Supervisors: Venkat Bhat, Tom SchweizerProject: Evaluation of target engagement of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex as a biomarker of antidepressant response to interventional therapies

Supervisors: Venkat Bhat, Sidney H. Kennedy• Coordinated the neurostimulation research pillar within Interventional Psychiatry Program and managed 4 studies on novel psychopharmacology (e.g., nitrous oxide, intravenous ketamine) and brain stimulation (functional electrical stimulation, temporal interference) for treatment-resistant depression • Planned, organized, and evaluated the activities and operations of scientific research in the unit in close collaboration with leaders from psychiatry, anesthesia, neuroimaging, neuroinformatics, pharmacology, biostatistics, knowledge translation, infection prevention and control, ethics, and hospital leadership• Designed and maintained study-specific source documents in compliance with Good Clinical Practice and Tri-Council Policy Statement, including study protocols, informed consent forms, investigator brochures, trial master files, records, and case report forms (CRFs)• Oversaw project resources (i.e., budget, personnel, subcontracts) and ensured adherence to quality control standards and milestone timelines for delivery of reports• Led grant preparation and manuscript writing within the neurostimulation and psychopharmacology research pillars of the program, prepared 3 manuscripts as a lead author and co-authored 7 manuscripts submitted to peer-reviewed journals• Set up study objectives and assisted in study conceptualization, design and methodology, data collection and analysis, interpretation and dissemination of findings to internal and external stakeholders• Assisted in supervision of 6 students as part of Keenan Research Summer Student (KRSS) Program, organized and set up goals for 6 systematic review projects

• Provided comprehensive editing service to international clients on a freelance basis, including content, line, and copy editing, to improve communication of their science• Edited and proofread scientific manuscripts, admission essays, and other academic documents to enhance writing and optimize the success of publication• Prepared manuscripts for submission to international top-tier peer-reviewed journals in biological and biomedical sciences

Project: Effects of atypical antipsychotics on an electrophysiological correlate of delusion pronenessSupervisor: J. Bruno Debruille• Coordinated the study involving the administration of antipsychotic medications to participants in the experimental setting; ensured milestone compliance and execution of project tasks; controlled quality of data and reported research activities to the team• Performed the experiment on ~95 participants entailing the implementation of electroencephalography (EEG) protocol, administration of psychometric scales (SPQ, FSQ, PDI-21, SDS, FAS, STAI), and cognitive-behavioural computer tasks (semantic categorization, social role acceptance)• Developed data processing pipelines for event-related potentials (ERP) via MATLAB and iWave software; analyzed the data of ~130 participants via statistical packages (SPSS, StatPlus)• Synthesized and communicated the findings at 2 international and 3 student conferences• Prepared and processed all documentation through the Research Ethics Board (REB) of the Douglas Institute, including submissions, amendments, continuing reviews, and adverse event reports

• Directed and oversaw overall operations and staff activities of the organization, supervised a team of 6 Executive members and 31 Core members representing 19 healthcare disciplines; maintained confidentiality of all sensitive information pertaining to club members• Set and moderated organization’s core values and principles, created and implemented annual operations plan, trained staff, analyzed the membership and retention, oversaw and assisted in preparation and maintenance of organization records, activity reports and financial documentation• Continuously ensured adherence of organization’s activities to the Constitution of the Medical Students’ Society (MSS) and all other Regulations of McGill University • Organized and chaired 21 committee meetings fostering knowledge mobilization and interdisciplinary collaboration among various mental healthcare professionals; facilitated intra-group communication and coordinated the logistics of all activities • Acted as an official representative of the organization to all external entities, including invited speakers, collaborating student governments and bodies, sponsorship agencies, academic departments, and the Greater Montreal community institutes

• Explored opportunities for sponsorships and interfaced with local businesses and accounting departments of McGill University to financially support organization’s projects and events • Modeled and itemized annual budget plan by forecasting projected costs and revenues• Prepared and customized 15 funding applications in collaboration with CMH President, which resulted in the $2500 increase in the operating balance • Managed organization’s bank account and transfer of funds, kept systematic records of financial allocations, receipts, and activity reports

Teaching supervisor: Geoffroy NoëlCourse: Clinical Neuroanatomy (ANAT323)• Independently taught a weekly neuroanatomy tutorial to 80 occupational and physical therapy students with a 92% satisfaction rate• Developed teaching materials in a manner supporting research-led and scholarly approach to student learning • Collaborated with a team of faculty and actively contributed new ideas on teaching that were incorporated in the course instruction• Maintained a laboratory with human specimens abiding by the Code of Conduct in the Anatomy Laboratory of McGill University • Participated in the assessment process and provided effective timely and appropriate feedback to students to support their learning

Teaching supervisor: Barbara (Dee) Ballyk• Proposed and actualized the idea of creating a digital database for students utilizing the design thinking approach to anatomy education and cutting edge advances in biomedical communications (digital media, photoshop & graphic design software) • Developed and customized a digital database of anatomical and histological specimens (~310 specimens) that was successfully integrated in the Foundations Curriculum of the undergraduate M.D. program at the University of Toronto • Designed evaluations (Multiple Choice Questions, Bell Ringer Practical Exams), comprehensive study guides, and practice questions by combining traditional and electronic library resources in collaboration with the University of Toronto Archives & Records Management Services (UTARMS)

Project: Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of refractory depression among patients with borderline personality disorderSupervisors: Jonathan Downar, Kfir Feffer, Peter Giacobbe• Conducted in-person psychiatric structured interviews (HAM-D, ZAN-BPD, IDS30, EDE) with 20 female outpatients with comorbid major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder, including pre-screening and follow-up assessments• Maintained the REDCap database and a regulatory binder for the study in compliance with the core principles of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2)• Developed forms, questionnaires and spreadsheets for data collection; facilitated the completion of clinical charts and case report forms• Evaluated and analyzed clinical research data to ensure accuracy and consistency between source documents; communicated the results to the scientific audience• Co-authored a publication in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, and rTMS clinic administrative staff

Project: Neural processes supporting the contextual meaning of sentences (EcoG)Supervisors: Christopher Honey, Kathrin Müsch• Formulated a new standard data transformation procedure for semantic sequences rehearsed by 16 female inpatients who had undergone neurosurgical treatment for refractory epilepsy• Transcribed patients’ recordings via Praat and Audacity software; performed data entry tasks in a timely and accurate manner• Assisted with the electrocorticography (ECoG) set-up in the Epilepsy Clinic of the Toronto Western Hospital; prepared and transported experimental equipment • Obtained informed consent and communicated the purposes of the study to patients in simple and understandable terms

Project: A vitamin in your brain: retinoic acid treatment causes the downregulation of ATCAY geneSupervisors: Colleen Dockstader, Katharine Dunlop• Prepared and maintained SH-SY5Y cell culture according to the validated protocol• Identified changes in cell morphology under the microscope, determining cell viability and quantifying cell counts on a hemocytometer with 90% accuracy• Isolated, purified, and analyzed RNA using immunocytochemistry and microarray to examine the effects of retinoic acid on neuronal differentiation, neurite growth, and gene expression• Synthesized the findings, conducted a literature review, and presented a poster at the Human Biology students’ poster booth

Project: Is SIRT3 neuroprotective in the PFF rat model of Parkinson’s disease?Supervisor: Joanne Nash• Handled preformed α-synuclein fibril (PFF) rat models of Parkinson’s disease abiding by the Standards and Guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC); administered subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections• Sterilized laboratory equipment using the Autoclave; performed quality control to assure the proper functioning of instruments • Transcribed video recordings of forelimb use asymmetry (cylinder) test to quantify the effects of injected SIRT3 protein on the behaviour of PFF rat models• Visualized and counted dopaminergic neurons in sectioned midbrain specimens of PFF rat model using the electron microscope, rat brain atlas, and stereology tools