We are proud to announce that three of our lab members are heading off to graduate school this fall. This is an exciting milestone that reflects their ongoing dedication to child development research.

Xena Al-Hejji, a Research Assistant in the lab since 2025, has been accepted into the Clinical Psychology, Master of Science program at the University of Calgary.

During her time in the lab, Xena contributed significantly to research on child internalizing and externalizing behaviours, demonstrating a strong commitment to understanding and supporting positive child development.

For her graduate work, she plans to conduct inclusive research exploring how various factors intersect to influence mental health in neurodivergent individuals.

Sarah Tayyab, a Volunteer in the lab since 2023, has been accepted into the Psychology, Master of Science program at Queen’s University with a specialization in development.

During her time in the lab, Sarah has worked on several projects, including research on caregiver sensitivity and attachment, and has been dedicated to exploring new approaches to better understand how parents can support positive development in their children.

For her graduate work, she plans to research parent-child relations and adolescent’s socioemotional development across digital and non-digital contexts.

Glorianna Sin, a Research Assistant in the lab since 2024, has been accepted into the Clinical Psychology, Master of Science program at the University of Calgary.

During her time in the lab, Glorianna was committed to learning new skills and made significant contributions to several projects on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) or internalizing and externalizing behaviours.

For her graduate research, she plans to explore the interplay of risk and protective factors on adverse childhood experiences and mental health trajectories.

We are incredibly proud of Xena, Sarah, and Glorianna, and we can’t wait to see where their graduate journeys take them next!