Culham Lab Alumni ("Culhamni") and Genealogy

See our academic genealogy on Neurotree

Former Postdoctoral Fellows:

Emiko Muraki, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2025-2026)
Now an Assistant Professor in Psychology at Penn State

Diana Dima, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, co-supervised with Yalda Mohsenzadeh, 2022-2025)
Now a Senior Research Associate at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada

Mohzgan Salimparsa, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2024-2025)
Now a Data Scientist at AmeriTrust Financial Technologies Inc.

Guy Rens, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2020-2022)
Now a Team Lead at Argenta, Antwerp, Belgium

Carol Coricelli, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2020-2022)
Now a Research Scientist in the Food Research Group at Institut Lyfe, Lyon, France

Chelsea Ekstrand, PhD (BrainsCAN and NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow, co-supervised with Ingrid Johnsrude, 2019-2020), Now an Associate Professor at the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge.

Kaitlin Laidlaw, PhD (BrainsCAN Postdoctoral Fellow, co-supervised with Mel Goodale, 2016-2019)
Now a Research Analyst with Libro Financial (London Canada)

Erez Freud, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow co-supervised with Marlene Behrmann, Carnegie Mellon University, 2015-2018)
Now an Associate Professor at York University (Toronto, Canada)

Juan Chen, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow co-supervised with Mel Goodale, 2012-2018)
Now a Professor at South China Normal University

Lucilla Cardinali, PhD. (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012-2016)
Formerly a postdoctoral fellow at Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy
Now a Professional Life Coach

Jenni Karl, PhD. (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014-2015)
Now an Associate Professor at Thompson Rivers University

Sara Fabbri, PhD. (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2011-2014)
Formerly an assistant professor at University of Groningen, Netherlands
Now an Academic Life Coach

Michael Barnett-Cowan, PhD (Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012-13) 
Now a Professor in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo

Jacqueline Snow, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2008-2013)
Now a Professor in Psychology at University of Utah

Stephanie Rossit, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2009-2011) 
Now an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of East Anglia (U.K.)

Simona Monaco, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2009-2010) 
Now an Assistant Professor at the University of Trento, Italy. 

John Zettel, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2006-2008) 
Formerly an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph

Jessica Witt, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2006-2007) 
Now a Professor at Colorado State University

Greg Kroliczak, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2005-2006) 
Now a Professor at Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland,

Anthony Singhal, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2004-2006) 
Now a Professor at the University of Alberta

Cristiana Cavina-Pratesi, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2004-2005) 
Formerly a Senior Lecturer at the University of Durham (U.K.)

Former Masters and PhD Students:

Olivia Ipwanshek, MSc (MSc student in Psychology, 2024-26)
MSc thesis: Reaching movements in virtual reality depend on the seen avatar arm and not just the physical controlling arm 
Now a PhD student in the Culham Lab

Eva Deligiannis, MSc (Msc student in Neuroscience, 2023-25)
MSc thesis: Exploring neural responses in the human brain to real-world face size and distance
Now a Research Assistant and Lab Manager in the Culham Lab

Michaela Kent, PhD (PhD student in Neuroscience, 2020-25)
PhD thesis: From faces to minds: Exploring socio-cognitive development with fNIRS

Jaana Leppala, MSc (MSc student in Neuroscience, 2020-22)
MSc thesis: Virtual Hand Actions Show Behavioural and Neural Signatures of Right Handedness
Now a Research Coordinator, Mount Sinai Hospital

Emily Davidson, MSc (MSc student in Neuroscience, 2020-22)
MSc thesis: Human Neuroimaging Reveals that Agency in a Video Game Boosts Functional Connectivity Within and Between Networks
Now a PhD student at McGill University

Margaret Maltz, formerly Margarita “Rita” Malteseva, MSc (PhD candidate in Psychology 2015-2020; MSc 2013-15)
PhD thesis: The effect of physical size and familiar size in the real world on perception and brain activation (all but dissertation due to medical leave and death)
MSc thesis: Congruent familiar size relationships decrease size contrast illusion

Laura Cabral, PhD (PhD student in Psychology, primary supervisor: Rhodri Cusack at Trinity College Dublin, 2013-2019)
Now a Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Pittsburgh
PhD thesis: The Origins and Development of Visual Categorization

Ben Chang (PhD candidate in Neuroscience, 2014-2018)
Now a Advisory Director at Info-Tech Research Group

Scott Macdonald, PhD (PhD student in Neuroscience, 2011-2017)
Now Director of Field Sales — US Public Sector at Info-Tech Research Group
PhD Thesis: Characterizing Tool-Selective Areas with Human Neuroimaging

Alex Yan, MD (MD-PhD candidate in Neuroscience, 2013-2017) 
Now a physician

Teresa Figley, MSc (née McAdam; PhD candidate in Neuroscience, 2010-2014) 
Now a research technician at University of Manitoba

Mark Daley, PhD (did MSc in Neuroscience during academic leave, 2010-2012)
MSc Thesis: Optimizing voxel scale graph theoretical analysis of fMRI-derived resting state functional connectivity
Resumed position as Professor in Computer Science at Western University
Now Chief AI Officer, Western University

Joey Paciocco, MSc (MSc student in Neuroscience, 2010-2012)
Now Acting Director, Operations and Strategy, Faculty of Engineering, Western University
Thesis: fMRI Reveals the Neural Correlated of Real and Pantomimed Tool Use in Humans

Jason Gallivan, PhD (MSc and PhD student in Neuroscience, 2005-2011) 
Now an Associate Professor at Queen's University
Ph.D. thesis: Decoding motor intentions from human brain activity

Kenneth Valyear, PhD (PhD student in Neuroscience, 2006-2010) 
Now a Senior Lecturer at Bangor University, Wales
Ph.D. thesis: Perception Meets Action: fMRI and Behavioural Investigations of Human Tool Use.

Charlie Pettypiece JD (MSc student in Neuroscience, 2008-2010) 
Now a lawyer
M.Sc. thesis: Kinematic properties of visually and haptically guided actions.

Simona Monaco, PhD (visiting PhD scholar from Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bologna, 2005-2009) 
Now an Assistant Professor at the University of Trento, Italy. 
Ph.D. thesis: Contribution of visual and proprioceptive information to the precision of reaching movement.

Derek Quinlan, Ph.D. (MSc and PhD student in Neuroscience, 2001-2008) 
Now an Assistant Professor (Psychology) at Huron University College and a Research Technician at Western University
Ph.D. thesis: The kinematics of reach and grasp movements involving the mouth vs. external targets.

Yvonne Wong, PhD (PhD student in Neuroscience, 2004-2008; primary supervisor: Tutis Vilis)
Now a Sessional Lecturer at Concordia University of Edmonton and Founder and CEO of Canada Neurotech
Ph.D. thesis: The role of temporal synchrony as a binding cue for visual persistence.

Former Research Assistants and Administrative Assistants:

  • Marisa Donnelly, BSc (Research Assistant and Undergraduate Coordinator, 2019-2022), now a Research Analyst, Libro Credit Union

  • Rosanna Turner (Administrative Assistant, 2017-2020), now retired

  • Tzu-Ching Chiang, PhD (2014-2015)

  • Lucia van Eimeren, (Research Assistant, 2010-2011)

  • Teresa McAdam, MSc (Research Assistant, 2006-2009), now a Research Technician at University of Manitoba

  • Kenneth Valyear, MSc (Research Assistant, 2002-2005), now a Senior Lecturer at Bangor University, Wales

  • Stacey Danckert, PhD (Research Assistant, 1999-2002), now a Legislative Coordinator, Green Party of Ontario

Former Honours Students and Independent Study Students:

  • Maria Correa (Independent Study Student, Psychology, 2025-26)

  • Soumit Sahoo (Independent Study Student, Health Sciences, 2025-26)

  • Sofia Varon (Honours Student, Neuroscience, 2022-23), now a MSc student at McGill

  • Eva Deligiannis (Honours Student, Neuroscience, 2022-23), now a Lab Manager in the Culham Lab

  • Suzanne Chang (Honours Student, Psychology, 2021-22), now an optician

  • Kieran Hussey (Honours Student, Neuroscience, 2020-2021), now a medical student at University of Western Australia

  • Homa Vahidi (Honours Student, Neuroscience, 2020-2021), now a medical student at Stanford University

  • Anna Rzepka (Honours Student, Neuroscience, 2019-20), now an medical student at Queen’s University

  • Logan Reynolds (Honours Student, Psychology, 2019-20), now a resident physician at Ottawa Hospital

  • Carly Goodman (Honours Student, Psychology, 2019-20), now a grad student at York University

  • Marley Waltman (Honours Student, Psychology, 2019-20), now an occupational therapist

  • Jiaming “Olivia” Xu (Honours Student, Psychology, 2019-20), now a PhD student at University of Texas, Austin

  • Romy Segall (Honours Student, Psychology, 2018-19), now an internal medicine resident at Womens College Hospital, Toronto

  • Cosette Leblanc (Honours Student, Psychology, 2018-19), now a clinical psychologist at Pacific Maple Health Centre

  • Ethan Poris, MSc (Honours Student, Psychology, 2018-19), now an Associate Director at Bristol Myers Squibb

  • Sara Pac, MSc (Honours Student, Neuroscience, 2018-19), now an MRI Technical Expert at NeuroRx

  • Chuanheng “Henry” He (Honours Student, Computer Science, 2018-19)

  • Yijun He (Honours Student, Computer Science, 2018-19), now a software developer

  • Judy Basmaji (Honours Student, Psychology, 2017-18), now a social worker in London Ontario

  • Prajith Sivakumar (Honours Student, Biology, 2017-18), now a data and systems manager, Wonderfield Group

  • Emma Bluemke, PhD (Honours Student, Medical Biophysics, 2016-17), now a Research Manager at Centre for the Governance of AI (UK)

  • Stephanie Schumacher, OD (Honours Student, Psychology, 2016-17), now an optometry student at U Waterloo

  • Erin Walton-Ball, MD (NSERC USRA Student, 2016-17), now a family medicine doctor

  • Jennifer Cooper, PhD (Honours Student, 2016-17), now a Clinical Psychologist

  • Alex Pearson MD (Scholar's Electives Student, 2014-16)

  • Ashley Bramwell (Honours Student, 2013-14), now an Associate Media Buyer & Content Administration at Abundance Digital in Victoria BC

  • Leanne Zive, DDS (Independent Study Student, 2013-2014), now a dentist

  • Russell Yanofsky, MD (Independent Study Student, 2013-2014), now a physician

  • Scott Squires (Honours Student and NSERC USRA Student, 2013-2014), now an MSc student in clinical psychology

  • Alan Osiovich (Honours Student, 2013-2014), now an occupational therapist

  • Daniella De Tina, MBA (Honours Student, 2011-2012), now in marketing

  • Alexandra Coros MBA (Honours Student, 2010-2011), now a consultant at Accenture

  • Shaun Parekh, JD (Honours Student, 2010-2011), now a lawyer

  • Debbie Boswell JD (Scholar's Electives Student, 2009-2011), now a Litigation Associate

  • Andrew Wojcik (Scholar's Elective Student, 2007-2008), now a public servant

  • Charlie Pettypiece, MSc, JD (Independent Study Student, 2007-2008), now a lawyer

  • Martin Bauwens (Honours Student, 2006-2007), now a medical administrator

  • Jacqueline Corlett (Scholar's Elective Student, 2006), now a Pharmacist

  • Liam Kaufman (Honours Student, 2004-2005), now a software developer and entrepreneur

  • Arin Klug, JD (Honours Student, 2003-2004), now a lawyer

  • Brendan Chapman, PhD (Honours Student, 2003-2004), now a Professor of Biomed Engineering, Centennial College

  • David Goodman (Honours Student, 2003-2004), now a teacher

  • Amanda Stiglick, MD (Honours Student, 2002-2003), now a physician

Former Visiting Scholars:

  • Linda Rosbach, Visiting MSc student, University of Regensburd, Germany (2025-6)

  • Lina Klein, Visiting PhD student, Justis-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany (2017-2022)

  • Özlem Sensoy, PhD, Visiting PhD student, Justis-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany (2017-2022)

  • Marieke Pazen, PhD Visiting PhD student, Philipps University Marburg, Germany (Visiting Western Oct-Dec. 2018)

  • Guy Rens, PhD, visiting PhD student from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium (2018)

  • Carol Coricelli, PhD, Visiting PhD student from SISSA, Trieste, Italy (2017)

  • Valentina Parma, PhD, Visiting postdoc from SISSA, Trieste, Italy (2016), now Assistant Director, Monell Chemical Senses Center

  • Theresa Gerhard, PhD, Visiting PhD student from Justis-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany (2016)

  • Haleemah Ahmed, visiting student from the University of Bologna (2014)

  • Hameedah Ahmed, visiting student from the University of Bologna (2014)

  • Nichola Rice-Cohen, PhD, Visiting scholar from University of Durham, U.K., now a postdoc at Brandeis

  • Eris Chinellato, PhD, Visiting scholar from University of Castellon, Spain, now a senior lecturer at Middlesex University London, U.K.