Dr. Christie Burton, PhD
Research Associate
Joined the team in 2012
PhD: University of Toronto
Dr. Annie Dupuis, PhD
Research Associate
Joined the team in 2010
PhD: University of Toronto
Dr. Christie Burton, PhD
Dr. Christie Burton joined the Schachar team in 2012 as a post-doctoral fellow and is presently a Research Associate. She received her Ph.D. in psychology and neuroscience from the University of Toronto in 2012. Her previous research focused on characterizing and understanding neurobiology of behaviours relevant to drug addiction (e.g. impulsivity) in adolescents under the supervision of Dr. Paul Fletcher. Currently, she is studying the genomic underpinnings of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in collaboration with the Schachar team and Dr. Paul Arnold at the University of Calgary. Projects include the community-based Spit for Science and collaborations with the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) ADHD and OCD working groups. Dr. Burton is also the Outreach Coordinator for the PGC ADHD and OCD working groups.
Dr. Annie Dupuis, PhD
Dr. Annie Dupuis joined the Schachar Lab in 2010. She completed her PhD in biostatistics at the University of Toronto in November 2001, and pursued her post-doctoral training under the supervision of Dr. Mary Corey at SickKids working in cystic fibrosis research. She is an adjunct professor in the biostatistics department at the University of Toronto. She has developed expertise in attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, autism spectrum disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, and learning disabilities. She has extensive experience in the analysis of large databases, questionnaire design and validation, longitudinal data analysis, survival analysis, the development of diagnostic rules and measurement norms, latent class analysis, and graphical methods.
Nicole Roslin, MSc
Nicole Roslin joined the team in December 2021 as a biostatistician. She has a background in microbiology and statistics, and has been working in the field of human genetics since 1998. Nicole joined SickKids in 2008, working as a statistical consultant at The Centre For Applied Genomics (TCAG). There, she developed expertise in the analysis of a wide variety of genetic data types, including single variants, copy number changes, epigenetics, gene expression, and next generation sequencing.
Avalon Henry, MA
Clinical Research Project Manager
Joined the team in 2015
MA: Pace University
Teddy Cheung, PhD, MSSc, MSc, PGDip
Clinical Research Fellow
Joined the team in 2021
PhD: University of Toronto
Diletta Mora, PhD Candidate, MA, MSc
Graduate Student
Joined the team in 2022
MSc: University of Padua
MA: University of Padua
PhD Candidate: University of Rome
Avalon Henry, MA
Avalon Henry joined the Schachar Lab in 2015 as a Clinical Research Project Assistant working on the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND) Network project and is now a Clinical Research Project Manager for the Spit for Science project. She received her MA in Psychology from Pace University in New York City where she studied young children’s social skills, inhibition and pretend play throughout the developmental stages under the supervision of Dr. Thalia Goldstein and Dr. Lisa Rosenthal. She moved to Toronto and completed training with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy and began practicing as a Play Therapist. Avalon has a passion for working with and helping children as a researcher and as a therapist.
Diletta Mora, PhD Candidate
Diletta Mora joined the Schachar Crosbie Lab in June 2022 as a PhD candidate with a background in clinical psychology. She is a fully qualified psychologist and she graduated at the University of Padova. At the moment, she is doing her PhD in the development and well-being of individuals and organizations at the University of LUMSA (Rome). Her research focuses are the role of new technologies and virtual reality applied to psychology in order to improve mental health and well-being and the evaluation of the effects and benefits related to online psychology.
Teddy Cheung, PhD, MSSC, MSc, PGDip
Teddy C.K. Cheung, PhD, MSSc, C Psych (Ontario CA & UK), R Psychol (Hong Kong), joined SickKids in November 2021 as a clinical research fellow, with background in clinical psychology and neuropsychology. He received his PhD in psychology and neuroscience from the University of Toronto in 2022. He is funded through the Research Training Centre Clinician Scientist Training Program (CSTP) of the Centre for Brain & Mental Health as a Garry Hurvitz Fellow. His research focuses on children with neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular interest in multisensory perception, scale validations and intervention evaluations. Teddy is involved in a research program focused on developing and evaluating novel technology-based programs that assess and treat neurocognitive deficits in children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders. He is also working within a larger research collaboration assessing the impact of COVID-19 on irritability of children and youth. He consults with NGO to assess needs of and barriers for young adults with ASD in employment and career development.
Taha Arshad, BSc
Clinical Research Project Coordinator
Joined the team in 2020
BSc: McMaster University
Sabah Shaikh, MPH
Clinical Research Project Coordinator
Joined the team in 2021
MPH: New York University
Taha Arshad, BSc
Taha Arshad is a Clinical Research Project Coordinator in the Schachar Crosbie lab, and has been a part of the lab since September 2020. Taha graduated from McMaster University in 2018, with a Bachelor of Science + specialization in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour. Taha’s research experiences have taken him all over the place, including forensic psychology, neuropsychology, substance use disorders, mood disorders, cognition, as well as diabetes research. Taha is very excited and grateful to be working with such a strong team of individuals!
Sabah Shaikh, MPH
Sabah Shaikh joined the Schachar Crosbie Lab in 2021 as a Clinical Research Project Coordinator. Before joining the lab, Sabah completed her Master in Public Health Epidemiology from NYU, where she investigated how attachment and identity affirmation interact with minority stressors and physiological markers among young sexual minority men. Before NYU, Sabah worked as a Clinical Trials Manager, where she and her team investigated the efficacy of omega-3 formulation on cardiovascular disease risk factors. As an avid proponent for mental health and wellness, Sabah aspires to continue, and contribute to, pediatric mental health and neuroscience research in the future.
Muhammad Shoaib, PhD
Muhammad Shoaib is a Research Fellow at the Schachar Crosbie Lab. He completed his Ph.D. in ‘Molecular Genetics and Experimental Medicine’ from the University of Brescia, Italy. After his Ph.D., he pursued his postdoc research at the ‘Montreal Heart Institute, University of Montreal’. His recent research work focused on the development of ‘Polygenic risk score’ models to differentiate between Type I and Type II diabetes in the UK Biobank cohort. His key research domains include Precision Medicine, Statistical Genetics, Complex trait genetic data analysis, and Biobanks.
Area that fascinate him: Artificial Intelligence in drug discovery and development
Other facts about him: Enjoys travelling, exploring other cultures, and meeting new people. Probably, this is one of the reasons he travelled to many European countries while doing his Master’s and Ph.D. studies. Moreover, he loves morning walks, reading self-development books, and CrossFit sessions.
Jana Radosavljevic, BSc
Clinical Research Project Coordinator
Joined the team in 2019
BSc: University of Toronto
Navi Dhaliwal, BSc
Clinical Research Project Coordinator
Joined the team in 2019
BSc: University of Waterloo
Aarti Doshi, BA, BCom
Clinical Research Project Coordinator
Joined the team in 2019
BA: Carleton University
BCom: Humber College
Jana Radosavljevic, BSc
Jana Radosavljevic joined the team in June 2019 as a Junior Research Assistant working on “Spit for Science 2”. Since then, she has taken on various roles in the lab, including working in the POND Network. Jana currently works as a Clinical Research Project Coordinator for the “Spit for Science 2” project. She graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree where she specialized in Neuroscience, majored in Psychology, and minored in Biology. Throughout her undergraduate degree, Jana was involved in numerous research labs investigating personality and interpersonal perception, epigenetics, and mindfulness meditation. Jana aspires to become a Clinician-Scientist and investigate biomarkers involved in mood and psychotic disorders.
Aarti Doshi, BA, BCom Candidate
Aarti Doshi joined the team in June 2019 as a Clinical Research Project Assistant for the Spit for Science 2 study. She currently works as a Clinical Research Project Coordinator for a feasibility study examining psychopathology among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Aarti graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, minor in Neuroscience and Mental Health. During the final year of her undergraduate degree, Aarti worked as a Mental Health Research Assistant for Dr. Kathleen Pajer’s lab at the CHEO Research Institute, assisting with neuropsychiatric clinical research that focused on adolescent girls with suicidality and/or self-harm behaviours. She later held the position of a Data Quality Clerk within the CHEO Research Institute. After the completion of her Bachelor of Commerce in Healthcare Management, Aarti aspires to complete a master and a doctoral degree in the field of clinical psychology.
Navi Dhaliwal, BSc
Navi Dhaliwal joined the Schachar + Crosbie lab as a Junior Research Assistant on Spit for Science 2. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science in Honours Psychology with Co-Op with a minor in Biology. Throughout her undergrad she has been curious about Executive Function development in children, leading her through a directed studies project looking at the interventions available to children with executive dysfunction, and a thesis project examining the role of executive dysfunction and children’s mental health. She has been involved in numerous labs – starting in the Memory, Attention, and Cognition Lab, later joining the Gambling Research Lab and the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychology Lab. Navi aspires to take part in the exploration of the role of genetics in neuropsychiatric disorders and to continue to work with children with neurodevelopmental concerns – especially continuing her involvement with intervention programs.
Danielle Grant, BMSc
Clinical Research Project Assistant
Joined the team in 2019
BMSc: University of Western Ontario
Eisha Amjad
Clinical Research Project Assistant
Joined the team in 2021
BSc: University of Toronto
Rachel Ram
Clinical Research Project Assistant
Joined the team in 2022
BSc: University of Toronto
Eisha Amjad, BSc
Eisha Amjad joined the Schachar Crosbie Lab in January 2021 as a Co-op Research Student for Mega-Team. She earned an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, where she majored in Molecular Biology, Immunology & Disease, and Population Health Science. Eisha has a strong desire to understand more about the role of genetics and psychosocial variables in the development of neuropsychiatric diseases in children and adolescents. Eisha hopes to pursue clinical research in mental health and neuroscience and considers herself fortunate to be a member of such a bright team!
Danielle Grant, BMSc
Danielle Grant is a Clinical Research Project Assistant with the Schachar Crosbie Lab. She received her Bachelor of Medical Science degree from Western University, with a focus in Physiology and Medical Sciences, and a post-degree major in Psychology. She joined the lab in 2019 as a volunteer, and is excited to be part of the Mega Team research staff as of September 2020. Danielle has a great passion for working with children and a keen interest in rehabilitation methods for behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders. She looks forward to learning and contributing more in this area, and she is grateful to be part of such a dedicated team!
Sarah Flores
Rachel Ram joined the team in 2019 as a Junior Research Assistant. She currently works as a Clinical Research Project Assistant for the Spit for Science 2 study. Rachel received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto with a focus in forensic science and psychology where she conducted research to further understand and detect drug impaired drivers using physiological and psychomotor indicators. She is passionate about autism detection and intervention and looks forward to contributing more to this area.
Kumaran Rathakrishnan, BSc Candidate
Research Student
Joined the team in 2022
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Najma Mohamud, BSc Candidate
Research Student
Joined the team in 2022
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Hira Tahir, BSc Candidate
Research Student
Joined the team in 2022
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Kumaran Rathakrishnan, BSc Candidate
Kumaran Rathakrishnan is a Research Student in the Schachar Crosbie Lab. He is currently working towards his Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Population Health and Human Biology at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus. Kumaran enjoys working with children and is very interested in neurodevelopmental disorders. He is excited to be part of the Mega Team project to be contributing to the research performed and gathered.
Najma Mohamud, BSc Candidate
Najma Mohamud is a Research Student with the Schachar Crosbie Lab. She is in the process of completing her Honours Bachelors at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, specializing in Mental Health Studies. Moreover, She is thrilled for the chance to join the wonderful POND research team and contribute to improving the understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders. She is also excited to further explore her passion for working with children and their families and hopes to learn more about this growing field of research!
Hira Tahir, BSc Candidate
Hira Tahir is a current Research Student for the POND team with the Schachar Crosbie Lab. She is currently a third-year undergraduate student and is in the process of completing her Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto where she is specializing in Mental Health Studies. Hira is incredibly passionate about children’s mental health and is interested in research surrounding the improvement of long term outcomes for children with neuropsychiatric disorders. She is very excited to join the team where she will be able to apply her previous experience working with children in this position as well as contribute to this field of research!
Current Volunteers
Sera Anderson
Felicia Gao
Nora Karamanlian
Shi Ping (Linda) Lin
Jeremiah So
Gowsalya Thayapararsa
Spit for Science Team
Senior Research Assistants/
Junior Research Assistants
Joined the team between 2019-2020
Lab-Affiliated Students
Andrew Dissanayake, H.B.Arts Sc (McMaster University)
Andrew Dissanayake joined the Schachar & Crosbie Lab in Sep 2019 as a Research Student. He is currently completing his undergraduate studies at the Arts and Science program at McMaster University. His previous works investigated genetic substrates of Alzheimer’s Disease and their associations with Neuropsychiatric symptoms. Andrew has a particular interest in the intersection of mathematics, ethnicity, and youth mental health. He is excited to be continuing his journey at the Schachar and Crosbie Lab with a focus on validating psychometric tools for irritability and exploring the relationship between ethnicity, mental health phenotypes, and access to care in children and adolescence.
Prabdeep Panesar, BSc (University of Toronto)
Prabdeep Panesar joined the Schachar + Crosbie Lab in June 2019 as a Junior Research Assistant for the “Spit for Science” team. She is currently in the process of completing her Bachelor of Science degree in the Specialist Neuroscience program with Co-op at the University of Toronto. Throughout her undergrad she has explored many fields of research including infantile amnesia, morality across political spectrums, hematological malignancies, and neuropsychiatric disorders. She is excited to be continuing her journey at the Schachar + Crosbie Lab with a focus on understanding executive function in ASD and ADHD children/youth.
Chunlin (Andy) Liu, BSc Candidate (McMaster University)
Chunlin (Andy) Liu joined the Schachar & Crosbie Lab in May 2022 as a Research Student. He is currently completing his B.Sc. degree at McMaster University, specializing in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour. Andy’s research is focused on autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and Tourette syndrome. Andy excited to be a member of the Schachar Crosbie Lab and continue working on various research topics in the domain of mental health.
Spit for Science Team
Spit for Science Team (2019)
Senior Research Assistants
George Zoga
BA: Wilfrid Laurier University
Patrycia Jarosz
BSc: York University
Rachel Ram
BSc: University of Toronto
Susan Zahir
BA: York University
MSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Junior Research Assistants
Aisha Basha
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Anam Biabani
BHSc Candidate: McMaster University
Chunlin (Andy) Liu
BSc Candidate: McMaster University
Anthony Frattarelli
BA Candidate: York University
Caitlyn Kaziev
BHSc: University of Western Ontario
MHSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Gabrielle Lucchese-Lavecchia
BSc: York University
B.Ed. Candidate: York University
Gursimran Mann
BA Candidate: University of Guelph
Hira Tahir
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Iris Gottheil
BA: University of Guelph
BSW Candidate: York University
Ishnaa Gulati
BSc: McMaster University
MPH Candidate: University of Toronto
Jaewon Jeong
BScN Candidate: University of Toronto
Jana El-Sabbagh
BSc Candidate: York University
Juan Pablo Escorcia Dominguez
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Julia Carbone
BSc: Wilfried Laurier University
Clinical Research Graduate Certificate Candidate: Seneca College
Keerthika Jeganathan
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Kumaran Rathakrishnan
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Ladees Alhafi
BSc: University of Waterloo
MSc Candidate: Queens University
Mabel Koo
BSc Candidate: McMaster University
Megan Bhalla
Diploma in Registered Practical Nursing: Georgian College
BScN Candidate: McMaster University
Megan Weise
BA Candidate: York University
Najma Mohamud
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Nhu Huynh
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Nicole Fu
BHSc Candidate: McMaster University
Parisa Arizi
BSc Candidate: Toronto Metropolitan University
Sheila Noriega
BSc Candidate: York University
Sofia Casciato
BA Candidate: University of Toronto
Susheen Mahmood
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Trinley Palmo
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Vansh Shah
BSc Candidate: McMaster University
Yasmina Menhem
BA: University of Calgary
MEd Candidate: University of Toronto
Senior Research Assistants
Katrina Abela
BA: McMaster University
MA Candidate: Wilfred Laurier University
Rachel Ram
BSc: University of Toronto
Susan Zahir
BA: York University
MSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Junior Research Assistants
Alanna Kong
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Amrutha Elanko
BHSc: University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Amy Grossman
BSc Candidate: Wilfred Laurier University
Amy Rzezniczek
BA: Toronto Metropolitan University
Ariana Ladha
BHSc Candidate: McMaster University
Avery Rhind
BHSc Candidate: McMaster University
Charlotte Sulek
BA Candidate: University of British Columbia
Christina Smilis
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Chunlin (Andy) Liu
BSc Candidate: McMaster University
Claire Zanin
BSc Candidate: University of Guelph
Gina So
BHSc: McMaster University
Henry Xie
BSc Candidate: McGill University
Julia Ming Lo
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Lara Black
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Madeleine Zanin
BSc Candidate: University of Guelph
Marwah Samim
BSc Candidate: Queens University
Natasha De Silva
BMSc Candidate: University of Western Ontario
Nora Karamanlian
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Prisha Adya
BHSc Candidate: Queens University
Sara Ladha
BHSc Candidate: University of Ottawa
Simonne Rauch
BSc Candidate: Queens University
Soo Youn (Sarah) Lee
BMSc Candidate: University of Western Ontario
Vaishnavi Bhamidi
BMSc Candidate: University of Western Ontario
Senior Research Assistants
Jana Radosavljevic
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Cassandra Stevenson
BSc Candidate: York University
Junior Research Assistants
Su A Cho
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Krista Ariello
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Victoria Bradley
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Ashfia Chowdhury
BA Candidate: Western University
Navi Dhaliwal
BSc Candidate: University of Waterloo
Elexie Francis-Prescod
BSc Candidate: York University
Happy Gill
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Faryal Khan
BA Candidate: York University
Vithusha Kumarathasan
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Julie Margritte
BA Candidate: Ryerson University
Ajantha Nadarjah
BHSc Candidate: McMaster University
Prabdeep Panesar
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Ann Peter
BA: Wilfred Laurier University
BSc Candidate: York University
Rachel Ram
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Deeana Saminathan
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Samar Shakeel
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Ravina Singh
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Vipusha Srikandarajah
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Asmitha Thillainadarajah
BSc Candidate: Ryerson University
Emilio Toala
BSc Candidate: York University
Maheen Yaqoob
BEng Candidate: Ryerson University
Susan Zahir
BA Candidate: York University
Senior Research Assistants
Aarti Doshi
BA: Carleton University
Hailey Goddeeris
BA Candidate: Queen’s University
Lucie Langford
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Junior Research Assistants
Amy Bi
BA: University of Toronto
Julia Cohen
BSc Candidate: Queen’s University
Laura Colucci
BSc: University of Toronto
Navi Dhaliwal
BSc Candidate: University of Waterloo
Jasdeep Dhinsa
BSc Candidate: University of Guelph
Angela Dou
BA Candidate: University of Ottawa
Happy Gill
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Faryal Khan
BA Candidate: York University
Prabdeep Panesar
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Jana Radosavljevic
BSc Candidate: University of Toronto
Montana Rynda
BA Candidate: University of Ottawa
Shameni Selvarajah
BSc Candidate: University of Ottawa
Cassandra Stevenson
BSc Candidate: York University
Emily Yang
BSc: McMaster University
Sarah Yellan
BA: McMaster University