Lab Members
Principal Investigator
Michael Mack, PhD
Assistant Professor Department of Psychology Ph.D., Vanderbilt University (2011) View CV |
Want to join the team?We are always looking for motivated undergraduates or recent grads interested in research experience. Contact Dr. Mack for more details. |
Postdoctoral Fellows
Anna Blumenthal
BA in Psychology, Minors in Classical Studies & Philosophy, Drew University
MS in Cognitive Science University of Trento & SISSA, Italy
PhD in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario
Anna is co-supervised by Meg Schlichting and Michael Mack. She grew up in Colorado and New Jersey, and did her graduate work in cognitive neuroscience in northern Italy and then in Ontario at Western. Broadly, She is interested in how the hippocampus and surrounding medial temporal lobe structures contribute to perception, learning, and memory. At UofT, she is excited to combine neuroimaging and computational modeling to understand the link between episodic and semantic memory in the developing brain. In her free time, she loves going hiking and camping with Alfred (the handsome fellow in the photo), reading fantasy/sci-fi, and traveling.
blumenthal.anna@gmail.com
BA in Psychology, Minors in Classical Studies & Philosophy, Drew University
MS in Cognitive Science University of Trento & SISSA, Italy
PhD in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario
Anna is co-supervised by Meg Schlichting and Michael Mack. She grew up in Colorado and New Jersey, and did her graduate work in cognitive neuroscience in northern Italy and then in Ontario at Western. Broadly, She is interested in how the hippocampus and surrounding medial temporal lobe structures contribute to perception, learning, and memory. At UofT, she is excited to combine neuroimaging and computational modeling to understand the link between episodic and semantic memory in the developing brain. In her free time, she loves going hiking and camping with Alfred (the handsome fellow in the photo), reading fantasy/sci-fi, and traveling.
blumenthal.anna@gmail.com
Graduate Students
Juliana Adema
Hon. B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Philosophy, University of Ottawa
M.A. in Philosophy, University of Ottawa
M.A. in Experimental Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Most recently, Juliana received her Master's in Experimental Psychology from the University of Toronto. Her current research investigates attention and how it can be guided by perception, learning, and memory; she is especially interested in the neural underpinnings of these interactions. Her interests outside of academia include yoga, bouldering, and playing the cello.
juliana.adema@mail.utoronto.ca
Hon. B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Philosophy, University of Ottawa
M.A. in Philosophy, University of Ottawa
M.A. in Experimental Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Most recently, Juliana received her Master's in Experimental Psychology from the University of Toronto. Her current research investigates attention and how it can be guided by perception, learning, and memory; she is especially interested in the neural underpinnings of these interactions. Her interests outside of academia include yoga, bouldering, and playing the cello.
juliana.adema@mail.utoronto.ca
Emily Heffernan
B.Sc. (Eng) in Electrical Engineering, Queen’s University
M.A. in Experimental Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Emily completed her B.Sc. in electrical engineering at Queen’s University. After spending a year working in technical sales at Microsoft, Emily chose to return to academia to pursue her passion for learning and teaching. Emily is interested in combining computational models and neuroimaging data to better understand how we learn as our brains develop. She is also part of the Collaborative Specialization in Engineering and Psychology. Her research is fueled by large amounts of tea and frequent yoga sessions.
emily.heffernan@mail.utoronto.ca
B.Sc. (Eng) in Electrical Engineering, Queen’s University
M.A. in Experimental Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Emily completed her B.Sc. in electrical engineering at Queen’s University. After spending a year working in technical sales at Microsoft, Emily chose to return to academia to pursue her passion for learning and teaching. Emily is interested in combining computational models and neuroimaging data to better understand how we learn as our brains develop. She is also part of the Collaborative Specialization in Engineering and Psychology. Her research is fueled by large amounts of tea and frequent yoga sessions.
emily.heffernan@mail.utoronto.ca
Outside Project Graduate Students
Johnny Dubois
BSc in Psychology, Brandon University
University of Toronto, MA/PhD Candidate
Johnny graduated from Brandon University in Manitoba. He worked with Dr. Nicholas Waiter on mindfulness and cognition. Prior to graduate school, he worked as a research assistant at Pine River Institute, a residential treatment centre for youth with addiction, near Shelburne, Ontario. His current PhD work focuses on exploring developmental changes in implicit/non-declarative memory, and the neural correlates of these processes.
m.dubois@mail.utoronto.ca
BSc in Psychology, Brandon University
University of Toronto, MA/PhD Candidate
Johnny graduated from Brandon University in Manitoba. He worked with Dr. Nicholas Waiter on mindfulness and cognition. Prior to graduate school, he worked as a research assistant at Pine River Institute, a residential treatment centre for youth with addiction, near Shelburne, Ontario. His current PhD work focuses on exploring developmental changes in implicit/non-declarative memory, and the neural correlates of these processes.
m.dubois@mail.utoronto.ca
Graduate Research Assistants
Melisa Gumus
Hon. B.Sc. in Neuroscience and Mathematics, University of Toronto
M.Sc Student in the Institute of Medical of Science, University of Toronto & Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Melisa is investigating the link between cognitive outcomes and structural/functional brain changes in post-concussion and CTE patients in her masters, being supervised by Dr. Carmela Tartaglia and collaborating with Dr. Mack. She is also part of the DTI team at the Mack Lab, that studies the interaction between differences in white matter tracts and learning performance during rapid categorization using computational models. She has been part of the lab since the beginning and previously served as a lab manager. She believes that math can solve anything, even the complexity of the human brain.
melisa.gumus@mail.utoronto.ca
Hon. B.Sc. in Neuroscience and Mathematics, University of Toronto
M.Sc Student in the Institute of Medical of Science, University of Toronto & Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Melisa is investigating the link between cognitive outcomes and structural/functional brain changes in post-concussion and CTE patients in her masters, being supervised by Dr. Carmela Tartaglia and collaborating with Dr. Mack. She is also part of the DTI team at the Mack Lab, that studies the interaction between differences in white matter tracts and learning performance during rapid categorization using computational models. She has been part of the lab since the beginning and previously served as a lab manager. She believes that math can solve anything, even the complexity of the human brain.
melisa.gumus@mail.utoronto.ca
Aaron Rambhajan
M.A. Student, University of Toronto
Aaron is a Masters student in the Faculty of Information at University of Toronto. He is passionate about decision-making, especially as it pertains to how real-world information modulates behaviour. Under Dr. Mack, he has been investigating the dimensions of real-world information processing by targeting the rapid visual object understanding mechanisms underlying human categorization.
aaron.rambhajan@mail.utoronto.ca
M.A. Student, University of Toronto
Aaron is a Masters student in the Faculty of Information at University of Toronto. He is passionate about decision-making, especially as it pertains to how real-world information modulates behaviour. Under Dr. Mack, he has been investigating the dimensions of real-world information processing by targeting the rapid visual object understanding mechanisms underlying human categorization.
aaron.rambhajan@mail.utoronto.ca
Research Assistants
Teresa Zhu
University of Toronto, 4th Year Undergraduate
2019-2020 Individual Project Student
Past NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) recipient
Teresa is in her third year studying Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Toronto. As an Individual Project student with the Mack Lab, she is interested in the relationship between white matter structure and visual category learning. Outside the lab, Teresa enjoys reading, board games, and spending time with friends and family.
teresa.zhu@mail.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, 4th Year Undergraduate
2019-2020 Individual Project Student
Past NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) recipient
Teresa is in her third year studying Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Toronto. As an Individual Project student with the Mack Lab, she is interested in the relationship between white matter structure and visual category learning. Outside the lab, Teresa enjoys reading, board games, and spending time with friends and family.
teresa.zhu@mail.utoronto.ca
Belinda Hoang
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
2019-2020 Individual Project Student
Belinda is currently in her second year of her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and planning to major in Neuroscience and Psychology. This summer, she will be part of the Mack Lab as a ROP student, studying the interactions between attention and memory during category learning.
belinda.hoang@mail.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
2019-2020 Individual Project Student
Belinda is currently in her second year of her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and planning to major in Neuroscience and Psychology. This summer, she will be part of the Mack Lab as a ROP student, studying the interactions between attention and memory during category learning.
belinda.hoang@mail.utoronto.ca
Chanel Fu
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
2019-2020 Individual Project Student
Chanel is a Research Assistant at the Mack Lab and in her second year of study in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Statistics. Her research interests include the intersection of disease and cognition. At Mack Lab, she has found the perfect opportunity to learn more about white matter and its role in visual categorization as well as auditory categorization of abnormal heart sounds, Outside the lab, Chanel spends her time pursuing music and exploring the outdoors.
chanel.fu@mail.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
2019-2020 Individual Project Student
Chanel is a Research Assistant at the Mack Lab and in her second year of study in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Statistics. Her research interests include the intersection of disease and cognition. At Mack Lab, she has found the perfect opportunity to learn more about white matter and its role in visual categorization as well as auditory categorization of abnormal heart sounds, Outside the lab, Chanel spends her time pursuing music and exploring the outdoors.
chanel.fu@mail.utoronto.ca
Xinyaun (Zoe) Wu
University of Toronto, 2nd year Undergraduate specializing Psychology and majoring Nutritional Science
Volunteer Undergraduate Researcher
Zoe is a former ROP student at the Mack Lab and is now a volunteer RA. She is really excited to explore the field of psychological research through the opportunities provided at Mack Lab. Her project is on recognition-induced forgetting, a phenomenon that people tend to forget the first object they learn from a category by learning another object in the same category. Outside of her academic life, she is a huge fan of Broadway musicals.
zoexinyaun.wu@mail.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, 2nd year Undergraduate specializing Psychology and majoring Nutritional Science
Volunteer Undergraduate Researcher
Zoe is a former ROP student at the Mack Lab and is now a volunteer RA. She is really excited to explore the field of psychological research through the opportunities provided at Mack Lab. Her project is on recognition-induced forgetting, a phenomenon that people tend to forget the first object they learn from a category by learning another object in the same category. Outside of her academic life, she is a huge fan of Broadway musicals.
zoexinyaun.wu@mail.utoronto.ca
Shuran (Rayna) Tang
University of Toronto, 2nd Year Undergraduate
2019-2020 ROP299 Student
Rayna is a 2nd year student specializing in psychology and majoring in cognitive science at University of Toronto. The research opportunity in Mack Lab is a good start to explore her interests and career path for the future. She will participate in lab as a ROP student for the whole academic year, studying the mutual interaction of attention and learning in scene categorization. Outside the lab, Rayna is a NASM certified personal trainer and a K-pop fan.
shuran.tang@mail.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, 2nd Year Undergraduate
2019-2020 ROP299 Student
Rayna is a 2nd year student specializing in psychology and majoring in cognitive science at University of Toronto. The research opportunity in Mack Lab is a good start to explore her interests and career path for the future. She will participate in lab as a ROP student for the whole academic year, studying the mutual interaction of attention and learning in scene categorization. Outside the lab, Rayna is a NASM certified personal trainer and a K-pop fan.
shuran.tang@mail.utoronto.ca
Xuan (Sophia) Zhang
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
2020-2021 ROP Student
Xuan (Sophia) is currently studying psychology in her third year as a specialist. In Mack Lab, she will conduct research with Emily to look at how rule exception affects categorical learning. She is also interested in how the brain plays a part in this process. Outside the lab, she likes to practice her dancing skills and read interesting books.
xuanxuan.zhang@mail.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
2020-2021 ROP Student
Xuan (Sophia) is currently studying psychology in her third year as a specialist. In Mack Lab, she will conduct research with Emily to look at how rule exception affects categorical learning. She is also interested in how the brain plays a part in this process. Outside the lab, she likes to practice her dancing skills and read interesting books.
xuanxuan.zhang@mail.utoronto.ca
Yongzhen (Dory) Xie
University of Toronto, 4th Year Undergraduate
2020-2021 Individual Project Student
I am a 4th-year student who specializes in psychology. I am interested in the neural mechanisms underlying concept acquisitions, as well as the influences of concepts on memory and perception. I am currently doing a research project on how memory consolidation and concept dimensions affect people's memory for concepts and items. In my spare time, I enjoy making digital art, tickling my cat, and observing insects.
yongzhen.xie@mail.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, 4th Year Undergraduate
2020-2021 Individual Project Student
I am a 4th-year student who specializes in psychology. I am interested in the neural mechanisms underlying concept acquisitions, as well as the influences of concepts on memory and perception. I am currently doing a research project on how memory consolidation and concept dimensions affect people's memory for concepts and items. In my spare time, I enjoy making digital art, tickling my cat, and observing insects.
yongzhen.xie@mail.utoronto.ca
Lab Alumni |
Collaborators |
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