Dr. Stuart W.S. MacDonald

Associate Professor

University of Victoria

Canada

 

 

We regret that our cherished colleague and friend, Esther Strauss, passed away in June 2009. A neuropsychology maven, she was a major contributor to the VLS initiatives in that area since the late 1990s. Her loss is felt in many other dimensions as well.

Photo by RAD, one of Esther's many friends.

Dr. Shea Andrews

B.Sc. and B.A. (Queensland University) and Ph.D. (Australian National University, 2017)

Research Interests: Cognitive Aging, Genetics and Dementia

Formerly: CEPAR Postdoctoral Visitor, University of Alberta

Presently: Postdoctoral Fellow, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

 

Linzy Bohn

B.A (Psychology, MacEwan University) and  M.Sc. (Psychology, University of Alberta)

Research Interests: Cognitive Aging

Presently: Graduate Student, University of Alberta

 

Dr. Allison Bielak

B.A. (Winnipeg), M.A. and Ph.D. (University of Victoria, 2008)

Research Interests: Cognitive Aging Inconsistency; Lifestyle Engagement

Formerly: Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University

Presently: Assistant Professor, Colorado State University

 

H. Sebastian Caballero

B.Sc. (Psychology, Laurentian University, 2016), M.Sc. (University of Alberta)

Research Interests: Executive Functions; Cognitive Aging

Presently: Graduate Student, University of Alberta

 

Dr. Karen Cochrane

M.A. (McGill), Ph.D. (University of Alberta, 2009)

Research Interests: Memory and Alzheimer's Disease

Presently: Clinical Practice and Research, Halifax, Nova Scotia

 

Dr. A.L. Cohen

B.A. (York), M.Sc. and Ph.D. (University of Victoria, 2002)

Research Interests: Prospective Memory; Intentions

Presently: Associate Professor, Yeshiva University

 

Carolyn B. Crow

B.A. (University of Calgary), M.A. (University of Victoria)

Research Interests: Implicit Theories of Aging

 

Dr. Correne A. DeCarlo

B.Sc. (Queen's University), M.Sc. (Lakehead University), Ph.D. (University of Victoria)

Research Interests: Biological Markers of Cognitive Decline

Presently: Research Assistant, UAlberta/UVic VLS Genetics Initiative

 

Dr. Cindy M. de Frias

B.A. (University of Victoria), M.Sc. (Penn State University), Ph.D. (University of Victoria, 2003)

Research Interests: Longitudinal Analyses, Memory Compensation, Executive Functions

Presently: Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Dallas

 

Shannon Drouin

B.A. (Psychology, McGill University), M.Sc. (University of Alberta)

Research Interests: Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease; Quantitative Modeling Techniques

Presently: Graduate Student, University of Alberta

 

Dr. Sanda Dolcos

B.Sc. (University of Bucharest), M.P.A. and Ph.D. (North Carolina State University)

Research Interests: Emotion, Cognition, Neuroimaging, and Aging

Presently: Postdoctoral Research, University of Illinois

Formerly: Postdoctoral Research, University of Alberta

 

Sarah Feltmate

B.A. (Acadia University)

Research Interests: Social Engagement and Cognitive Impairment

Formerly: Graduate Student, University of Alberta

 

Samantha X. Fu

B.Sc. University of Alberta

Research Interests: Subjective Cognitive Decline; Cognitive Aging

 

Dr. Lisa M. Gagnon

B.A. (University of Calgary), M.A. (University of Victoria), M.D. (University of Alberta, 2001)

Research Interests: Psychiatry; Collaborative Cognition

Formerly: VLS Post-doctoral Research

Presently: Psychiatrist (Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary)

 

Jacob Grand

B.Sc. (Queen's University), B.A. (University of British Columbia)

Research Interests: Cognitive Plasticity Across the Adult Lifespan

Presently: Graduate Student, University of Victoria

Presently: Research Assistant, UAlberta/UVic VLS Genetics Initiative

 

Janine Hazlitt

B.A. (University of Toronto), M.A. (University of Victoria)

Research Interests: Semantic Memory Change

 

Mackenzie Heal

B.Sc. Neuroscience (University of Alberta, Campus Saint-Jean)

Research Interests: Biomarker Predictors of Cognitive Aging and Dementia

Presently: Graduate Student, University of Alberta

 

Dr. Tiffany Hughes

B.Sc. (Allegheny College), M.P.H. and Ph.D. (University of South Florida, 2008)

Research Interests: Influence of Lifestyle on Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

Presently: Postdoctoral Research, University of Pittsburgh

 

Dr. Stuart MacDonald

B.A. (Winnipeg), M.A. and Ph.D. (University of Victoria, 2003)

Research Interests: Cognition and Terminal Decline; Biological Markers

Presently: Associate Professor, University of Victoria

Presently: Co-Investigator, VLS Lab in Victoria

 

Laura Mansueti

B.Sc. (University of Toronto), M.Sc. (University of Alberta, 2004)

Research Interests: Cognitive Aging; Stroke and Memory

 

Kirstie McDermott

B.Sc. (University of Alberta), M.Sc. (Neuroscience, University of Alberta)

Research Interests: Neuroscience, Aging, and Dementia

Formerly: Graduate Student, University of Alberta

 

Dr. G. Peggy McFall

B.A., M.Sc. and Ph.D. (University of Alberta)

Research Interests: Longitudinal Aging: Health, Genetics, Cognition

Presently: Research Associate, University of Alberta

Presently: Assistant Director, VLS Lab in Edmonton

 

Dr. Shannon Runge

B.A. (George Mason University), M.A. (University of Indianapolis), Ph.D. (University of South Florida)

Research Interests: Biopsychological Changes Associated with Age-Related Diseases

 

Dr. Shraddha Sapkota

B.A. (Mount Holyoke College), M.Sc. and Ph.D. (Neuroscience, University of Alberta)

Research Interests: Aging, Genetics, Metabolomics, Health, Cognition

Presently: Postdoctoral Fellow, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto

 

Sheri Thibeau

B.A. (University of Calgary), M.Sc. (Psychology, University of Alberta)

Research Interests: Longitudinal Health and Cognitive Aging

Presently: Graduate Student, University of Alberta

 

Bonnie Whitehead

B.Sc. and M.Sc. (University of Alberta)

Research Interests: Genetics, Neurocognitive Aging, Alzheimer's Disease

Formerly: Graduate Student, University of Alberta

•     Michelle Audet, B.Sc.
•     Debbie Ball, M.A.
•     Anna Braslavsky, B.Sc. [Update: Graduate Student, University of Victoria]
•     Alina Carter, B.A. [Update: Graduate Student, University of Windsor]
•     Dr. Teddy Cosco, Ph.D. (Cambridge University]
•     Dr. Andisheh Eslamboli, B.A., Ph.D. (Cambridge University)
•     Meghan Evans, B.A.
•     Inka Fakuade, M.Sc.
•     Laura Fawcett, B.A. [Update: Occupational Therapist, Vancouver]
•     Ashley Fischer, B.Sc. [Update: Graduate Student, Simon Fraser University]
•     Jill Friesen, B.Sc.
•     Dr. Douglas Garrett, B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D. [Update: Researcher, Max Planck Institute, Berlin, Germany]
•     Lindsey Helmer, B.Sc.
•     Oliver Jost, M.A.
•     Dr. Sonia Kang, B.Sc., Ph.D. [Update: Assistant Professor, University of Toronto]
•     Jackie Lane, B.A.
•     Alec Macdonald, B.Sc. in Honours Immunology (University of Alberta, 2017)
•     Aislin Martin, B.A., M.A. in Physical Therapy (University of British Columbia)
•     Véronique Mercier, B.A., M.P.A. (University of Victoria)
•     Corey Naphtali, B.A.
•     Elizabeth Nilsen, B.A.
•     Lisa Okada, B.A.
•     Terrence Perkins, M.Sc.
•     Parveen Rai, B.Sc.
•     Beverly Rowlands, B.Sc.
•     Alina Sotskova, B.A.
•     Sarah Tippe, B.Sc.
•     Amanda Warnock, B.Sc.
•     Laura van Wielingen, B.A. [Update: Graduate Student, University of Calgary]
•     Carmen Webber
•     Dianne Wolcott, B.Sc., B.Ed.
•     Jade Wong, B.A.
•     Sarah Woolgar, B.A. [Update: Graduate Student, University of British Columbia]
•     Sophie Yeung, B.Sc. [Update: Graduate Student, Simon Fraser University]

Victoria Site: Debbie Ball is coordinating the contacts with our Victoria participants. She may be contacted at (250) 721-6296 or vls@uvic.ca.

 

Edmonton Site: Contact the VLS lab at (780) 492-7602 or vlslab@ualberta.ca.

Terry Perkins: We are saddened to learn of the recent passing of our former Victoria lab coordinator and research assistant. Terry's friendliness and professionalism were legendary among VLS participants and colleagues, with whom he worked for almost two decades.

 

Peggy McFall retired from her positions as Research Associate (University of Alberta) and Assistant Director (VLS) in May 2023. We wish her every success in her new life activities. We will miss her cheerful energy, broad expertise and supportive spirit.

 

John (Jack) McArdle was a valued friend, collaborator and consultant of the VLS. His recent passing was marked with profound sadness by friends and colleagues from around the world. The VLS benefited greatly from his prodigious expertise in quantitative modeling of complex longitudinal data.

 

Dianne Wolcott has long served as one of our friendly and loyal participant coordinators. She retired in 2015 and we wish her well on her many new activities.

 

David Hultsch, after an outstanding academic career, retired from the University of Victoria in 2011. Dave was one of the three founders of the VLS. We are pleased that latest reports have him enjoying life on a small island off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

 

Maureen Pugh was with the VLS from its inception until the early 2000s. Her enormous dedication to the project and to the VLS participants will be missed.

Dr. Christopher Hertzog

VLS Co-Founder

Professor

Georgia Institute of Technology

USA