{"id":536,"date":"2023-04-07T18:06:45","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T22:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.psychlabs.ryerson.ca\/template1\/?page_id=536"},"modified":"2024-05-15T10:14:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T14:14:55","slug":"people","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/about-us\/people\/","title":{"rendered":"People"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"536\" class=\"elementor elementor-536\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6d9297d elementor-section-content-middle page-heading elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6d9297d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-985423d\" data-id=\"985423d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4ff5737 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4ff5737\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-30ac95c\" data-id=\"30ac95c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a0503d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0a0503d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Lab Team<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1293cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b1293cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Meet our dedicated team<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b15c7e8\" data-id=\"b15c7e8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ace781d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ace781d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"445\" src=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2023\/04\/hero_lab_philosophy-768x445.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-518\" alt=\"Illustration of four people looking at abstract data on a white board\" srcset=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2023\/04\/hero_lab_philosophy-768x445.png 768w, https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2023\/04\/hero_lab_philosophy-300x174.png 300w, https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2023\/04\/hero_lab_philosophy-1024x594.png 1024w, https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2023\/04\/hero_lab_philosophy-190x110.png 190w, https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2023\/04\/hero_lab_philosophy.png 1137w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a25be9f no-dots elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a25be9f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d37d5db\" data-id=\"d37d5db\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4532ee1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4532ee1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">People<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d8fec3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7d8fec3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Our lab is comprised of graduate and undergraduate students and research assistants from a variety of backgrounds in addition to psychology, including journalism, art and music theory and practice, film studies, philosophy, sociology, literature, history, and sexual diversity studies. A multi-disciplinary approach directs our research, both theoretically and epistemologically.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a0da6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"7a0da6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><ul class=\"team-filters clean\"><li class=\"active\" data-filter=\"all\">All Members<\/li><li data-filter=\"graduate-students\" class=\"no-redirect\">Graduate Students<\/li><li data-filter=\"research-assistants\" class=\"no-redirect\">Research Assistants<\/li><li data-filter=\"alumni\" class=\"no-redirect\">Alumni<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"team-grid \"><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-graduate-students\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Dr. Alexander T. Vasilovsky, PhD<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Dr. Alexander T. Vasilovsky, PhD (Ryerson University, 2019; MA, Ryerson University, 2012; BSc, University of Toronto, 2009) completed his doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at Ryerson University, including a residency at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the University of Toronto. His research has focused on the psychosocial construction of gender and sexual identities, as well as their relation to mental health. His dissertation research explored non-binary identities through qualitative and arts-based methods, with a focus on the negative impact of microaggressions and pervasive identity invalidation on mental health and well-being of non-binary-identified participants. Recent publications appear in: Psychology of Women Quarterly, Theory &amp; Psychology, and Sexualities. He is currently completing his Supervised Practice at the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/1234\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-graduate-students\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"316\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2024\/03\/Emily-Thomas-316x341.jpg\" class=\"attachment-team size-team wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/><p class=\"team-name\">Emily Thomas<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Emily Thomas, MA (Ryerson University, 2017; BA, St. Thomas University, 2014) is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Ryerson University. Her research interests are rooted in critical and feminist poststructuralist approaches to exploring sexual identities, negotiations of desire and agency in sexual relationships, and experiences of sexual violence. Emily\u2019s Master\u2019s thesis examined taken-for-granted concepts such as what counts as sex, what makes for good and bad sex, and how consent and desire are negotiated both internally and relationally. Particular attention was paid to how women\u2019s lived experiences are (in)congruent with popularized discourses and media representations, and how experiences are constructed within and outside of available language. Emily was awarded a Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship from SSHRC and an O\u2019Brien Foundation Fellowship for her doctoral research. Further, Emily was awarded a Canadian Psychological Association Certificate of Academic Excellence for her Master\u2019s thesis.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/emily-thomas\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-graduate-students\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Dr. Amy Brown-Bowers<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Dr. Amy Brown-Bowers (PhD, Ryerson University, 2016; MA, Ryerson University, 2011; BJourn, Ryerson University, 2005) completed her doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at Ryerson University with primary research interests in critical psychological approaches to understanding health, gender and sexuality. She began to work in the lab 10 years ago, when she was transitioning from a career as a print journalist to studying Psychology. Her dissertation, entitled Couples coping with prostate cancer: Women and men (re)negotiating discourses of gender, sexuality and intimate relationships, is a critical psychological investigation of couples navigating sexual and relationship changes following prostate cancer treatment. A core component of this research is contextualizing participant narratives within broader sociocultural discourses of \u2018normal\u2019 sexuality, \u2018successful\u2019 gender performance and \u2018healthy\u2019 relationships. Amy was awarded a Canadian Psychological Association Programme of Certificate of Academic Excellence for her dissertation. She also has an interest in fat studies and in exploring the ways fat bodies are problematized within medical and psychological spaces. Amy works as a Psychologist in private practice in Toronto and enjoys creating safe, playful, useful, and subversive space for therapy clients.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/dr-amy-brown-bowers\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-graduate-students\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Stephanie Cosma<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Stephanie Cosma, MA (Ryerson University, 2016; BSc, University of Toronto, 2011) is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Ryerson University. Her research interests are in critical and feminist psychology, specifically in sexual scripts and gender as an element of identity. Her research focuses on how men\u2019s lifestyle websites and the pick-up artistry community frame casual sexual activity with multiple women as a means to construct and promote a particular way of defining and experiencing heterosexual masculinity. Particular attention is paid to naturalizing discourses which describe casual sex with multiple women as something that is inherently necessary in order to fulfill a male role, and to neoliberal discourses which promote an imperative for individuals to be accountable for improvement, maintenance, and self-surveillance. Stephanie was awarded a Canadian Psychological Association Certificate of Academic Excellence for her Master\u2019s thesis.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/1243\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-graduate-students\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Dr. Nicole Cormier, PhD<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Dr. Nicole Cormier, PhD (Ryerson University, 2019; MA, Ryerson University, 2010; BA, UBC-Okanagan, 2007) completed her doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at Ryerson University. Her undergraduate and Master\u2019s research centered on issues in forensic psychology, including partner abuse, psychopathic traits and fire setting in children, deception detection, and sexual offending. Nicole\u2019s ongoing interest in gender and sexuality encouraged her to pursue doctoral studies with Dr. Gurevich. Nicole\u2019s research interests in the realm of sexuality include critical perspectives on women\u2019s fantasy and desire, use of pornography and erotica by women, and deconstruction of mainstream research on the sexual response cycle and sexual orientation. Her dissertation research used feminist and poststructuralist epistemologies to inform a discourse analytic exploration of internet-based dialogues concerning women\u2019s use of male homoerotic media; this includes gay pornography, yaoi, and slash fan fiction, and further queries how women slash fiction authors are using slash to (re)construct contemporary masculinities.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/dr-nicole-cormier-phd\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-research-assistants\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Nicole Werker<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Nicole Werker, BA completed (Ryerson University, 2020), is a former Research Coordinator at the SHiFT Lab. She is passionate about incorporating a post-colonialist and critical psychology framework in her research. Her research interests include LGBTQ2SA+ lived experiences while navigating social and sexual networks; the BDSM and kink community as a marginalized sexual sub-culture; and sexological body work (physical sex therapy). She is also passionate about comprehensive sexual health education. Nicole wishes to attend graduate school and to pursue a career in clinical sex therapy.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/nicole-werker\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-research-assistants\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Jarvis Wiradharma<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Jarvis Wiradharma (she\/her), BA Psychology Candidate (Ryerson University, anticipated 2022). Jarvis is a Volunteer Research Assistant at the SHiFT Lab. Her research interests are rooted in the embodiment of masculinity and femininity, women\u2019s sexual agency, and the ways in which power and authority in sex should be consistently contested, re-evaluated, and transformed. Jarvis is passionate about examining the ways in which heteronormative discourses implicate sexual and gender identities, and the possibility for creating space to challenge and reformulate these discourses. Jarvis hopes this research will expand and improve the knowledge base on gender, sexuality, and sexual health, as well as make room for normative ideals to be challenged and reconstructed. Further, she is currently completing her undergraduate thesis entitled: Sexual Racism and Racialized Women: An Investigation of Racial Preferences and Experiences in Digital Intimacy Spaces During COVID-19. Jarvis aspires to further her academic career with a Master\u2019s Degree in Psychology, and dreams of becoming a practicing clinical psychologist.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/jarvis-wiradharma\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-research-assistants\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"316\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2024\/03\/Mira-Gitelman-316x341.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-team size-team wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/><p class=\"team-name\">Mira Gitelman<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Mira Gitelman (she\/her), BA Psychology Candidate minoring in Philosophy (Ryerson University, anticipated 2022), is a Research Assistant Volunteer at the SHiFT Lab. Mira started her undergrad in the BFA Performance Dance program at Ryerson, where dance soon became a valued hobby, and less a career. Mira\u2019s keen interest for human behaviour inspired her application to Ryerson\u2019s Psychology Program. She is interested in examining the various types of relationships through a feminist and social constructionist lens. She is passionate about sexual health education, desire, pleasure, and the ways in which heteronormative discourses affect these topics. Mira is currently completing her undergraduate thesis entitled: Intimacy in Isolation: An Exploration of Online Casual Sexual Relationships, Consent and Desire During the COVID-19 Pandemic. She plans to continue academic career through graduate school within the clinical psychology field, with hopes of specializing in sex therapy.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/mira-gitelman\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-research-assistants\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Neesa McRae-McNicholls<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Neesa McRae-McNicholls (she\/her), B.A. Journalism Candidate (Toronto Metropolitan University, anticipated 2026), is the current Research Coordinator Volunteer at the SHiFT Lab. Neesa\u2019s research interests include the embodiment and mobilization of BIPOC sexuality, two-spirit identity, and the ways in which women\u2019s sexual agency is simultaneously formed, negotiated, deconstructed, and re-constructed. She is passionate about examining marginalized sexual cultures, dominant BIPOC sexuality discourses, as well as the deconstruction and re-construction of dominant sexuality discourses. She would like to further examine BIPOC experiences of sexuality through post-colonialist, anti-racist, and critical psychological frameworks. In the future, Neesa wishes to continue her work in the field of Journalism; pairing and integrating what she has gained in knowledge from the field of Psychology.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/neesa-mcrae-mcnicholls\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-alumni\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Derek Cozzi<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Derek Cozzi, BA (Ryerson University, 2010) is a Research Assistant in the SHiFT Lab. He also currently works full time for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Adopting a post-structuralist and critical psychology framework, his research interests are in sexuality, gender, culture, and identity (re)formation.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/derek-cozzi\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-alumni\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Stefanie Simrod<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>I am an undergraduate student at Ryerson University studying Radio and Television Arts. I have always had a strong interest in psychology and completed Dr. Maria Gurevich\u2019s course: Psychology of Human Sexuality (my favourite course I have taken in university). Some other related courses I have taken at Ryerson include Personality Theory, Psychological Models of Stress and Adaptation, and Gender and Sex in Literature and Culture. I believe that psychology can be applied in all areas of academia, work, and life. I think it is a vital and extremely interesting area of study. I am so excited and honoured to join this team as a research assistant in Dr. Gurevich\u2019s Gender, Sexuality &amp; Critical Psychology Lab.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/stefanie-simrod\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-alumni\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Emma Reel<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>After recently completing my undergraduate studies at Ryerson University (2011), I am currently considering my next academic endeavor. Having graduated from the Arts and Contemporary Studies program, with a minor in Psychology, I am seeking a graduate program that will allow me to develop my passion for Philosophy. I am especially interested in Philosophy as it applies to issues of sexuality, gender studies, and disability studies.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/emma-reel\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-alumni\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Sarde Matti<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>I recently earned ar Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with honours at Ryerson University. Prior to working in Dr. Gurevich\u2019s lab, I completed my thesis and was working as a research assistant in a child development lab. I plan on pursuing an M.A. and PhD program in the future and I am interested in health, cultural and counselling psychology.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/sarde-matti\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-alumni\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Jess Malkin<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>I recently earned a Master\u2019s of Social Work degree at University of Toronto (2011), with a specialization in mental health and addictions. Prior to this degree, I studied semiotics and communication theory at the University of Toronto and then went on to complete an MA in Communication and Culture at York University. Somewhere along the way, I also completed a BA in Psychology. I received my clinical social work training at Toronto General Hospital (General Medicine) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Eating Disorders and Addictions Clinic). In addition to my clinical work, I was a research coordinator in Dr. Gurevich\u2019s Gender, Sexuality &amp; Critical Psychology Lab from 2008 to 2011.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/jess-malkin\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-alumni\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Rose Lam<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>I recently completed my undergraduate degree at Ryerson University (2011), obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Psychology. Throughout my undergraduate studies, gender and sexuality issues have consistently been of interest to me. I joined the Gender, Sexuality &amp; Critical Psychology Lab in my 3rd year of study and have been mainly focusing on discourses of desire and agency among Canadian youth. Currently, I plan to further expand my knowledge and experience within research related to gender and sexuality, as well as begin my career as a Registered Nurse in an emergency department.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/rose-lam\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-alumni\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Ameera Ali<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree at Ryerson University in 2010, with a major in early childhood studies and a minor in psychology. I will be starting an MA in early childhood studies at Ryerson this fall. My passion for the field of Psychology has grown immensely as a result of my academic history as well as being involved with the lab, and I hope to pursue further education in Psychology. I am continually exploring my research interests, which are still very broad. These interests include posttraumatic growth, the effects of traumatic experiences on mental health, adolescent mental health, body image development, infant language development, socio-emotional development in children and feminist issues in sexuality, violence, sexual assault and abuse.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/ameera-ali\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"team-grid-item filter-all filter-alumni\"><div class=\"no-photo\"><p>Photo unavailable<\/p><\/div><p class=\"team-name\">Zara Mercer<\/p><div class=\"post-content hide\"><p>Zara Mercer, BA (Ryerson University, 2015) is a Research Assistant in the SHiFT Lab. Her research interests include: adopting a critical feminist and poststructuralist approach to psychology, deconstructing heteronormative discourses that privilege heterosexuality and the active negotiation of sexual norms and scripts within sexual relationships. Zara\u2019s current research is focused on the recreational use of sexual enhancement medications and the differential use evaluation for men who have sex with men (MSM) versus men who have sex with women (MSW).<\/p>\n<\/div><p><a class=\"more target-modal\" href=\"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/team\/zara-mercer\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\/*! elementor &#8211; v3.18.0 &#8211; 20-12-2023 *\/ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]&gt;a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} The Lab Team Meet our dedicated&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"parent":513,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-536","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=536"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1214,"href":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/536\/revisions\/1214"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychlabs.torontomu.ca\/shiftlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}