-COLOUR.svg "Collabzium")
.jpeg?width=1016&height=762&name=IMG_1449%20(1).jpeg)
Sommer Knight
Sommer Knight is a Vanier Scholar and PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa. She previously completed her Master's in Psychiatry at McGill University. Her clinical work is centered on children, adolescents and families. She recently published a children's book with her colleagues titled "Today is a Rainy Day" to bring increased awareness to children's mental health. Her research interests include intersectionality, culture, pathways to care, and mental health disparities. She previously sat on the CPA Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee for two years and served as the President of Psychology Students for Systemic Transformation at the University of Ottawa.
Selbi Kurbanova
Selbi Kurbanova is currently pursuing a PhD in Experimental Psychology at the University of Ottawa, where she conducts research under the mentorship of Dr. Irene Vitoroulis in the Culture, Diversity and Youth Development (CDYD) Lab. She holds a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology (with Honors) from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master of Counseling Psychology from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where she also earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Social Work.
Her research interests lie in bystander intervention, intersectionality, intergroup biases, and the cognitive mechanisms underlying decision-making and heuristics. She is committed to examining how individuals perceive and respond to discrimination and injustice, particularly in diverse contexts.
Selbi is an active member of the Research Division of Psychology Students for Systemic Transformation (PSST) at the University of Ottawa. Through her work, she aims to promote equity-informed approaches to intervention research that can inform culturally responsive policies and practices within educational and social systems.
Ruo Feng
Ruo is a Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa, under the supervision of Dr. Irene Vitoroulis. She was born in China and immigrated with her family to Montreal, Canada when she was 5. She completed a B.A. (Hons) in Psychology at McGill University and moved to Ottawa to pursue her graduate studies.
Ruo's research interests broadly fit within the intersection of social, cultural, and clinical psychology. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC), her doctoral research centers around understanding the barriers and facilitators to seeking help and accessing mental health services among immigrant youth, with an emphasis on stigma, intersectionality, and racial discrimination. Clinically, she has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and groups in school, private practice, and community settings.
Chris Buchan-Pham
Chris is a first-year PhD student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa under the supervision of Dr. Irene Vitoroulis. His research focuses on the mental health and psychosocial development of youth and emerging adults from immigrant, refugee, and racialized backgrounds—with particular attention to the influence of social processes and contextual factors. Chris has a strong interest in statistics and is active in the lab’s data analysis efforts, contributing to qualitative and quantitative research projects. Outside academia, he enjoys cycling, hiking, gaming, and photography.
Melodi Sudekan
Melodi has completed her Honours BA Psychology degree at the University of Ottawa. She conducted her Honours Thesis under the supervision of Dr. Irene Vitoroulis, examining the experience of loneliness among migrant and non-migrant youth—a project she is currently working to publish. With a strong interest in youth mental health and cross-cultural psychology, she aspires to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Psychology. As a member of the CDYD lab, she is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a range of research projects and to gain meaningful, hands-on experience that supports her academic and professional development.
Gabe Kotch
Gabe completed his honours thesis with Dr. Vitoroulis in 2025, and graduated from the B.Sc. In psychology program. He wants to continue his research on children, education, and mental health and wants to continue his studies in school and clinical psychology.
Kathy Josiah
Kathy is a fifth-year psychology student at the University of Ottawa and an honours thesis student in the CDYD Lab. She’s deeply committed to mental health advocacy and aims to pursue graduate studies in Counseling Psychology to better serve racialized and underserved populations.
Alyssa Fairley
Alyssa is an Honours Bachelors of Psychology student with a minor in Criminology. She is currently completing her Honours Thesis in the Culture, Diversity, and Youth Lab under the supervision of Dr. Irene Vitoroulis. She plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, with the potential goal of later completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Alyssa hopes to use her experiences in research to better prepare her for her graduate studies.
Janelle Lalonde
Janelle is a fourth-year Honours BSc Psychology student at the University of Ottawa. She is thrilled to be a part of the CDYD lab as a research assistant, a position made possible through funding from the University's BIPOC Research Assistantship Program. Janelle is grateful for the opportunity to be involved in multiple research projects, including the Migrant Students Study and the Low-Level Aggression Study. Her participation in the lab has deepened her understanding of psychological research and enriched her perspective on the lived experiences of adolescents and migrant communities. Janelle plans to pursue a Master’s in Counselling Psychology, with the goal of becoming a psychotherapist supporting children, adolescents, and their families.
Angelia Iefino
.jpeg?width=260&height=309&name=IMG_4579%20(1).jpeg)
Angelia is a fourth-year Honours BA Psychology student at the University of Ottawa. She is passionate about mental health and educational psychology, and she hopes to pursue graduate studies in counselling psychology. Angelia is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the CDYD lab, where she currently aids with many different aspects of conducting research, including data collection. Her involvement in the lab has deepened her understanding of developmental research processes. She looks forward to applying the knowledge and experience she gains in the lab to support her future academic and professional goals in the field of psychology.
Maria Bolano Valle
Maria is an Honours BA student in Psychology at the University of Ottawa. She is interested in how immigration shapes societal dynamics and how cultural identities evolve over time. Through her work in the CDYD lab, she has developed a deeper understanding of psychological research methods and gained valuable insight into diverse lived experiences in migrant communities. She plans to pursue a Master's degree in Psychotherapy, aiming to support individuals in navigating life’s challenges and contribute meaningfully to her community.
Kathryn Kyte
Kathryn is a fifth-year student in the Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences program with a minor in Psychology. She is currently a volunteer at the CDYD Lab, where she is expanding her knowledge and experience in psychological research. Through her involvement, she aims to broaden her scope in psychology to build a strong foundation for future studies, with the goal of attending physician assistant school.
Brandon Thornley
Brandon is a fourth-year student at the University of Ottawa, and he is currently pursuing his Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology. After completing his undergraduate studies, he hopes to pursue a Master’s of Arts in Counselling Psychology, aiming to specialize in substance use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Brandon is extremely grateful for the opportunity he’s been given to participate in the CDYD laboratory, and he hopes to use the knowledge and experience he gains throughout his time in the lab to excel in his graduate studies and to better understand marginalized populations
Farah Abu-Osbeh
Farah recently received her Honours BA Magna Cum Laude in Psychology at the University of Ottawa. She has been a member of the CDYD lab since June 2023 and has done her undergraduate honours thesis under Dr. Vitoroulis' supervision. Farah's thesis looked at the role of self-esteem and school belonging in the relationship between racial microaggression and adolescent school engagement. She is interested in developmental psychology and is hoping to continue her studies with a master's degree in counselling psychology. Farah is currently focusing on expanding her skills in both quantitative and qualitative research to better prepare her for graduate studies.
Mash’Al Qureshi
Mash'al is a fourth-year Honours BSc Psychology student at the University of Ottawa, with a minor in Life Sciences. She is interested in behavioural development; particularly how early experiences influence emotional and cognitive outcomes. She joined the CDYD Lab to deepen her understanding of developmental psychology and contribute to research on child and adolescent development and mental health. She hopes to pursue graduate studies in psychology, integrating her life sciences background to support evidence-based approaches in behavioural research.
