Senior Scientist
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Brian Levine, Ph.D., C.Psych., ABPP-cnSenior Scientist, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences
Professor of Psychology and Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto Dr. Brian Levine obtained his Ph.D. in 1991 from the University of South Florida and completed fellowships in clinical neuropsychology at McLean Hospital in Boston and cognitive neuroscience at the Rotman Research Institute. He has published over 150 peer reviewed scientific articles and chapters on memory, frontal lobe function, traumatic brain injury, aging, dementia, and rehabilitation as well as Mind and the Frontal Lobes: Cognition, Behavior, and Brain Imaging (2012, Oxford University Press) and Goal Management Training® intervention for executive deficits (with Ian Robertson and Tom Manly). He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and Association for Psychological Science and recipient of the 2015 International Neuropsychological Society's Benton award for mid-career research achievement. His research has been funded by federal agencies (CIHR, NIH) continuously for the past 20 years, receiving nearly $7 million in funding as a principal investigator. Dr. Levine, a board-certified neuropsychologist, is clinically active, providing expert opinions in cases involving brain injury, dementia, and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Levine is frequently called upon to communicate research findings to health professionals and the general public. He has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, CBC radio, USA Today, Psychology Today, Scientific American Mind, Wired, New York Magazine, and Discovery Health. |
Postdoctoral Fellows
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Lynn Zhu, Ph.D.I am an epidemiologist and gerontologist by training, and my interests are in health services and technology-based interventions for older adults. I joined Baycrest to work with Drs. Levine, Angela Troyer and Susan Vendermorris on evaluating the online versions of the Goal Management Training and the Memory and Aging programs. We also are scaling up the in-person and online delivery of these programs, and exploring new delivery methods so more people can benefit from them. Before Baycrest, I was at the Women's College Hospital researching medication prescribing for older adults, and dementia experiences using social media data. During that time, I completed my PhD dissertation in Epidemiology, focusing on evaluating wearable sensors in older adults with Parkinson's disease (Western University;https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4877/). I also completed a MSc. in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Health & Aging stream, Western University), and HBSc. in Neurosciences, Integrative Biology and Health Studies (University of Toronto). For fun, I like longboarding, keeping up with current affairs, and laughing with family and friends.
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Moriah Sokolowski, Ph.D.I completed my PhD at the University of Western Ontario in 2019, studying how the human brain supports numerical and mathematical thinking across developmental time. Uncovering cognitive and neural underpinnings of mathematical thinking holds promise for understanding why particular individuals enter and succeed in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In this uncertain global economy, STEM skills are fundamental to Canada’s global competitiveness, economic growth, and overall standard of living.Although progress has been made in linking math ability to success in STEM careers, the many other traits associated with an individual’s career choice have been largely ignored. I am interested in uncovering what factors, beyond math ability, influence whether a person enters and succeeds in a STEM career. During my post-doc, I intend to build on my previous work by exploring specific cognitive and neural factors that predict whether an individual will have a successful career in a STEM discipline.Currently, I am exploring whether there is a behavioural and/or neural trade-off between trait abilities in episodic autobiographical memory and non-episodic strategic reasoning and identifying whether individual differences in these trait abilities relate to having a STEM occupation. Outside of the lab, I enjoy travelling, trying new fitness classes around the city, and reading fiction while hanging out on the couch with my cat.
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Graduate Students (Primary)
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Carina FanI graduated from McGill university with a B.Sc. in Honours Psychology. At McGill, I worked on two main research projects: a behavioural and neuroimaging study investigating age-related changes to autobiographical memory and open-ended problem solving abilities, and a behavioural study examining the contributions of episodic memory processes to clinical decision making (i.e., diagnoses). Throughout high school and undergrad, I also spent several summers conducting research in a cerebrovascular physiology lab at the University of Calgary, studying the effects of aerobic exercise on brain blood flow and cognitive function in older adults. These combined experiences have led to a broad interest in how memory functions in the real world and contributes to other cognitive processes, and in how all this changes with age — and these are interests that I hope to explore during my graduate studies in the Levine Lab. Outside of research, I love reading, running, playing and listening to music, and finding obscure activities to explore around the city!
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Stephanie Simpson
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Graduate Fellow (Mitacs Accelerate)
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Danielle D'AmicoI graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2016 with an BSc (Hons.) in Psychology. Currently, I am a PhD student in Psychological Science at Ryerson University and graduate student affiliate on the Lifestyle Prevention Team of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging. Broadly, my research centers around lifestyle-based predictors of cognitive and psychosocial wellbeing in late life using epidemiological and clinical research methods. Specifically, my research aims to 1) understand the effect of modifiable factors (e.g., diet, physical activity, stress, cognitive training) that facilitate healthy cognitive aging, and 2) elucidate the biological mechanisms (e.g., neuroendocrine function, cardiometabolic biomarkers, and inflammation) through which lifestyle behaviors impact cognitive and psychosocial health. These experiences have led to an interest in interventions designed to promote healthy cognitive aging.In the Levine Lab, I am a Mitacs Accelerate Fellow where I am conducting data analyses for a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness and usability of the online versions of Goal Management Training and the Memory and Aging Program.Outside of research, I enjoy travelling, exploring the city with my rescue dog Maya, and doing yoga.
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Research Assistants
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Yushu WangI graduated from McGill University with a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Neuroscience. During my undergraduate studies I was part of a psycholinguistic lab where I've investigated the attentional effects of emotional words on French bilingual speakers during reading. For my graduate thesis my research was focused on the visual system and the nonlinear visual processing of contrast and colour information. Now, I am very excited to be working in the Levine lab as a technical research assistant and explore memory impairment and cognitive function in various populations. Some of my hobbies outside of the lab include drawing, photography, and dance.
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Nika ZahediI graduated from University of Toronto, with an Honours B.Sc. in Psychology Research Specialist in June 2019. In my undergraduate thesis project, I used EEG to establish a link between Attention and Visual Working Memory precision. Throughout my education, I have contributed to various research projects and have an interest in Quantitative Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, and mental health related research. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, photography, and practicing Kamancheh (an Iranian musical instrument).
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Summer Students
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Maddie GravelleI am currently in the 4th year of my Honours B.Sc. in Psychology and Biology at Queen's University, through which I have been able to foster my interest in brain and behaviour. Specifically, exploring my passion for psychological research via previous work in neuroimaging and emotional development at The Hospital for Sick Children and the Adolescent Dynamics Lab at Queen's University, respectively, has inspired me to pursue further education in Clinical Psychology post-undergrad. As a summer student at the Levine Lab, I am excited to be assisting in the analysis of DTI data pertaining to severely deficient autobiographical memory (SDAM), as well as various other studies. In my spare time, I can be found testing new recipes in my kitchen, paddle boarding, and/or trying to teach myself guitar!
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Maryam SorkhouI've recently graduated from University of Toronto with an Honours B.Sc in Psychology. During my undergraduate studies I worked in a cognitive neuroscience lab investigating the role of the medial temporal lobe, in addition to a clinical psychology lab examining the relationship between personality traits and psychopathology. For my undergraduate thesis, I focused on how the intersection of race and gender affected the presentation and severity of psychological distress in treatment-seeking university students. These experiences have fostered my interest in memory, executive dysfunction, and mood disorders. At the Levine Lab, I am excited to contribute to various research projects assessing episodic and autobiographical memory. Outside of research, I enjoy reading, photography, cooking, and hanging with my pets!
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Sara WilsonI completed my fourth year of my Honours B.Sc. in Psychology at Queen’s University in 2020. During my undergraduate studies, I completed my thesis in a computational memory lab where I conducted a morphometric analysis of the hippocampus and its relation to depression. Before starting at Baycrest, I volunteered in a clinical lab, social neuroendocrinology labs, and a neurocognitive lab at Queen’s University. My interest in memory and clinical studies has been broadened throughout my degree, and I am ecstatic to advance my knowledge and exposure to neuropsychological techniques and treatments in the Levine Lab. Specifically, I look forward to contributing to research projects on episodic memory and cognitive impairments. Some of my interests outside the lab include cycling, hiking, painting, and attempting to reach mediocrity with string instruments.
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Volunteers
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Catherine LeI am currently pursuing my Honours B. Sc. in Psychology and Human Biology at the University of Toronto. In my undergraduate years, I became interested in research, especially looking at memory, psychiatric disorders and their physiological bases. Working in cognitive neuroscience and social psychology labs on campus has provided me with the opportunity to further explore my academic interests. Now, at the Levine Lab, my primary duties as a summer student include participant recruitment and assisting in various studies investigating episodic autobiographical memory. When not in the lab, I can be found frequenting the library, painting, or watching true crime documentaries!
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