RESEARCH TEAM

Eden Mancor

Research Coordinator

I have completed a B.Sc. in Psychology, specialized in Behavioural Neuroscience at Concordia University. As an undergraduate student in the Phillips Lab, I investigated the sex differences in memory in mild cognitive impairment and the theory of Cognitive Reserve. I am now the coordinator of the lab, as well as a research assistant where I am expanding on my research on Cognitive Reserve in individuals with or at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. Outside of the lab, I love to be outdoors exploring the national parks around Montreal either hiking or skiing. I speak English, French, and German. 

Kristina Coulter

I completed my B.Sc. in Psychology (Behavioural Neuroscience option) at Concordia University. During my undergraduate degree, I completed an Honours thesis in the Phillips’ lab, in which I examined speech error processing in bilinguals. I subsequently worked as a research assistant on various projects in the lab and then completed one year in the MA program before obtaining accelerated admission to the PhD program. For my PhD dissertation, I am studying the relationship between bilingualism and cognitive reserve in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. I am using structural and functional neuroimaging data from the Consortium for the Early Identification of Alzheimer’s Disease – Quebec (CIMA-Q) and data from the Comprehensive Assessment of Neurodegeneration and Dementia (COMPASS-ND) study of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) to examine the association between variables related to bilingual language experience and structural/functional brain changes in cognitively healthy older adults and older adults with, or at risk for, Alzheimer’s dementia. Outside of the lab I do horseback riding and love to go camping!

Sana Rehan

After I received my B.A. in Psychology and Sociology at Dalhousie University, I moved to Montréal to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Psychology at Concordia University under the supervision of Dr. Phillips. My research interests include cognitive aging and understanding at-risk factors for cognitive decline. For my Master's thesis, I explored the relationship between visual impairment and cortical atrophy in groups with cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's dementia, using data from the Canadian Consortium of Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). For my Ph.D. dissertation, I will investigate whether (and to what extent) psychosocial factors mediate the relationship between sensory loss and cognitive decline in older adults with (or at risk for) dementia. Outside of the lab, I enjoy being outdoors, photography, and reading.

Nick Grunden

I am currently a second-year Master’s student in the CAP lab with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Spanish from Colgate University (New York, USA) and a M.Sc. in Neuropsychology from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Catalunya, Spain). My current research in the lab focuses on applying a network approach to study cognition as a multidomain system, and how that system is restructured within clinical risk states of dementia such as subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment. Outside the lab, I love a good bike ride, parking it in a café with a novel, and dancing while no one is watching. I speak English, Spanish, Catalan.

Tristin Best

I completed my BSc in Psychology with the Behavioural Neuroscience option at Concordia University, where I completed an Honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Philips. Following the completion of my undergraduate degree, I worked for a year as the research coordinator for Dr. Phillips and the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Team 17. I then pursued an MSc at McGill University in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience program under the supervision of Dr. Simon Ducharme and Dr. Mallar Chakravarty, where I examined the associations between alterations in brain structure and psychiatric symptom profiles in genetic variants of frontotemporal dementia. I returned to Concordia University in Fall 2022 to pursue graduate studies in Psychology (Research and Clinical Training Option) under the supervision of Dr. Phillips, where I will be examining the interplay between sensory changes, cognition, and brain structure in neurodegenerative disorders.

I speak English and French, and I’m in the process of learning Spanish. Outside the lab, you can find me riding my bike or taking long walks with my dog, Mitsou.

Alex Lamasuta

I am currently finishing my fourth year of undergraduate studies with a Specialization in Psychology. I have been an undergraduate volunteer in the lab since January 2021 and am now undertaking my undergraduate thesis under the supervision of Dr. Phillips. The project focuses on the self-perceived impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on COMPASS participants. It involves baseline data along with the COVID Impact Scale to investigate whether those who were vulnerable to depression and anxiety had their symptoms exemplified as a function of the pandemic. With an interest in developmental and evolutionary psychology, I intend to follow my B.A. with graduate studies after a year of pursuing experience in teaching. As for outside the lab, I work as a barista and enjoy filling up my spare time with painting and reading.

Logane Gnassi

I am currently pursuing a B.A. in Psychology at Concordia University. Having the privilege of working in long-term care hospitals since 2019, I have developed a profound passion for both dementia and caregiving. In addition to being intrigued by cognitive decline, I am enthralled by the behavioural disturbances, perturbation in language fluency, and lived realities that folks with neurocognitive disorders experience. I will be completing my Honours thesis during the 2022-2023 academic year under the supervision of Dr. Phillips. Following my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in gerontology. Outside of the lab, you can find me playing video games, pruning my bonsai trees, and running around with my dog Suki!