Meet Some of the New MiNDS of the Neuroscience Graduate Program
Author: Leanne Monteiro
September is a time to welcome new scholars to our program, school, and community, and to reconnect with friends and colleagues after the summer. Please join me in extending a warm greeting to this year’s incoming graduate students — we look forward to collaborating with each of you in the months ahead!
Nadine Barone
Hi, My name is Nadine Barone and I completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster in Neuroscience and my graduate supervisor will be Dr. Kathy Murphy. Within Neuroscience, I'm particularly interested in the sensory and computational aspects. Outside of academics, I enjoy embroidery, travelling, and a favourite movie of mine is Clueless.
Kiran Basra
Hi, My name is Kiran Basra. I did my undergrad at the University of Toronto, where I did a double major in psychology and neuroscience and volunteered at developmental linguistics labs such as the BOLD Lab. I also embarked on a project to find the cheapest coffee on campus and is excited about expanding this search to McMaster. I am studying post-partum and pregnancy depression under Dr. Van Lieshout.
Sarah Don
Hello! My name is Sarah. I graduated from Redeemer University in 2024 with an Honours BSc in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. I am very excited to be entering my first year in the MSc Neuroscience program with Dr. Deda Gillespie as my supervisor. I have been fascinated by neuroscience ever since my first introduction to it in high school biology, and since then I have become particularly interested in the subject of neurodevelopment. In the Gillespie lab, I will be researching how developmental disorders impact the structure and function of the brain, specifically in the auditory cortex. Beyond my studies, I love to stay active through hobbies including hiking, disc golf, karate, and volleyball. I also enjoy travelling, reading, book-binding, watching movies, and going for coffee with friends.
Emily Dye
Hi, My name is Emily Dye. I received my BSc in Neuroscience and Mental Health with a minor in Psychology from Carleton University. My graduate supervisor here at McMaster will be Dr. Iris Balodis in the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research. In my spare time I enjoy building Lego and my most recent favorite TV show was The Bear!
Kaela Franco
Hi! My name is Kaela Franco, and I completed my undergraduate degree at Carleton University in Neuroscience and Mental Health with a minor in Psychology. At McMaster, I’ll be working under the supervision of Dr. Teresa Bennett. Outside of school, I love watching movies, cooking, and getting a sweet treat (specifically Menchie’s). I’m excited to join the McMaster neuro community and get to know everyone better!
Chiara Fricano
Hi, my name is Chiara Fricano. I recently completed my Honours BSc in Biology and Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour at McMaster University, where I conducted my undergraduate thesis under the supervision of Dr. Elyanne Ratcliffe, in collaboration with Western University. I am continuing under Dr. Ratcliffe’s mentorship as I begin my MSc, focusing on the effects of in utero cannabis exposure on neurodevelopment and the gut microbiome. I aspire to a career as a physician–researcher. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, playing board games, figure skating, traveling, and slowing down for coffee with my grandparents.
Nicole Taís Frohlich
Hi, my name is Nicole Taís Frohlich. I am a first-year Master’s student in Neuroscience at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Benicio Frey. I just completed my BSc in Pharmacy in September 2025 at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in Brazil and spent a research term at McMaster as a visiting researcher, which inspired me to pursue graduate studies. During my undergrad, I was involved in numerous research projects and participated in many volunteer initiatives. I also worked with animal models to study depression and related biomarkers. I am now part of the Centre for Clinical Neurosciences (CCN), where I am particularly interested in studying mood disorders and their biological mechanisms. I am passionate about volunteering and am always eager to take on new and diverse opportunities. I enjoy meeting new people, traveling, exploring new places, working out, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Alyssa Georgescu
Hi, my name is Alyssa. I am entering my first-year as a master's student in the Neuroscience program at McMaster University. I earned my Honours BSc in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour in 2024. I am excited to continue my research at the Women’s Health Concerns Clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Working under the supervision of Dr. Benicio Frey and Dr. Sheryl Green, my current work focuses on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). My graduate studies are supported by a Canadian Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (CGS-M) for 2025–26. Outside of my studies, I enjoy listening to music, traveling, and community engaged projects.
Daniela Giansante
Hello everyone! My name is Daniela, and I recently graduated from McMaster University with an Honours BSc in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour. I am very excited to be joining the Neuroscience program this fall under the supervision of Dr. Fabiano Gomes and Dr. Benicio Frey. My research focuses on using multimodal approaches to optimize treatment and improve quality of life for individuals with bipolar disorder. I am particularly interested in translational science that bridges clinical research and real-world care, with the goal of reducing treatment delays and enhancing patient outcomes. Outside of research, I enjoy spending time with friends, traveling, and going on long walks. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone this year!
Natasha Lacku
Hi, my name is Natasha Lacku, and I’m so excited to be starting my Master’s in Neuroscience this September under the supervision of Dr. Aftab Taiyab! My passion for neuroscience began during my undergrad at McMaster, where I explored Alzheimer’s disease and authored two journal articles through the McMaster Brain Research Society. For my Honours thesis, I studied position-specific perceptual learning—investigating whether improvements in visual tasks come from low-level visual neurons or higher-level brain processing. I loved exploring how learning transfers across spatial locations, which sparked a deep interest in vision science. I’m now thrilled to build on that by studying ocular disease mechanisms in Dr. Taiyab’s lab. Outside the lab, I enjoy volunteering, traveling through Eastern Europe, and spending time with my two joyful French bulldogs!
Susanna Su
Hi, my name is Susanna Su. I am a first-year Master’s student in the Neuroscience program. I completed my HBSc in Neuroscience at University of Toronto in 2025. During my undergraduate studies, I developed a strong interest in neurodegeneration and gained diverse research experiences spanning molecular and cellular neuroscience as well as neuroimaging. For my MSc, I am continuing to explore my passion for neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease in Dr. Margaret Fahnestock’s lab, aiming to deepen my understanding of the potential molecular mechanism behind the disease. In my free time, I enjoy swimming, going for runs, and baking.
Nicolas Viulet
Hi, my name is Nicolas Viulet. I am a first year MSc student in the Neuroscience program at McMaster. I completed my HBSc undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto (Neuroscience specialist, Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health Minor). I have joined McMaster under the supervision of Dr. Nicholas Bock, where I will be researching intracortical myelin as a marker of different psychiatric illnesses. I am also working on publishing a systematic review, analyzing the effects of psilocybin on mood brain networks in depressed versus healthy individuals. This work is related to my undergraduate thesis, which was completed under the supervision of Dr. Sean Nestor at Sunnybrook Hospital. My research interests are centered around the application and development of neuroimaging for understanding and creating interventions for psychiatric disorders. I am also excited to work as an events coordinator for the Students of the MiNDS Association (SOMA), the association representing the neuroscience graduate program at McMaster University. Beyond academia, I enjoy drinking coffee (in all forms), playing soccer, and sharpening my cooking abilities.
Lauren Windfield-Ward
Hi, my name is Lauren. I am a first-year PhD student working with Dr. James MacKillop. I grew up just outside of Waterloo Region, in a town called Elmira, and I completed both my Health Science BSc and Public Health Sciences MSc locally at the University of Waterloo. My previous research looked at the public health impact of cannabis policies in Canada and the United States, and I am excited to continue exploring this research with a neuroscience lens here at McMaster University. Outside of school, I love yoga, cardio kickboxing, and finding new coffee shops!
Rebecca Yang
Hi, my name is Rebecca. I am a first-year Master's student in the Neuroscience program. Originally from Vancouver BC, I completed my BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia in 2024. Over the past year and throughout my undergrad, I took part in a number of research endeavors, dabbling in executive functioning, benefits of music for older adults, ADHD, mental health, and endocrinology. For my MSc, I have joined the Peter Boris Center for Addiction Research, supervised by Dr. James MacKillop. I aspire to pursue Clinical Neuropsychology as a career. For fun, I enjoy playing the piano, composing music, escape rooms, and rhythm games (namely osu!).
A warm welcome to all our new MiNDS!