Lab Members
Principal Investigator
Michael Mack, PhD
Associate Professor Department of Psychology Ph.D. in Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 2011 M.Sc. in Computer Science, Michigan State, 2005 B.Sc. in Computer Science, Michigan State, 2003 View CV |
Want to join the team?We are always looking for motivated undergraduates or recent grads interested in research experience. Visit this page for more details. |
Postdoctoral Fellows
Frida Printzlau
B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy, University of Oxford
Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford
Postdoc, University of Toronto
Frida is a postdoc with the Mack Lab and the Fukuda lab. She is interested in flexible cognition: How do mental representations adapt to varying contexts and task demands in support of behavioural goals? In her current research, she uses a combination of behavioural methods and neuroimaging to study how category learning biases attention and working memory.
[email protected]
B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy, University of Oxford
Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford
Postdoc, University of Toronto
Frida is a postdoc with the Mack Lab and the Fukuda lab. She is interested in flexible cognition: How do mental representations adapt to varying contexts and task demands in support of behavioural goals? In her current research, she uses a combination of behavioural methods and neuroimaging to study how category learning biases attention and working memory.
[email protected]
Sagana Vijayarajah
B.Sc. in Psychology, York University
M.A. in Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Toronto
Sagana is a postdoc with the Mack Lab and Dr. Meg Schlichting's lab. She is interested in exploring the developmental changes in memory that occur from childhood to adulthood and how they impact decision-making and learning strategies. In her spare time, she likes to bike, paint, and spend time with family and friends.
[email protected]
B.Sc. in Psychology, York University
M.A. in Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Toronto
Sagana is a postdoc with the Mack Lab and Dr. Meg Schlichting's lab. She is interested in exploring the developmental changes in memory that occur from childhood to adulthood and how they impact decision-making and learning strategies. In her spare time, she likes to bike, paint, and spend time with family and friends.
[email protected]
Graduate Students
Gaeun Son
B.A. in Psychology, Yonsei University
M.S. in Cognitive Science, Yonsei University
Ph.D., University of Toronto
Gaeun is a PhD student with the BWLab and Mack Lab. Her research interest is in the interaction between perception and memory. During her Master’s, she worked on how ensemble perception impacts on visual working memory with Dr. Sang Chul Chong. Now she is expanding her research into various aspects of perception and memory in a realistic visual environment.
[email protected]
B.A. in Psychology, Yonsei University
M.S. in Cognitive Science, Yonsei University
Ph.D., University of Toronto
Gaeun is a PhD student with the BWLab and Mack Lab. Her research interest is in the interaction between perception and memory. During her Master’s, she worked on how ensemble perception impacts on visual working memory with Dr. Sang Chul Chong. Now she is expanding her research into various aspects of perception and memory in a realistic visual environment.
[email protected]
Emily Heffernan
B.A.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Queen’s University
M.A. in Experimental Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D., University of Toronto
After a brief stint in tech after completing her undergraduate degree, Emily chose to return to academia to pursue her passion for learning and teaching. She completed her MA at Mack Lab in 2020 and is currently working on her PhD. Emily is interested in combining computational models and neuroimaging data to better understand how we learn. Her research is fuelled by large amounts of tea, hiking/camping trips, and frequent yoga sessions.
[email protected]
B.A.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Queen’s University
M.A. in Experimental Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D., University of Toronto
After a brief stint in tech after completing her undergraduate degree, Emily chose to return to academia to pursue her passion for learning and teaching. She completed her MA at Mack Lab in 2020 and is currently working on her PhD. Emily is interested in combining computational models and neuroimaging data to better understand how we learn. Her research is fuelled by large amounts of tea, hiking/camping trips, and frequent yoga sessions.
[email protected]
Mateja Perovic
Hon. B.Sc. in Psychology, Leiden University
M.A. in Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Mateja's primary research interest is in leveraging computational models to study how category learning varies across the menstrual cycle. She has previously studied effects of ovarian hormones on cognition in the context of polycystic ovary syndrome, and early estradiol deprivation. Her secondary research interest is in psychosocial stress and cognitive aging. She primarily studies this in the context of early life adversity and dementia risk. She spends her free time reading, hiking, and petting as many dogs as possible.
[email protected]
Hon. B.Sc. in Psychology, Leiden University
M.A. in Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Mateja's primary research interest is in leveraging computational models to study how category learning varies across the menstrual cycle. She has previously studied effects of ovarian hormones on cognition in the context of polycystic ovary syndrome, and early estradiol deprivation. Her secondary research interest is in psychosocial stress and cognitive aging. She primarily studies this in the context of early life adversity and dementia risk. She spends her free time reading, hiking, and petting as many dogs as possible.
[email protected]
Melisa Gumus
Hon. B.Sc. in Neuroscience and Mathematics, University of Toronto
M.S. from Institute of Medical of Science, University of Toronto & Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Melisa is an incoming graduate student for Fall 2021! In her Master's, Melisa investigated the link between cognitive outcomes and structural/functional brain changes in post-concussion and CTE patients, 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.
[email protected]
Hon. B.Sc. in Neuroscience and Mathematics, University of Toronto
M.S. from Institute of Medical of Science, University of Toronto & Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Melisa is an incoming graduate student for Fall 2021! In her Master's, Melisa investigated the link between cognitive outcomes and structural/functional brain changes in post-concussion and CTE patients, 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.
[email protected]
Dory (Yongzhen) Xie
Hon. B.Sc. in Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Dory is interested in the neural mechanisms underlying concept learning and changes in concept representations overtime. She wants to apply my understanding to improve category learning models in the future. In her spare time, she enjoys creating digital arts, playing video games, and studying canine-feline interactions.
[email protected]
Hon. B.Sc. in Psychology, University of Toronto
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Dory is interested in the neural mechanisms underlying concept learning and changes in concept representations overtime. She wants to apply my understanding to improve category learning models in the future. In her spare time, she enjoys creating digital arts, playing video games, and studying canine-feline interactions.
[email protected]
Robyn Wilford
B.Sc. in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Western University
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Robyn is a PhD student at the University of Toronto supervised by Dr. Katherine Duncan and is doing an outside project with the Mack Lab. Broadly, her research interests involve understanding the brain as a complex dynamical system nonlinearly coupled to behavioural and environmental processes. She is applying dynamical systems theory methods to better understand the relationship between perception and memory of events using fMRI. In particular, her goal is to develop neuroimaging methods and tools to study this relationship at the individual level of analysis. In her free time, she enjoys watching science fiction, reading epic fantasy novels, and drawing.
[email protected]
B.Sc. in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Western University
Ph.D. Student, University of Toronto
Robyn is a PhD student at the University of Toronto supervised by Dr. Katherine Duncan and is doing an outside project with the Mack Lab. Broadly, her research interests involve understanding the brain as a complex dynamical system nonlinearly coupled to behavioural and environmental processes. She is applying dynamical systems theory methods to better understand the relationship between perception and memory of events using fMRI. In particular, her goal is to develop neuroimaging methods and tools to study this relationship at the individual level of analysis. In her free time, she enjoys watching science fiction, reading epic fantasy novels, and drawing.
[email protected]
Lab Manager
Sanjivan Loganathan
Hon. B.Sc. in Psychology & Human Biology, University of Toronto
Sanjivan is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student graduating this June with a focus on psychology and human biology at the University of Toronto. His research interests are in understanding how dynamical systems interact and give rise to such nuanced cognition. His current research investigates the effects of goal-directed locomotion on memory to better understand how memory processing is cognitively embodied. Outside of the lab, I play chess, watch TV shows, or catch up with friends!
[email protected]
Hon. B.Sc. in Psychology & Human Biology, University of Toronto
Sanjivan is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student graduating this June with a focus on psychology and human biology at the University of Toronto. His research interests are in understanding how dynamical systems interact and give rise to such nuanced cognition. His current research investigates the effects of goal-directed locomotion on memory to better understand how memory processing is cognitively embodied. Outside of the lab, I play chess, watch TV shows, or catch up with friends!
[email protected]
Research Assistants
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Christine Arrabito
University of Toronto, 3rd year Undergraduate Neuroscience Specialist, Psychology Major, Physiology Minor. Chris is an ROP student working under the supervision of Dory. She is interested in combining neuroimaging data with verbal data and computational models to understand the neural mechanisms of category learning. In her spare time, she enjoys illustrating characters, playing video games and visiting the ROM and AGO. |
Shree Bhattarai
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Immunology Major, Applied Statistics and English Literature Minors
Shree is eager to understand the influence of hormones in cognitive ability, learning, and memory. She enjoys playing around with data to analyze them in R and Python. In her free time, you will definitely find her curled up in a corner reading a book!
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Immunology Major, Applied Statistics and English Literature Minors
Shree is eager to understand the influence of hormones in cognitive ability, learning, and memory. She enjoys playing around with data to analyze them in R and Python. In her free time, you will definitely find her curled up in a corner reading a book!
[email protected]
Athanasios Bourganos
University of Toronto, Research Assistant
Hon. B.Sc. in Neuroscience, University of Toronto
After completing his B.Sc. in neuroscience at the University of Toronto, Athanasios joined the Mack Lab to diversify his research experience. He plans to pursue graduate studies and is interested in studying normal and altered perceptions of time, as well as the effects of visuospatial temporal metaphors on time perception. Athanasios enjoys programming, 3D modelling, and adventuring outdoors!
[email protected]
University of Toronto, Research Assistant
Hon. B.Sc. in Neuroscience, University of Toronto
After completing his B.Sc. in neuroscience at the University of Toronto, Athanasios joined the Mack Lab to diversify his research experience. He plans to pursue graduate studies and is interested in studying normal and altered perceptions of time, as well as the effects of visuospatial temporal metaphors on time perception. Athanasios enjoys programming, 3D modelling, and adventuring outdoors!
[email protected]
Yao (Frances) Chen
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Psychology Specialist, Criminology and Sociolegal Studies Major
Frances is fascinated by the process of memory retention and loss, as well as diseases associated with memory impairment, such as Alzheimer's. In her free time, she plays video gaming, delves into diverse books, catches up on films and TV shows, and explores restaurants with friends!
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Psychology Specialist, Criminology and Sociolegal Studies Major
Frances is fascinated by the process of memory retention and loss, as well as diseases associated with memory impairment, such as Alzheimer's. In her free time, she plays video gaming, delves into diverse books, catches up on films and TV shows, and explores restaurants with friends!
[email protected]
Julia Do
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Physiology Major, Nutritional Sciences Major, Psychology Minor
Julia volunteered at the MackLab over the summer and is currently completing an independent studies project about category learning & episodic encoding. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading, playing piano, and listening to music in her free time!
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Physiology Major, Nutritional Sciences Major, Psychology Minor
Julia volunteered at the MackLab over the summer and is currently completing an independent studies project about category learning & episodic encoding. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading, playing piano, and listening to music in her free time!
[email protected]
Selina Fu
University of Toronto, 2nd Year Undergraduate
Psychology Specialist, Neuroscience Major
Selina is a 2nd year undergraduate student specializing in psychology and majoring in neuroscience. She is interested in understanding learning patterns and development through the lifespan. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and trying out new recipes (but not so much the cleaning up part)!
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 2nd Year Undergraduate
Psychology Specialist, Neuroscience Major
Selina is a 2nd year undergraduate student specializing in psychology and majoring in neuroscience. She is interested in understanding learning patterns and development through the lifespan. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and trying out new recipes (but not so much the cleaning up part)!
[email protected]
Lina Al Halabi
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Neuroscience Specialist
Lina is a Research Assistant at the Mack lab, where her main area of research lies in studying the effects of various neurological molecular stressors on category learning within the brain, particularly within the hippocampal structures. During her breaks, she finds solace and joy in tending to her garden and engaging in the process of photosynthesis with her beloved plants.
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Neuroscience Specialist
Lina is a Research Assistant at the Mack lab, where her main area of research lies in studying the effects of various neurological molecular stressors on category learning within the brain, particularly within the hippocampal structures. During her breaks, she finds solace and joy in tending to her garden and engaging in the process of photosynthesis with her beloved plants.
[email protected]
Cathlin Jiaqi Han
University of Toronto, 4th Year Undergraduate
Neuroscience Specialist, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Major
Cathlin has been a research assistant at the Mack Lab since June 2023. She is interested in using genetic and neuroimaging modalities to study learning and memory across age. In her free time, she enjoys good music, meeting new people, and discovering food gems around campus.
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 4th Year Undergraduate
Neuroscience Specialist, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Major
Cathlin has been a research assistant at the Mack Lab since June 2023. She is interested in using genetic and neuroimaging modalities to study learning and memory across age. In her free time, she enjoys good music, meeting new people, and discovering food gems around campus.
[email protected]
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Linda He
University of Toronto, 4th Year Undergraduate Psychology Research Specialist, Bioethics and Sociology Minors Linda is an ROP student in the Mack Lab investigating prediction error during category exception learning and its impacts on fact learning. She is passionate about cognitive neuroscience research, particularly relating to the mechanisms underlying working memory, attention and consciousness. She has additional interests in understanding the cognitive basis of dissociative disorders, as well as studying the intersections of philosophy and psychology. Outside of the lab, she enjoys practicing ballet, playing guitar, singing and reading. |
Janice Jianqi Hou
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Psychology Specialist, Statistics Major
Janice is eager to explore the factors that affect people’s learning ability and memory. She is also interested in dealing with raw data whilst learning new lines of code (nerd). In her free time, she loves watching crime movies, listening to K-pop songs and making plans.
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Psychology Specialist, Statistics Major
Janice is eager to explore the factors that affect people’s learning ability and memory. She is also interested in dealing with raw data whilst learning new lines of code (nerd). In her free time, she loves watching crime movies, listening to K-pop songs and making plans.
[email protected]
Zoey Zhi Yi Lee
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Cognitive Science & Psychology
Zoey is a 3rd year undergraduate studying Cognitive Science and Psychology. Currently working in the lab as a research assistant, she delves deep into unraveling the intricacies of the brain. Her passions lie in understanding behavioral patterns and how they connect to the underlying neural mechanisms using computational modeling.
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Cognitive Science & Psychology
Zoey is a 3rd year undergraduate studying Cognitive Science and Psychology. Currently working in the lab as a research assistant, she delves deep into unraveling the intricacies of the brain. Her passions lie in understanding behavioral patterns and how they connect to the underlying neural mechanisms using computational modeling.
[email protected]
Trisha Menon
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Psychology Research Specialist
Trisha is a third year undergraduate student specializing in Psychology. She is currently a volunteer RA at the Mack Lab, interested in learning more about the techniques used in cognitive neuroscience research. In her free time she enjoys drawing, dancing, and exploring new places!
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 3rd Year Undergraduate
Psychology Research Specialist
Trisha is a third year undergraduate student specializing in Psychology. She is currently a volunteer RA at the Mack Lab, interested in learning more about the techniques used in cognitive neuroscience research. In her free time she enjoys drawing, dancing, and exploring new places!
[email protected]
Nahal Alizadeh Saghati
University of Toronto, Research Assistant
Hon. B.Sc. in Psychology, Human Biology, and Nutritional Sciences
Nahal is recently graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science, majoring in Psychology, Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences. She is currently taking an individual research project focusing on gist-guided attention using fMRI as she evaluates the role of rapid scene categorization in visual search.
[email protected]
University of Toronto, Research Assistant
Hon. B.Sc. in Psychology, Human Biology, and Nutritional Sciences
Nahal is recently graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science, majoring in Psychology, Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences. She is currently taking an individual research project focusing on gist-guided attention using fMRI as she evaluates the role of rapid scene categorization in visual search.
[email protected]
Michelle Zhao
University of Toronto, 2nd Year Undergraduate
Human Biology Major, Physiology & Immunology Minors
Michelle is a former work-study student at Mack Lab and now serves as a volunteer RA. She is keen on exploring various brain behaviors through the use of eye-tracking devices and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Outside the lab, she enjoys dancing, playing the piano and practicing martial arts.
[email protected]
University of Toronto, 2nd Year Undergraduate
Human Biology Major, Physiology & Immunology Minors
Michelle is a former work-study student at Mack Lab and now serves as a volunteer RA. She is keen on exploring various brain behaviors through the use of eye-tracking devices and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Outside the lab, she enjoys dancing, playing the piano and practicing martial arts.
[email protected]
Xing Yao (Eunice) Zhu
University of Toronto, 4th Year Undergraduate
Neuroscience Major, Economics Major
Eunice is a volunteer RA and IRP student at the Mack Lab. She is interested in understanding the effect of female hormone levels and difference in genotype on changes in hippocampus and category learning. In her free time, she teaches k- pop and street style dancing.
University of Toronto, 4th Year Undergraduate
Neuroscience Major, Economics Major
Eunice is a volunteer RA and IRP student at the Mack Lab. She is interested in understanding the effect of female hormone levels and difference in genotype on changes in hippocampus and category learning. In her free time, she teaches k- pop and street style dancing.
Research assistants not listed above:
- Sima Buchnak
- Swanee Douglas
- Jacob Estrela-Robalino
- Nizer Huang
- Peiyu Liao
- Sumaiya Nathani
- Aahana Punjabi
- Sami El Sabri
- Alicia Tang
- Emily Zhang
Lab Alumni |
Collaborators |
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Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows:
Research Assistants and Lab Managers:
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