Our Team
Vince Jasper Dizon
Lab Manager
Vince is the Lab Manager of the Lifespan Cognition Lab. Previously a research assistant for the lab, he carries that experience forward as he endeavours to keep things running behind the scenes. He recently graduated from Kwantlen Polytechnic University with a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Counselling. When he has spare time, Vince enjoys playing video games and winding down in the comforts of home.
Ishdeep Dosanjh
Social Media & Website Manager/
Research Assistant
Ishdeep is currently in her fourth year of a BA in Psychology. She joined the Lifespan Cognition Lab as a practicum student in the Summer of 2025 and is now a Research Assistant. In addition, she also manages the lab’s social media and website. Outside of the lab, Ishdeep enjoys hiking, doing puzzles, exercising, and trying new things.
Riya Gill
Recruitment Manager
Riya is starting her fourth year in the BA Psychology program with a Minor in Counselling this fall and has been part of the lab since last September. Over the past year, Riya has gotten to dive into all kinds of projects- everything from data cleanup and in-person testing to social media and manuscript review. One of her favourite experiences was co-presenting a project proposal on swimming and executive functioning at the NOWCAM Conference in Victoria this spring with the lab team.
Outside the lab, she works as a Behaviour Interventionist, supporting kids on the autism spectrum 1:1. Riya’s days are full of observational note-taking, collecting data, brainstorming creative ways to keep kids engaged, and facilitating social groups! She is passionate about child development and hopes to build a career in this area- one day, she’d even love to write a parenting book that blends research with practical, real-life tips.
Katie Schmidt
Lifespan In-Person Project Manager
Katie recently graduated with a BA in Applied Psychology from KPU. She completed her Honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Kristie Dukewich. Her research examined how cognitive load impacts online learning by manipulating instructor presence and multimedia design. She has been working in the lab as a research assistant on various projects since 2023 and assumed the role of Project Manager for the Lifespan In-Person Study in 2025. In her free time, Katie enjoys exploring nature, whether hiking or paddleboarding, reading, and playing piano.
Joban Chahal
Research Assistant/Recruitment Lead
Joban is a student majoring in Biology with a double minor in Psychology and Political Science. She is passionate about the intersection of medicine, and policy. As the Recruitment Lead at the Lifespan Cognition Lab, Joban supports participant outreach, coordinates with community partners, and assists with ongoing recruitment efforts.
Outside of the lab, Joban is deeply involved in health advocacy, leadership, and community engagement. She serves as Vice President of NextGen KPU and founded/runs a mental health page for South Asian communities. Additionally, she volunteers with GirlUp Fraser, where she helps raise awareness for gender equity. In her free time, Joban can be found at home with her family, at the park or winding down with a movie.
Juila Bastiaanssen
Research Assistant
Julia joined the lab in the spring of 2024 and has since contributed to the lifespan cognition blog and the ongoing LCMO project. Currently, she is working on a research project focused on the development of risk-taking behaviour over the lifespan.
Julia has a BA in psychology from SFU (2020). Her areas of interest include childhood development, mental health and adversity. Outside of the lab, she works as a mental health outreach liaison with indigenous teens, a role she is very passionate about. In her spare time, she enjoys reading of all sorts and spending time in nature.
Aidan Sammel
Research Assistant
Aidan is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology with a Minor in Counselling. Aidan did his thesis on “OCD, Metacognition and Cognitive Deficits Following an Induced Not Just Right Experience” under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Bernstein. He is currently working on a follow-up of his thesis and hopes to publish his work in the near future.
His previous work in the lab has included research on metacognition and confidence judgments in children. Currently in the lab, Aidan is working on a project with Dr. Daniel Bernstein on the “Illusory Truth Effect”.
Benedict Walters
Research Assistant
Benedict is a fourth-year student at KPU majoring in Psychology (Honours) and minoring in Counselling. He has been a part of the Lifespan Lab for a year now as a Research Assistant. In that time, he has assisted with data entry and management on various projects, and more recently, he has been a recruitment lead on the LCMO project. Additionally, Benedict has conducted personal research projects alongside Dr. Daniel Bernstein and other colleagues in the lab. His favourite part about being in the lab is the community and networking that he has gained from joining. Outside of the lab, he is an avid traveller and loves exploring new places around the world and also enjoys playing sports, especially hockey and golf!
Conner Bavaro
Volunteer
Conner is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and will be entering the Honours program in Fall 2025. At the Lifespan Cognition Lab, he contributes to two ongoing projects, supporting Qualtrics programming and research tasks for one, and participant recruitment for the other. He also engages in community outreach, promoting the Lab’s work at local YMCA facilities and parks.
Reesha Sidhu
Research Assistant
Reesha is a Psychology student with a strong interest in Clinical Psychology. She’s currently focused on false memory, attention, and how people understand each other. Lately, she’s been especially curious about how digital tech, like marketing and artificial intelligence, shapes the way teens and young adults make decisions and see themselves.
Reesha’s interests outside of academia include cross-country and track running, attending concerts with friends, and spending time at trampoline parks. She also loves karaoke nights with her closest friends.
Hanna Erceg
Research Assistant
Hanna is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology with a minor in Counselling at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She completed her honours thesis examining satisfaction levels with current drug policies and interventions in British Columbia as a predictor of perceived mental well-being under the supervision of Dr. Patricia Coburn. She is currently working with her honours supervisor on a follow-up study to expand this area of research. Hanna joined the Lifespan Cognition Lab in 2022 and works as a project manager on the False Memory and Personality project.
In her free time, Hanna enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her pets.
Christine Sorensen
Research Assistant
Christine is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in counselling. She joined the lab in November 2024 as a research assistant. Christine also creates social media content and manages the lab’s X account. Her main research interests are psychopathology, cognitive development, clinical treatments, sensation, and perception. In her free time, Christine likes to paint, read, bake, and hike.
Dawn-Leah McDonald
Research Assistant
Dawn-Leah graduated from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in 2014 with a BA Honours in Psychology with Distinction. She received the 2014 Canadian Psychological Association of Academic Excellence award for her Honours thesis on the Production Effect. During her time at KPU she was also awarded the Student Led Research Grant, KPU/Pearson Psychology Award, KPU Endowed Psychology Scholarship, KPU Faculty of Arts Special Purpose Fund Award, KPU Student Life and Development Award, and the Pearson Poster Award at KPU’s Connecting Minds Undergraduate Psychology Conference.
Dawn-Leah studied and also worked as an intern in the Garry Lab at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand in 2016. While studying there, she was awarded the Joseph Samuel Beaglehole Scholarship.
Currently, Dawn-Leah is working as a research assistant with Dr. Daniel M. Bernstein’s Lifespan Cognition Lab. She has worked on various projects since joining the lab in 2011.
In her free time, Dawn-Leah enjoys time with her family, hikes, kayaking, and traveling. She is a nidan in Kyokushin karate and has trained for more than 30 years.
Liam Ruel
Reaseach Assistant
Liam is currently completing his second year of a BA Psychology degree with a minor in Counselling at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Since joining the lab in the summer of 2021, Liam has helped with a handful of projects, mainly focusing on hindsight bias.
Liam is interested in gender, counselling, mental health, and psychopathology, and hopes to pursue clinical work in the future. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, reading, art, and graphic design.