires to pursue postgraduate studies in Clinical Psychology.
Alumni Lab Coordinator
Bee Goldgruber
Bee Goldgruber holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Psychology (Honours) with a Minor in Philosophy from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is passionate about research which works with communities to create actionable change on both macro and micro levels. She is particularly invested in working with trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming communities.
Research Assistant (Volunteer)
Swetha Suthananthan
Hi, my name is Swetha Suthananthan (she/her) and I am in my second year at UTSC completing my Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Coming from a South Asian background, I have a growing interest in further exploring the topics concerning my community, and understanding the deeper purposes of a topic so broad. With the ARCAI lab, I hope to contribute to the scientific community and its participants and as a plus, hope to gain invaluable research experience! In my free time, I enjoy reading novels and manga, and I also like doing crochet!
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Thesis Student
David Diao
David Diao is a 4th-year undergraduate psychology student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Previously he completed a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science and worked for a year before returning to school. Currently, he is doing an undergraduate thesis with Dr. Thomas at the ARCAI Lab. In his free time, he loves travelling, reading, and taking photographs.
Research Student (Volunteer)
Ashley Maharaj
Hi, my name is Ashley Maharaj and I recently completed my fourth and final year of TMU’s Psychology (BA) program. I am one of the six recipients of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity (URO) grant in the Faculty of Arts for 2024 and I look forward to strengthening my research skills in the ARCAI lab!
Alumni Lab Coordinator
Puneet Parmar
Puneet graduated from York University in April 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Human Resources. Broadly, Puneet is interested in researching mental health disparities and mental health interventions using implementation science approaches and community-based methodologies (e.g., participatory action research). She has a particular interest in improving access and treatment outcomes for underserved communities, including for ethnically diverse children, youth, and families. Puneet will be starting a PhD in clinical psychology (Fall 2024) to continue this work.
Alumni Research Assistant (Volunteer)
Emily Gelgoot
Emily graduated from Queen’s University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Global Development Studies, minoring in Life Sciences. She is an incoming Master of Public Health candidate at the University of Guelph interested in maternal and infant health among refugee populations. Emily aspires to a career in health promotion to educate and empower people to own and advocate for their health.
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Research Assistant (Volunteer)
Angela Xiang
Angela recently graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University majoring in psychology and minoring in French studies. Her broad research interests include PTSD and trauma-related disorders, cross-cultural clinical psychology, and the role of relationships in mental health. She hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology to provide inclusive and accessible mental health support.