Lab Members

 

Research Manager

Katie Vaughan, MPlan

Katie oversees the research projects in Corkum LABS, and has been the project manager for Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders since 2021.  Before her time in the lab, Katie completed her Bachelor of Arts in Human Kinetics (Honours) in 2019 from St. Francis Xavier University, and completed her Master in Planning in 2021 from Dalhousie University.

Research Associate

Fakir Yunus, MBBS, MPH, MSc, PhD

Dr. Yunus has been working as a Research Associate since November 2023, contributing to the implementation of the Sleep Across Lifespan project. Prior to this role, he completed a 3-year of the Mitacs Accelerate Post-Doctoral Fellowship within the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University. By background, he is a medical doctor (MBBS) from Bangladesh (not registered in Canada). After completing his MPH from the BRAC University James P. Grant School of Public Health, he earned his MSc and PhD from The University of Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. With over 10 years’ experience in public health research, a major portion of his research career has involved implementing several Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs).

Research Analyst

Nafisah Ali, MPH

Nafisah joined Corkum LABS in 2022 to support the research team in data management and analysis, specifically on the Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders program. Nafisah completed her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at Dalhousie University, and completed her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at the University of Toronto.

Part Time Data & Technical Support

Esmot ara Begum, PhD

Dr. Begum worked as a Postdoctoral Trainee in Corkum LABS from 2013-2014. After completing her research training period, she worked as a Research Associate between 2015-2021. In her current position, she is responsible for data analysis and REDCap Technical Support. Prior to this position, Dr. Begum completed a PhD in Pediatric at the Mie University (Japan), and her dissertation was focused on Neonatal Physiology. Dr. Begum did her first postdoctoral training at the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience in McGill University. Dr. Begum joined Corkum LABS in 2013 for her 2nd postdoctoral appointment. She has been involved with the Better Nights, Better Days and Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders projects.  

Matt Orr, PhD

Dr. Orr has been working as a Research Associate since 2022. Dr. Orr completed his PhD in Experimental Psychology under the supervision of Dr. Corkum in 2022, and his dissertation was on the ASSIST for Disruptive Classroom Behaviour program. He is involved in data management and collection for all projects in Corkum LABS and is a postdoctoral researcher with the Department of Psychiatry.

Research Administrator

Sydney Dale-McGrath, MA

Sydney has been a part of Corkum LABS since 2015, and is now working as a part-time research administrator in the lab. Sydney completed her Bachelor of Arts in History (Honours) at Dalhousie University in 2010, and completed a Master’s in History at Queen’s University in 2012.

Research Assistants

Alzena Ilie, BSc (Hons)

Alzena has been a part of Corkum LABS since 2021, and is working as a Research Assistant in the lab. Alzena completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honours) in 2022 under the supervision of Dr. Corkum. She is currently working on a Scoping Review on Indigenous children's sleep, and is working on the COVID-19 Sleep and Mental Health Study

Amber Myatt, BSc (Hons)

Amber has been a part of Corkum LABS since 2021, and is working as a Research Assistant in the lab under a Summer Studentship. Amber completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honours) in 2023 under the supervision of Dr. Corkum. She is currently working on the BNBD During COVID-19 Study and BNBD-Epilepsy study.

Derek Van Voorst, BA (Hons)

Derek has been a part of Corkum LABS since 2017, and is a research assistant working on the Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorder study, as well as the ASSIST study. Derek completed his Bachelor of Arts in History (Honours) at Dalhousie University in 2022.

Hailey Silver, BSc

Hailey has been a part of Corkum LABS since 2021, and is working as a Research Assistant in the lab. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology in 2023. She is currently working on the Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Implementation Study.

Mya Dockrill, MA

Mya has been a part of Corkum LABS since 2020, where she worked under Dr. Elizabeth Keys and Dr. Penny Corkum on a systematic review looking at eHealth interventions for infants. Mya then completed a summer studentship in 2020 on the BNBD During COVID-19 Study. Throughout her master’s, Mya continued to work as a research assistant on multiple projects in the lab and is currently completing another summer studentship.