Meet Some of the New MiNDS of the Neuroscience Graduate Program
Author: Susanna Su
September is always a time to welcome new scholars to our program, school, and community, as well as to catch up with old friends and colleagues after the summer term. Please join me in greeting this year’s new cohort of graduate students. We look forward to working alongside each one of you!
Nisha Chhillar
Hi, my name is Nisha Chhillar, and I recently graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience. I’m excited to be working under the supervision of Dr. Deda Gillespie, and diving deeper into post-natal neurodevelopment. Outside of school I enjoy running, and the most recent TV show I watched was Death Note!
Justin Cholette
Hello everyone! My name is Justin, and I recently graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to gain research experience across several labs, including areas in neuroscience, health psychology, and child psychology. At McMaster University, I will be joining the MacAnxiety Research Centre under the supervision of Dr. Michael Van Ameringen. I am particularly interested in investigating novel psychopharmacological treatments for psychiatric disorders. In my free time, I enjoy music, playing guitar, and spending time with friends and family. I am looking forward to meeting all of you!
Hillary Derewianchuk
Hi, my name is Hillary Derewianchuk and I completed my undergraduate degree at Brandon University where I majored in biology and minored in religion. I am studying perinatal depression under Dr. Van Lieshout. Outside of academics I enjoy crocheting, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.
Rania Hashmi
Hi! My name is Rania and I'm a first-year MSc student in the Neuroscience program. I recently graduated from McMaster with my Honours BA in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, where I completed my thesis under the supervision of Dr. Margaret McKinnon, examining moral injury and depression among healthcare workers. I am thrilled to be continuing under Dr. McKinnon's mentorship, where my research will focus on trauma-related disorders and translating research findings into effective clinical interventions. Outside of academia, I enjoy trying new foods, playing pool, painting, and watching crime thrillers. Looking forward to meeting everyone this year!
Jawad Karim
Hi, I'm Jawad! I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto St. George majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Biology and Physiology. I am currently doing my MSc with Dr. Jonathan Cannon in the MINDS program, studying the spectral activity of subcortical nuclei recordings of deep brain stimulation patients while they perform a rhythm task. I studied music as well, mainly piano, never thought that my music and research world would collide but here we are! Otherwise, you can find me in the gym, hiking, or attending an event around the city.
Ella Keown
I studied Biology & Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior at McMaster for my undergraduate degree. For my graduate studies, I will be supervised by Dr. Elyanne Ratcliffe! We'll be studying the effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on offspring neurodevelopment. Outside of research, I dance professionally and love to create art of any kind!
Celina Micaela
Hi, my name is Celina Micaela, but most people call me Celma for short. I am an incoming PhD student in Neuroscience under the supervision of Dr. Benicio Frey and Dr. Fabiano Gomes. My research interests focus on mood disorders, with an emphasis on identifying biomarkers through neuroimaging and genetics. I am also interested in understanding how biological, lifestyle, and environmental factors contribute to disease risk and cognitive outcomes. I completed my MSc in Neuroimaging and Informatics at the University of Southern California, where I used amyloid PET imaging data to identify biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease progression. I previously earned my HBSc in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto, where I completed an honours thesis examining learning and memory in ram cichlids, laying a foundation for further analyses of their cognitive capabilities. Outside of research, I enjoy rock climbing and exploring new hiking trails.
Daniel Nikitin
Hi! My name is Daniel Nikitin, and I recently finished my undergrad at the University of Toronto Mississauga in Neuroscience. During my undergrad, I worked at the Fukuda Lab, where I studied reward outcome evaluation and decision-making biases. I’m now working under the supervision of Dr. Iris Balodis, where we’ll be looking at how acute alcohol administration affects decision-making in people with problem gambling! Outside of research, I love going to the gym, exploring new places, and spending time with friends!
Mason Oliver
Hi, my name is Mason! I've spent the past 5 years at Mac, having majored in Life Sciences and minored in Psychology during my Undergraduate degree. As part of McMaster's Neuroscience program, I will be working under the supervision of Andrea Gonzalez. I am broadly interested in the transdiagnostic factors that influence the development and maintenance of psychopathology. How these factors can be targeted to improve mental health interventions is also of particular interest to me. Outside of my academic interests, I enjoy running, reading, strength training, and watching Pirates of the Caribbean with Jake!
Elif Önel
Hello everyone! My name is Elif. I graduated from Istanbul Technical University in July 2026 with a BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics and a minor in Chemistry. I am very excited to start my first year as a master’s student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program under the supervision of Dr. Margaret Fahnestock. I have always been fascinated by neuroscience, and this interest became even stronger during internships throughout my undergraduate years. Outside the school, I enjoy discovering new cities, trying different cuisines, and meeting new people.
A warm welcome to all our new MiNDS!