Assistant Professor - Department of Child & Youth Studies - Brock UniversityCo-Director - Developmental Neuroscience Research HubMy research – Educational Neuroscience – is about studying the brain to understand how children learn. I have 2 projects on the go right now:1) Using EEG, we are studying the functional brain networks that children use while reading and understanding language. We want to know how these networks differ depending on children’s reading, language and executive function skill levels. This work involves my students at Brock University and collaborates at the Hospital for Sick Children and the University Health Network.2) Working with local school boards, we are tracking long-term improvements in students' reading skills after they received an evidence-based reading remediation program (Empower Reading) in their schools. We want to know how best to implement evidence-based reading programs in community schools to improve learning outcomes for students. This work involves collaborates at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Brock University, and the Hospital for Sick Children.My long-term goal is to bring these projects together – understand the different profiles of neuroplasticity that children experience with learning, and work with educators to use this info to create more targeted intervention programs.

• Led three courses in the Department of Psychology: "Cognitive Psychology", "Research Methods in Psychology" and “Honours Seminar in Psychology: Psychology of Bilingualism”

• Developed a new research protocol to identify the brain’s language and reading networks in children who require surgery for epilepsy• Collected and analyzed EEG and neuropsychological data from ~ 60 children (age 3-18 years)and adults with and without epilepsy• Developed comprehensive testing battery and directed creation of user-friendly analysispipeline for clinicians to measure brain network dynamics during language comprehension andreading• Funding: The Ontario Brain Institute (OBI), EpLink Platform

• Examined benefit of reading remediation and stimulant medication on improving reading and behavioural outcomes for children with co-morbid reading disorder-ADHD• Partnered with Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board to evaluate efficacy ofimplementing the EMPOWER Reading remediation program for over 700 struggling readers incommunity schools• Developed new measure of reading comprehension used with adults with low literacy skills• Funding: Le Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Société et Culture (FQRSC)

• Instructor for "Cognitive Psychology" and “Cognitive Psychology II: Language and Thought”

• Managed a large-scale longitudinal study to evaluate the efficacy of music- and art-basedcognitive training on the neuro-cognitive development of attention and language in grade 1students• Supervised a team of research assistants, co-ordinated project within school, collected andanalyzed EEG and neuropsychological data, developed online parent questionnaires/surveys• Showed potential for language & music learning during and after sensitive periods indevelopment• Funding: Le Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Société et Culture (FQRSC)

• Specialization in Cognitive-Neuroscience and Language Acquisition • • Demonstrated neural plasticity associated with second language learning across the lifespan• Collected EEG data from ~ 125 second language learners• Developed innovative analysis method to compare neural correlates of different learningtrajectories• Presented findings at 12 international conferences and gave 16 invited guest lectures• Organized multi-disciplinary, international conference on mechanisms of learning, brainplasticity and critical periods for ~500 attendees• Teaching Assistant for 5 upper level undergraduate courses in the Department of Psychology, including the Psychology of Bilingualism, Psychology of Deafness and Modern Psychology in a Historical Perspective• Funding/Awards: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); McGill Excellence Entrance Scholarship

• Used Eye Tracking device to examine the cognitive mechanisms involved in Biological Motionprocessin• Maintained high GPA while also working and volunteering for the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Canadian Hearing Society• Awards received: Dean's Honour's List; Ontario/Baden-Württemberg Exchange Student Scholarship; German/Polish Language & Cultural Exchange Program Scholarship; Dean’s Special Award for Exchange Students; Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship

• Used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate the neurocognitive basis of motor planning