2024 Cohort
Mariella Berberi is a final-year undergraduate student majoring in the honors psychology program and minoring in sociology at McGill University. She has been actively involved in research within Dr. Michael Sullivan's pain lab, contributing to two significant thesis projects. The first project examined the relationship between catastrophic thinking and the severity of depressive symptoms in individuals infected with COVID-19. The second project explored affiliative preference as a mediating factor between pain catastrophizing and pain behavior, testing the communal coping model (CCM). By understanding and addressing the psychosocial factors underlying pain behavior, Mariella aims to enhance interventions and support systems for vulnerable individuals. Additionally, through the McBurney Fellowship, she conducted an environmental scan of homelessness prevention programs in correctional settings, under the supervision of Dr. Laurence Roy. This project not only seeks to make a positive impact on this at-risk population through evidence-based research but also aims to address broader systemic issues within our communities.
Aris Kalofoutis is originally from Athens, Greece and graduated with a B.A. in Geography in 2024. During his undergrad, he researched Land Use change and trends in the Argentinian Chaco under the LENDEV lab and transportation in Greater Montreal. Furthermore, he explored the city鈥檚 history through an internship with Alliance Donne where he did archival research about the garment industry in the city and the work of Italian immigrant women. His passion for urbanism and the city of Montreal led him to the McBurney Fellowship where he interned with the NDG Community Council. There, he researched and determined the boundaries and issues of the Chester-Connaught neighborhood in the area of Notre-Dame-de-Gr芒ce, through in person surveying as well as utilizing governmental and municipal data. The final product of his research was presented to city officials and community organizations with the aim of making the issues in the neighborhood known and call for an expansion of services.
Julie L锚 Andr茅 is a second-year undergraduate student in the Honours Psychology program with a minor in Philosophy at McGill University. Specializing in crisis intervention, she has honed her skills as a suicide crisis helpline responder at 9-8-8 and as a camp animator for individuals with intellectual disabilities or with an autism spectrum disorder at Corporation L'Espoir. Her research interests lie in social and clinical psychology, focusing on autonomous motivation and empathy, along with their practical applications. For her junior honours thesis, she conducted research with Dr. Zoha Deldar at the Roy Pain Lab to explore the effects of the flow state on pain modulation. Moreover, she is president of Youreka, a 10-week program dedicated to introducing Montr茅al's high school students to research, with the goal of improving its transparency and accessibility. Through the McBurney fellowship, she collaborates with Dr. Eric Latimer at the Douglas Research Centre to investigate evidence on interventions aimed at preventing homelessness after hospital discharge.
Natalia Segal is an undergraduate student majoring in psychology and minoring in behavioral neuroscience and anthropology at McGill University. She is passionate about translating research findings into practical, real-world applications. As a McBurney Fellow, Natalia worked with the NDG Community Council to identify an impoverished community within Montreal through data collection and analysis, and proposed solutions to policymakers on tackling the needs and improving the living conditions in the sector. Natalia is working with聽Halah-Al Ubaidi and Julie Cormier on the project: Assessing the Needs of the Chester Priority Sector.