now considering graduate student applications

People of the CANAL Lab

Prof. John A. E. Anderson

Dr. John Anderson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive Science and cross-appointed to the Department of Psychology at Carleton University and a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Cognition and Wellness. Dr. Anderson is the Principal Investigator of the Cognition and Neuroscience of Aging Lab. Dr. Anderson also holds a status-only appointment as an Assistant Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and is an Affiliate Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Dr. Anderson has a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Toronto. He completed post-doctoral training in research on bilingualism and cognitive reserve at York University and advanced neuroimaging and the links between depression and dementia in older adults at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

johnanderson3@cunet.carleton.ca

Graduate Students

Imola X. MacPhee Au.D.

Ph.D. Candidate

Imola brings over a decade of expertise in clinical audiology and hearing research. She obtained her Au.D. in California (SDSU/UCSD, San Diego, CA) and returned to Ottawa to continue her studies as a Ph.D. student and clinical audiologist. Her research interests include aging, hearing, and cognitive reserve. Her preferred modes of research are behavioural assessment and MRI. When she’s not in the lab, Imola enjoys spending time with her husband and children, completing home improvement projects and reviving her interest in track and field.

Nico Turcas M.Cog.Sci.

Ph.D. Candidate

(Co-Supervised with Dr. Mary Kelly)

Nico's research interests are in cognitive modeling, imagination and mental simulation, artificial intelligence, data science, false memories, non-believed memories, future thought, and the philosophy of mind. Nico's PhD research focuses on developing cognitive models of aging using spiking neuron models in NENGO.

Taeko Bourque M.Cog.Sci.

Ph.D. Candidate

(Co-Supervised with Dr. Jo-Anne LeFevre

Taeko's current research focusses on bilingualism and its effect on mathematical cognition, as well as early numeracy and literacy skills. She is passionate about knowledge mobilization and works to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Emma Richard

M.Cog.Sc. Student

Emma is a Master’s student in the Department of Cognitive Science. She graduated from Carleton with a Bachelor’s in Cognitive Science (Honours) with a minor in Neuroscience and Mental Health. Her research focuses on the effects of bilingualism on cognitive aging. Additionally, her research interests include cognitive reserve, aging, and neurodegeneration. Apart fom the lab she enjoys crocheting, quilting, and spending time with her cat, Eddie.

Leah Durham

M.Cog.Sc. Student

Leah is a Master’s student in the department of Cognitive Science, where she completed her Honours Bachelor’s in Cognitive Science. Her research focuses on how cardiovascular health influences brain connectivity, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Leah’s research interests extend to neurological and mental health disorders as well as neuropharmacology and neuro-imaging. In her free time, she enjoys canoeing, music, animals and outdoor activities.

Undergraduate Thesis, Independent Research Project, and Summer Students

Fall 2025 profiles coming soon!

Research Assistants

Klaudija Krisjane

Research Assistant

Klaudija is an undergraduate student in the Health Sciences department, specializing in Chronic Health and Disability. Her research interests in aging brought her to the Canal Lab, where she investigates the complex relationships between aging, bilingualism, and behavioral assessments, contributing a deeper understanding of cognitive health. Outside the lab, Klaudija trains for rowing and embraces the opportunity to discover Canada as an international student.

Alyssa Ann Rama

Research Assistant

Alyssa is a volunteer with the CANAL lab and a researcher with the Public Health Agency of Canada. Her research focuses primarily on addiction and mental health, with the goal of informing future preventative measures. She holds a Bachelor of Cognitive Science Honours from Carleton University, with a minor in Neuroscience and Mental Health. Outside of the lab, Alyssa’s interests include video games, drawing, and music..

Frequent Collaborators

Dr. John Grundy (University of Iowa)

Bilingualism, aging, EEG, multiscale entropy.

Dr. Gigi Luk

(McGill University)

Bilingualism, MRI

Dr. Ellen Bialystok (York University)

Bilingualism, cognition, and development

Dr. Peter Zhukovsky (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)

Advanced neuroimaging, mental health, and depression

CANAL Lab Alumni

Josh Goheen Ph.D.

Former Ph.D. Student

2021-2025

Josh was a Ph.D. student in the Department of Cognitive Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Georg Northoff (Ottawa U) and Dr. John Anderson. Josh was a member of the CANAL lab and Mind, Brain Imaging, and Neuroethics (MBIAN) labs. Josh has an M.Sc. in the anatomical sciences from Queen’s University where his research focused on teaching and memory. Josh’s PhD research focused on respiration and its correlations with neurocardiovascular health, cognitive function, and subjective experience.

Tyler Call M.Cog.Sci.

Student and Lab Manager

2023-2025

Tyler's master's thesis focused on the similarity of various language questionnaires using a multivariate approach. He also examined changes in brain-system-segregation as a contributing factor to cognitive reserve.