Memory Lab | Toronto Metropolitan University
Lab Members
Principal Investigator
Dr. Karl Szpunar
karl.szpunar@torontomu.ca
I completed my doctoral training at Washington University in St. Louis in 2009 and my postdoctoral training at Harvard University in 2015. My research focuses on elucidating the cognitive and neural mechanisms that give rise to adaptive uses of memory in daily life.
Graduate Students
Marni Goldstein
marni.goldstein@torontomu..ca
Growing up as an autistic, I felt great disparity between my cognition and that of others, leading to my fascination with how people think and how thoughts affect behavior. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in 2015. I then volunteered as a research assistant in the Multisensory Systems Neuroscience Lab at York University under the supervision of Dr. Joe DeSouza. I am in my fourth year as a graduate student.​
Samantha Gauvreau
samantha.gauvreua@torontomu.ca
I am a third-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program. I have a blended background in cognitive neuroscience and education. I most recently completed a master's degree at the University of Toronto where I conducted functional neuroimaging (MEG) research at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. I am also an Ontario certified teacher and previously obtained a Bachelor of Education at Queen's University after completing my undergraduate degree in Cognitive Science at McGill University. I am extremely passionate about fostering accessible learning in our communities. At the Memory Lab, I am very excited to explore cognitive and neuroimaging approaches to study attention and memory in learning to help students overcome challenges and improve educational outcomes.
Katriel Read
katriel.read@torontomu.ca
I am a second-year graduate student in the Psychological Science program. I completed my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology at McMaster University. My research interests include episodic future thinking, memory, and mental imagery. In the memory lab, I am excited to explore spontaneous mental imagery relating to what might happen in someone's ongoing experience. In my spare time, I enjoy playing sports, baking, and spending time outside!
Part-Time Lab Manager
Nilay Özdemir Haksever
nilay.oh@torontomu.ca
I completed my Master's degree in Cognitive Neuropsychology at BahçeÅŸehir University, Turkey. My research experience includes working as an intern at clinical neuropsychology laboratories and as a research assistant in the Psychology Department at BahçeÅŸehir University. My research focus encompasses human memory and future thinking, particularly their relationship with the self and the functions of mental time travel. In the Memory Lab, I am eager to delve into collective future thinking, especially its relationship with identity and experiences, as well as cross-cultural differences in future thinking. Outside of research, I enjoy walking in nature, exercising, spending time with animals, and taking photos to carry my memories into the future!
Honours Thesis Students
Mila MacNeil
mila.macneil@torontomu.ca
I am a fourth-year undergraduate student in the psychology (BA) program currently completing my undergraduate thesis in the Memory Lab where I am investigating the role of mental time travel in general lifetime periods. As I am also a research assistant in the Stress and Healthy Aging Research (StAR) Lab at TMU, I am interested in applying the knowledge I gain through my experience in the Memory Lab to older adult populations in the future. I am eager to gain and nurture these skills in order to pursue graduate studies in cognitive psychology upon my graduation. In my spare time, I enjoy horseback riding, creative writing and watching movies!
Sarah Shahrour
sarah.shahrour@torontomu.ca
I am in my fourth year in the psychology (BA) program. I am currently doing my undergraduate thesis in the Memory Lab and am exploring the connection between interpolated testing and knowledge integration. My research interests include memory and cognitive science. In the future, I hope to use what I've learned to go into graduate school studies in the field of cognitive science. In my free time I love to read, and watch movies!
Recent Lab Alumni - Graduate Students
Hymnjyot Gill (MA, 2023) - Current Position - Medical Student, Michael G. DeGroote Medical School (WRC)
Sushmita Shrikanth (PhD, 2021) - Current Position - Researcher, Google (USA)
Yuchen Li (MA, 2021) - Current Position - PhD student at Purdue University (USA)
Vannia Puig (MA, 2019) - Current Position - PhD student at the University of Arizona (USA)
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Recent Lab Alumni - Undergraduate Students
Anne Cabildo (BA, 2021) - Current Position - Graduate Student at the University of Toronto
Avishag Frank (BA, 2021) - Current Position - Graduate Student at Toronto Metropolitan University
Ruthie Poizner (BA, 2021) - Current Position - Graduate Student at Concordia University
Joey Vong (BA, 2022) - Current Position - Graduate Student at Toronto Metropolitan University
Kieryn Carlse (BA, 2024) - Current Position - Graduate Student at Brock University
Kiana Greenly (BA, 2024) - Current Position - Graduate Student at Toronto Metropolitan University
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Current Collaborators
Dr. Julia Spaniol, Toronto Metropolitan University
Dr. Jason Chan, Iowa State University (USA)
Dr. Arnaud D'Argembeau, University of Liège (Belgium)
Dr. Donna Rose Addis, Rotman Research Institute
Dr. James Liu, Massey University (New Zealand)
Dr. Sezin Önur, Kadir Has University (Turkey)
Dr. Jeremy Yamashiro, UC Santa Cruz (USA)
Dr. Adam Putnam, Furman University (USA)
Dr. Meymune Topçu, New School (USA)
Dr. Piotr Szpunar, University at Albany (USA)
Dr. Lixia Yang, Toronto Metropolitan University