Our Team

Dr. Sherry Stewart

Sherry H. Stewart, Ph.D., is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Addictions and Mental Health and a professor in the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Community Health and Epidemiology at Dalhousie University, as well as a licensed clinical psychologist in the province of Nova Scotia. Dr. Stewart is a recently inducted Fellow in the Royal Society of Canada. She is well known for her research on psychological factors contributing to alcohol abuse, pathological gambling, and the comorbidity of emotional and addictive disorders. Dr. Stewart is a member of the Scientific Advisory to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, and Graduate Program Coordinator of the MSc. in Psychiatry Research Program. Dr. Stewart founded the Centre for Addiction Research at Dalhousie (CARD), a virtual centre at Dalhousie fostering collaborations among faculty members conducting research on addiction, and is on the steering committee of the Quebec-Maritimes node of the CIHR-funded Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM). She is Co-Director of Research in the Department of Psychiatry, and co-directs the new MSc program in psychiatry research at Dalhousie. Dr. Stewart receives funding from several research agencies including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation (NSHRF), the National Center for Responsible Gambling (NCRG), and the Manitoba Gambling Research Program (MGRP).

Dr. Neda Alizadeh, PhD, MSc, BSc (OT)

Dr. Neda Alizadeh, Ph.D., is a researcher in occupational therapy field, with a Ph.D in Health from Dalhousie University. She has over a decade of experience as a research team member and principal investigator, contributing significantly to projects spanning fatigue and neurological conditions, and interprofessional education. Research Interests Dr. Alizadeh is dedicated to creating and assessing novel health interventions tailored for people with chronic neurological conditions. She is particularly interested in interventional studies that aim to improve the participation and quality of life of those living with chronic neurological conditions. Dr. Alizadeh is also intrigued by the development and evaluation of cognitive neurorehabilitation interventions that have the potential to enhance the quality of life for these individuals.
Sample Awards: Dr. Alizadeh has received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of occupational therapy, including the LSVT Global Student Grants, Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship Program, and the George Turnbull Student Research Award for Parkinson’s Disease research.
Sample Publications: Alizadeh, N., Packer, T. L., Sturkenboom, I., Eskes, G., & Warner, G. (2022). Managing Fatigue in Parkinson’s Disease: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 89(1), 5-13 1.
Alizadeh, N., Packer, T., Chen, Y.-T., & Alnasery, Y. (2023). What We Know About Fatigue Self-Management Programs for People Living with Chronic Conditions: A Scoping Review. Patient Education and Counseling, 101(4), 585-593 2.
Packer, T. L., Fracini, A., Audulv, Å., Alizadeh, N., van Gaal, B. G., Warner, G., & Kephart, G. (2018). What we know about the purpose, theoretical nature, and content of occupational therapy interventions for adults with a neurological condition: A scoping review. Patient Education and Counseling, 101(4), 585-593

Jennifer Swansburg

I returned to school, completing a BSc at Dalhousie University (2010). I started working with the Stewart lab in 2011 and have had the opportunity to work on and support a number of research projects involving Dr. Stewart’s lab members and collaborators. I am interested in the impact efficacious treatment can have on youth and adults suffering with mental health and addictions concerns.

Kyle McKee

My undergraduate work was done at the University of New Brunswick (BA in psychology/anthropology 2010; BSc in biological psychology 2015). I received my MSc in Neuroscience from McGill University in 2018, under the supervision of Dr. Suzanne King and Dr. Mallar Chakravarty. My graduate research focused on how stress experienced by pregnant women impacts the structural brain development of children. Overall, I feel that I have obtained a unique blend of skills and interests, on top of years of highly relevant research experience. My primary role in the MAAC lab will be to help oversee the Canadian Underage Substance Use Prevention (CUSP) Trial.

Pam Collins

I completed my undergraduate studies in May 1999 at Dalhousie University, receiving a first class honours degree in Psychology. Since graduation, I have been managing the Dalhousie Gambling Lab. I have had the privilege to be both a student and employee of Dr. Stewart's, and I love the variety and learning opportunities that my job affords me.

Franco DiBonaventura

I graduated with a BSc in Psychology from Dalhousie University in 2023 and completed my honours thesis in the MAAC lab on the dose-dependent effects of alcohol in major depressive disorder. I also earned a BA in Commerce from Mount Allison University in 2017. I have an interest in quantitative methods and in organizational psychology, particularly in investigating ways to maximize employee well-being and motivation in the workplace. I eventually hope to pursue graduate studies in organizational psychology. I am excited to begin my new role as a research assistant on the UniVenture project.

Renato Molina

Renato began his work in health research in Vancouver’s downtown east side back in 2018 whilst completing a dual degree at Simon Fraser University in the areas of biochemistry/molecular biology and human physiology. Renato’s diverse research experience has granted him a robust knowledge set of the research pipeline. It has motivated and inspired his involvement in community-based, participatory approaches to research, and made him a strong advocate for harm reduction and culturally relevant, inclusive research and clinical practices. In his free time, Renato enjoys reading, surfing, soccer, cooking, and chess.

Catherine (Katie) Gordon

I graduated with my BSc. in Psychology at Dalhousie University in 2020 and I completed my honours thesis on alcohol preference among couples in conflict at the MAAC Lab under the supervision of Dr. Sherry Stewart and Dr. Raquel Nogueira. My interests align with my honours project, in that my research focuses are conflict, drinking motives, addiction, and relationships. Eventually I would like to continue my education and pursue a career in Psychology. I am excited to be back at the MAAC lab and looking forward to new learning experiences through my work here

Sarah DeGrace

I graduated from Acadia University in 2020 with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Honours). During my undergrad, I studied terror management theory and motivational conflict. Currently, I am completing my MSc in Psychiatry Research under the supervision of Dr. Sherry Stewart. In the past year with the MAAC lab, I have studied the impact of sex and personality on COVID-19 related outcomes. As I transition into my PhD in Psychiatry Research in Fall 2021, I will shift my focus to studying the automatic cognitive mechanisms which underlie cannabis use among trauma-exposed individuals.
Awards: 2021 Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine “Best Presentation of Research" Award
2020 Nova Scotia Black and First Nations Graduate Entrance Scholarship
Publications: DeGrace, S., Baptist-Mohseni, N., Single, A., Keough, M. T., Wardell, J. D., & Stewart, S. H. (2021). Sex differences in maladaptive emotional and behavioral responses to COVID-19: What is the role of personality? Personality and Individual Differences, 178. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2021.110834

Mandy Hagen

I completed my BSc in Psychology from Queen's University and began the Dalhousie Clinical Psychology program in 2018. My primary interests lie in the co-occurrence of substance use and mood disorders. I hope to focus my research on the underlying cognitive mechanisms of this co-occurrence, specifically examining coping, self-efficacy, and cognitive biases in alcohol use and depression.
Awards: 2018-2019 Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship (Masters)
2018-2019 Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS-M (SSHRC)
Publications:
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Isabella Bossom

I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology at Carleton University in 2020 and with my Master of Arts in Experimental Psychology with a Social Psychology focus from Carleton University in 2022. During my Master’s degree my research focused on exploring factors that negatively influence eating disorder recovery as well as antecedents to overvaluing appearance and financial success in the self-concept. As an incoming PhD student in Clinical Psychology for Fall 2023 I plan to shift my focus to studying aspects of the recovery experience for people in the throes of substance based addictions.
Awards: • 2022-2023 SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship (declined)
• 2022 Carleton University Bill Jones Award
• 2021-2022 SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Masters
• 2021-2022 Ontario Graduate Scholarship (declined)
• 2020-2021 Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Publications: Bossom, I. R. L. & Tabri, N. (2022). No evidence that exposure to materialistic advertisements influence appearance overvaluation and financial success overvaluation in the self-concept. Collabra: Psychology, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.32642
Bossom, I. R. L. & Zelenski, J. M. (2022). The impact of trait introversion-extraversion and identity on state authenticity: Debating the benefits of extraversion. The Journal of Research in Personality, 97, 104308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2022.104208
Enouy, S., Desrochers, J. E., Bossom, I. R. L., Tabri, N. (2022). A p-curve analysis of the emotional Stroop effect among women with eating disorders. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23807

Colin Pridy

I am a first-year student in the Clinical Ph.D. program. I completed a degree in music and psychology at Dalhousie in the early 2000s, followed by graduate work in music composition at the University of British Columbia. Now back at Dalhousie, my Ph.D. research will be focused on examining the effects of listening to music on treatment strategies for high anxiety sensitivity, supervised by Margo Watt and Sherry Stewart.
Awards: 2016-2017 Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship
2016-2018 Izaak Walton Killam Predoctoral Scholarship
2016-2017 Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation Scotia Scholars Award
2016-2018 Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Graduate Scholarship
Publications: Pridy, C. B. (2005). “Funk Assimilation” from Three Kicks for Saxophone Quartet [Recorded by the UBC Saxophone Quartet]. On Nice Work If You Can Get It [CD]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia School of Music.
Pridy, C. B., & Cogswell, F. (2002). “Cross-Grained Tree” from Five Expressions of a Nearby God: for mezzo-soprano and pianoforte. Musical score. Special Collections Archives (M2113.P75 2002). Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton.

Chris DeWolfe

Before starting my Clinical Psychology degree at Dalhousie, I completed my Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology. My research focuses on anxiety sensitivity as a target for transdiagnostic interventions and the use of physical activity for improving mental health and addictions.

Awards: 2017-2019 Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation Scotia Scholars Award (Master’s).
2017-2019 Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship (Master's).
Publications: DeWolfe, C., Watt, M. C., Romero-Sanchiz, P., & Stewart, S. H. (2019). Gender differences in physical activity are partially explained by anxiety sensitivity in post-secondary students. Journal of American College Health, 15, 1-4.

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Lydia Muyingo

I graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2017 with an honours degree in Psychology in French Immersion. My research interests include the partner influences of alcohol and substance use as well as substance use in youth.

Awards: 2017-2018 Scotia Support Masters Scholarship for Training in Addictions Research.

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Eli Otis

I am the first year of the Clinical Psychology program. I completed my B.A. in Psychology at the University of British Columbia, where I wrote my undergraduate thesis on effort exertion in pursuit of rewards in bipolar and hypomanic individuals under the supervision of Dr. Luke Clark at the UBC Centre for Gambling Research. I have also worked as a research assistant with Dr. Lena Quilty at The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health investigating personality differences across the spectrum of gambling involvement. I am interested in the role played by personality and cognitive distortions in the etiology and maintenance of addictive disorders such as Gambling Disorder, as well as identifying the factors that contribute to high comorbidity between anxiety disorders and addictive disorders.
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Andy Kim

I completed my BA (hons) in Psychology at the University of British Columbia (2020). My research focuses on personality, social, and cognitive factors associated with substance (e.g., alcohol, cannabis) and behavioural (e.g., gambling) addictions and their comorbid psychopathologies (e.g., depression, anxiety). I began attending Dalhousie University (2021) to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology under the co-supervision of Dr. Sherry Stewart and Dr. Simon Sherry. I am eager to continue working on the clinical psychology of addiction. If you are interested in collaboration, feel free to reach out!

Awards: 2022-2023 Canada Graduate Scholarship, Master's (SSHRC)
2021-2022 Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship - Master's.
2021-2022 Maritime Spor Support Unit Award - Master's
Publications: Kim, A. J., Sherry, S. B., Nealis, L.J., Mushquash, A., Lee-Baggley, D., & Stewart, S. H. (2022). Do symptoms of depression and anxiety contribute to heavy episodic drinking? A 3-wave longitudinal study of adult community members. Addictive Behaviors, 130, 107295.
Kim, A. J., Sherry, S. B., Shannon, T., Kehayes, I.-L., & Stewart, S. H. (2021). A matter of perspective: The convergent and incremental validity of informant-reported drinking motives. Drug and Alcohol Review.

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Thomas Snooks

I completed my Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Psychology at Mount Allison University in 2018. My Honours thesis was supervised by Dr. Terry Belke and examined the differences between fixed and variable ratio reinforcement schedules across different operant behaviors. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I also completed an Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management from NSCC and a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions from Dalhousie University. After spending 3 years working in private sector human resource roles, I have decided to pursue my Master of Science in Psychiatry Research under the co-supervision of Drs Sherry Stewart and Phil Tibbo. I’m interested in examining the development of cue-induced craving for different substances, as well as the development of substance use disorders and the potential benefits of psychedelic medicine.

Awards: 2016-2017 – G.P. Brooks Prize in Psychology

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Mikaela Ethier

I am a recent graduate from Carleton University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Neuroscience and Mental Health and a minor in Psychology. Throughout my Honours Thesis, I studied early life stress and its associations with mental health in adulthood under the supervision of Dr. Robyn McQuaid. I have spent the last year working as a Clinical Research Assistant examining concussions at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and I am very excited to pursue the Master of Science in Psychiatry Research at Dalhousie University this fall under the co-supervision of Dr. Sherry Stewart and Dr. Sean Barrett. My research interests include stress, trauma, substance use disorders, cannabis, and mood disorders.
Awards: 2023-2024 Canada Graduate Scholarship, Masters (CIHR)
2023-2025 Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship, Masters
2022 Faculty of Science University Medal
2022 Undergraduate Poster Award, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Institute Research Conference
2020 NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award
2019 Dean’s Summer Research Award

Publications: Abstracts:
Ethier-Gagnon, M., Daneshmend, A., Jarkas, D., McQuaid, R., Department of Neuroscience Carleton University, & The Royal Institute of Mental Health Research. (2022). Influence of Type- and Timing-Specific Trauma Exposures on Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety. Conference Proceedings: Brain Health Research Day, 12(S1), 8.
Manuscripts in Preparation:
Ethier-Gagnon, M., Lithopolous, A., Curran, D., Thompson, A., Silverberg, N., Cancelliere, C., Fischer, L., Tator, C., Welch-West, P., Marshall, S., Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, & Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. (2023). A Systematic Review of Intervention Characteristics that Facilitate Return-to-Work in adults with concussion.
Ethier-Gagnon, M., Daneshmend, A., Jarkas, D., McQuaid, R., Department of Neuroscience Carleton University, & The Royal Institute of Mental Health Research. (2022). Deconstructing Trauma Experiences in University Students: Understanding the Association of Trauma Type and Timing on Mental Health Symptomatologies.

Nicole Basso

I first joined the MAAC lab in 2021 as a summer student. Since then, I have completed a P3000 project, 2 other summer studentships, and my psychology honours thesis within the lab. This fall, I will be continuing in the lab as a Master's student in psychiatry research under the joint supervision of Dr. Sherry Stewart and Dr. Jillian Filliter. My research will focus primarily on substance use in autistic individuals.

Awards: Killam Predoctoral Scholarship Level 1 (Master's) - 2023-2025 Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship (Master's) - 2023-2025 Canada Graduate Scholarship (Master's - SSHRC) - 2023-2024 NSERC USRA - 2023 Frances L. Stewart Memorial Prize - 2022-2023 Dalhousie FoS USRA - 2022 Dr. Lilyan E. White Prize in Psychology - 2021-2022 Faye Sobey USRA - 2021

Publications: Basso, N. L., Lambe, L. J., Kim, A. J., Rodriguez, L. M., Deacon, H., Nogueira-Arjona, R., Sherry, S. B., Abbass, A., & Stewart, S. H. (2023). Effects of mandatory homeschooling during COVID-19 on conflict in romantic couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 37(2), 275–281. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001052

Basso, N. L., Kim, A. J., Lambe, L. J., Sherry, S. B., Deacon S. H., Rodriguez, L.M., Nogueria-Ariona, R., Abbass, A., & Stewart, S. H., Gender Moderates Homeschooling’s Impact on Parental Conflict During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Brief Report submitted to the Journal of Marriage and Family (under review).

Alanna Kaser

I am entering my fourth year at Dalhousie, taking a BSc in Psychology with a minor in Health Studies and certificate in Science Communication. My work with the MAAC lab began in summer 2022, working on the UniVenture project for the John Dingle Science Communication Internship. After completing a third-year independent research project on bullying and mental health co-supervised by Dr. Stewart and Dr. Lambe, I feel very grateful and excited to be continuing with the lab for my honours project. I look forward to gaining further research and science communication experience, in preparation to pursue a career in clinical or educational psychology.

Publications: Kaser A. C., Keddy S. E., & Hill T. G. The prevalence of perfectionism and mental health in undergraduate university students. Healthy Populations Journal. 2(1). https://doi.org/10.15273/hpj.v2i1.10904.

Heyland, L. K., Langley, J. E., Keddy, S. E., Kaser, A. C., & Hill, T. G. (2021). Identifying characteristics of community-embedded positive mental health promotion programs: A scoping review protocol. Healthy Populations Journal, 1(2). https://www.doi.org/10.15273/hpj.v1i2.11029

Awards: 2020/2021 - Dr. W.K Honig Prize in Psychology

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Megan MacLennan

I have just finished my third year at Dalhousie University. I aim to complete a BSc with honours in psychology and a minor in biology in the 2023/2024 school year. I have joined the MAAC lab as of this Summer 2023 and am very thankful for the opportunity to do so. I aim to become a clinical psychologist in the future, so I am very excited to acquire relevant experience for my future goals by working with the MAAC lab.

Swaha Bhowmick

I'm entering my fourth year at Dalhousie University, aiming to complete a BSc in Psychology by spring 2024. I joined the MAAC lab in the fall of 2023 and am so grateful for the opportunity to work with the team in person this year. I'm excited to do research for my honours project and gain valuable skills and connections to work towards my goal of working as a clinical psychologist.

Sarah-Jeanne Trottier

I am going into my fourth year in the Medical Sciences program at Dalhousie University, and I have joined the MAAC lab in the Summer of 2023. I am interested in psychiatry and hope to get into medical school after I graduate in Spring 2024. I am currently working on how certain brain regions are linked to certain cues related to cannabis use in trauma patients.

Awards: 2023 Department of Psychiatry (DoP) Summer Studentship .

Trillium Whitewolf

I have just finished my second year at Dalhousie University, working towards completing a BSc in Psychology. I began volunteering with the MAAC Lab in January 2023. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work as a summer student for the summer of 2023 and take on an independent research project in the fall. I find so many different aspects of psychology intriguing. I am particularly looking forward to expanding my understanding of personality, interpersonal relationships, and addiction. I hope to pursue a career in clinical psychology, and I am very grateful for the incredible learning experiences that the MAAC Lab is providing me.

Awards: 2023 Faye Sobey Undergraduate Research Award,
2021/2022 Dr. W.K Honig Prize in Psychology,
2021 Dalhousie University Chancellor’s Scholarship