Team

Research Coordinator

Yanara holds a BSS and a graduate certificate in Project Management. She spent 2+ years coordinating research and advocacy initiatives in Malawi’s HIV and AIDS sector and managed an international volunteer program. As Research Coordinator, Yanara supports the lab’s day-to-day operations and leads the patient partner engagement program which incorporates feedback and priority areas of people with lived experiences. Her passions outside of work include running after her young daughter, trying out new cuisines, and traveling as much as possible. ​

Administrative Assistant

Poonam, a Health Informatician and Business Analyst with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from India, has held diverse roles such as Administrative Assistant, EPIC Support Staff, Screener, Dentist, and Health-Care Ambassador. Currently assisting Child Health Evaluative Sciences (CHES) and three principal investigators, Drs. Sonia Grandi, Eleanor Pullenayegum and Teresa To, Poonam joined the IMPOWER Lab in February 2023. She enjoys biking, painting, and reading novels.​

Research Assistant

Sabrina is a recent MPH Epidemiology student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Sabrina’s research explores the development and application of innovative predictive models to prevent disease and improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Her particular interest lies in using advanced artificial intelligence techniques to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes and assess the risk of these outcomes within high-risk subpopulations. Sabrina joined the IMPOWER lab as a Research Assistant in May 2023.

Undergraduate Thesis Student

Lucy is a fourth year undergraduate student at McMaster University pursuing her Bachelor of Health Sciences degree. Lucy is curious about the link between child and maternal health and is excited to explore her interest in perinatal health. Lucy joined the IMPOWER Lab as a summer research student in May 2023. She enjoys baking desserts and playing with her dog, Oreo.

PhD Student

Lauren, a second-year Epidemiology PhD student at the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH), holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. She earned a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (with a Collaborative Specialization in Global Health) from DLSPH in 2022. She is passionate about pharmacoepidemiology, with a focus on women’s and global health. She enjoys travelling, pilates, reading and watching Harry Potter.​

PhD Student

George, a second-year Biostatistics PhD student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, focuses on developing methodology for analyzing irregularly observed longitudinal data with informative dropout. He holds a master’s degree in statistics from the University of Guelph and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from McGill University. Outside academia, George enjoys running, biking and walks through the city.​

Clinical Research Project Assistant

Lux holds a PhD in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour from McMaster University and an MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatstics from Western University. Lux joined IMPOWER LAB in July 2024. As Research Assistant, he helps integrate science, statistics, and community engagement to improve the health and well-being of women and vulnerable populations. In his leisure time, Lux enjoys detective novels, theatre, coffee, and bubble tea.

Research Assistant

Olivia Novosel is a first-year medical student at the University of Toronto. She graduated with a BScH in Life Sciences at Queen’s University and completed a chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular pharmacology thesis in her fourth year. Outside of school, she loves distance running, baking and both playing and watching tennis.