Jessica Ahn
Jessica earned her BSc in Psychology in 2019 at McGill University and has been involved in the lab since 2017. Her research interests focus on forensic psychology and cultural competency in counselling. When she’s outside the lab, she enjoys film photography and is very into crime documentaries.
James Avery
James completed his BA in Psychology at McGill University in 2022 and has been involved with the lab since 2021. He is particularly interested in methods of personalizing mental health treatment to support people from diverse backgrounds. With the lab, he has been conducting research evaluating healthcare in forensic and correctional settings with a particular focus on cultural safety. He has also been researching unauthorized leaves from forensic settings, seeking to better understand relevant risk factors and motivators. In his free time, James loves cooking and staying active.
Yenah Byun
Yenah Byun is a fourth-year Psychology Honours (BA) and Nutrition minor student at UBC. She is interested in the etiology and treatment of mental illness, specifically examining factors that contribute to its emergence and how it can be addressed through non-traditional treatments and therapies. Yenah completed her third year honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Black and investigated the relationship between food worry and parental mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside of her work, Yenah enjoys going on runs, hikes, and chasing a good sunset.
Gia Khanna
Gayatree (Gia) is a fourth year Psychology major and Biology minor at the University of British Columbia. Her interest lies in the neurophysiology involved in psychological disorders and the use of targeted therapeutic reform. She intends to pursue higher education in the field of Psychology. In her free time she enjoys reading and getting lost on runs along beach fronts.
Armaan Rajan
Armaan completed his BSc at the University of British Columbia, majoring in behavioural neuroscience/psychology and physiology. Through his experiences as a volunteer crisis service responder and work with Dr. Nicholls’ lab, Armaan has developed a broader understanding of patient experiences with the mental health care system in British Columbia, and is keen to further explore the field of forensic mental health and research that enhances the quality of mental health care service delivery. Armaan’s primary research interests include suicide, self-harm, risk assessment/management and mental health policy & law. In his spare time, he loves to try new restaurants in his never-ending quest to find his ultimate favourite or binge-watch dramas and thrillers on Netflix.
Lauren Rutherford
Lauren recently graduated from UBC with a BSc in Biology. She is passionate about the inclusion of lived experience in research and practice. Lauren is interested in the legal system and the challenges faced during the community reintegration process. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, attending spin classes, and trying new restaurants.
Hilary Tsui
Hilary Tsui is a third-year psychology student at Simon Fraser University. She intends on completing a BA (Hons), and later an MA/MSc, in forensic psychology. Her research interests lie in eyewitness testimony, false confessions, and wrongful conviction; the treatment and rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals; and the misconceptions laypeople have regarding memory, false confessions, and NCRMD. In her spare time, she likes to read, write, look at raccoon videos, and re-watch Captain America: the Winter Soldier. Fun fact: she was fourteen when she finished writing her first novel. Looking back, it isn’t very good, but she’s proud of it anyway.