Memory Lab | Ryerson University

Lab Members

The Memory Lab at Ryerson will be recruiting new graduate students for Fall 2022.

Please email Dr. Szpunar to inquire.

Principal Investigator

I completed my doctoral training at Washington University in St. Louis in 2009 and my postdoctoral training at Harvard University in 2015. My research focuses on elucidating the cognitive and neural mechanisms that give rise to adaptive uses of memory in daily life.

Curriculum Vitae

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Google Scholar Citations

Graduate Students 

Growing up as an autistic, I felt great disparity between my cognition and that of others, leading to my fascination with how people think and how thoughts affect behavior. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in 2015. I then volunteered as a research assistant in the Multisensory Systems Neuroscience Lab at York University under the supervision of Dr. Joe DeSouza. I am entering my second year as a graduate student.​

I am a first-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program. I recently completed my undergraduate degree at York University with a concentration in cognitive neuropsychology. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I gained research experience in both cultural psychology and neuropsychology. Within the memory lab, I am excited to explore the potential benefits and consequences of future event simulation in clinical populations. I am also interested in researching ways of reducing mind wandering and enhancing online learning.

Undergraduate Thesis Student 

I'm entering my fourth year at Ryerson with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology. I'm particularly interested in identity formation and how psychology can be applied to greater social change. Outside of school, I enjoy reading cheesy romances, watching comedy specials, and exploring the city.

Research Assistants

I am entering my fourth year at Ryerson University with a major in psychology and a minor in music. I am interested in exploring the effects of music on memory and related cognitive abilities. In my spare time, I enjoy writing and performing music which is often shared with the patients of St. John's Rehab Hospital as a part of their music therapy program.

I am entering my fourth year of Ryerson's psychology program with a minor in criminology. I am interested in exploring how psychology interacts with the legal system. I also enjoy writing and acting and am involved with a community theatre at Ryerson.

I am entering my fourth year at Ryerson University with a major in psychology and a minor in history. I am particularly interested in the clinical applications of cognitive psychology, as well as psychological assessment. Outside of school I enjoy writing, visual art, and playing the drums.

Lab Alumni - Graduate Students

Sushmita Shrikanth (PhD, 2021) - Current Position - Researcher, Google (USA)

Yuchen Li (MA, 2021) - Current Position - PhD student at Purdue University (USA)

Vannia Puig (MA, 2019) - Current Position - Researcher, Department of Defense, Air force (USA)

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Lab Alumni - Undergraduate Research Assistants

Elizabet Bonilla, Izabela Brzoza, Martina Cancelo, Chloe Carl, Daniela Chacon, Ben Chaloupka, Tony Cossidente, Matthew Escalona, Araceli Estrada, Chiara Faust, Aurelie Ganem, Loan Huynh, Asfia Kahn, Jennifer Kargol, Constantina Mastoracos, Zachary McKenzie, Jessica Ngiam, Nicholas Pfahler, Sara Raja, Yaniz Rayo, Vritti Samtani​, Evan Self, Breyauna Spencer, Jadisha Vargas, Haley Lerand, Brittany Hamling, Lindy Leonard, Noor Saffarini

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Current Collaborators

Dr. Julia Spaniol, Ryerson University

Dr. Jason Chan, Iowa State University (USA)

Dr. Chris Wahlheim, University of North Carolina Greensboro (USA)

Dr. Lynn Lohnas, Syracuse University (USA)

Dr. Arnaud D'Argembeau, University of Liège (Belgium)

Dr. Julie Ji, University of Western Australia