Victoria Belway
I am an undergraduate majoring in Behavioural Neuroscience and minoring in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's studies. I am interested in relationships an sexuality among neurodiverse people and those with psychological disorders, as well as how gender affects behaviour in relationships. Outside of my studies, I like to volunteer with animals. I have been a research assistant with the lab since November 2023.
Maya Beninteso
I am a second-year undergraduate student working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminology. I have been a research assistant in the Close Relationships Lab since June 2022. My research interests include: the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on relationship stability, intimate partner violence, stagnation, and other factors leading to relationship dissolution. In the coming years, I hope to complete a Master of Arts and PhD in Clinical Psychology, so that I may achieve my goal of becoming a Clinical Psychologist.
Annie Hayward
I completed my BA (Honours) in Psychology at UBC in 2019. Throughout my degree, I focused on depression, stress, and hormonal contraception. Since graduating, I have become interested in relationship psychology, especially as it relates to stress and emotion regulation. Outside of this lab, I am also a research assistant at Dr. Chen’s Social Health Lab at UBC. I hope to study relationships in graduate school for clinical psychology.
Allyson Klassen
I am a 4th year undergraduate student working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in Counselling & Human Development. My general research interests include healthy relationship maintenance and the management of stigma or social perceptions in consensually non-monogamous relationships. Although I am still defining my professional direction, I am looking to pursue graduate studies in either counselling or clinical psychology. I have been a research assistant at the Close Relationships Lab since December 2022.
Mackenzie Morrow
I am currently completing a joint Psychology and Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies (GSWS) degree here at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV, with a minor in English. I intend to apply to counselling psychology programs once I've finished my BA, with a particular interest in sex therapy. I've been a member of the lab since November of 2023, and I also volunteer on campus as a FASS Peer Mentor, and with the GSWS Student Union. My research interests include the emergence and resolution of non-monogamous relationships, and how relationships are communicated between individuals.
Michael Pieruccini
I recently graduated ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV with a BA (with distinction) in Psychology, minoring in Counselling & Human Development. Broadly speaking, I am deeply interested in the varying ways people communicate, and the ways they find satisfaction in life. In relationship research, I have a particular interest in gendered scripts and the behaviours people engage in to follow or break them. Besides assisting in the lab, I work to help children with disabilities and volunteer for a crisis line. I hope to put this research and practical experience to work in a Counselling Psychology MA program.
Erik Spence
I am a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. My research interests are trauma and resiliency within first responders, and how these affect intergroup and close relations. In the future, I plan to work towards an MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology. I have been an RA for the close relationships lab since November 2023. Outside of the lab I have worked as a paramedic with BC Emergency Health Services since 2019 and have volunteered within their Critical Incident Stress program since 2021.
Kylie Viala
I am currently completing a BA in psychology, with a minor in criminology, and a forensic certificate. I plan to begin an honours project in Fall 2024. I have been a research assistant for the Close Relationships Lab since February 2022. Outside of my studies, I volunteer as a call taker at a crisis Line. My research interests include consensual non-monogamy as it relates to stigma, and forensic topics. I intend to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology.
Isidora Vidakovic
I recently completed my Bachelor of Arts (with Distinction) degree at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV, where I majored in Psychology and minored in Counselling and Human Development. I am currently a Youth Care Worker at a specialized residential service, where I work with teens experiencing complex trauma and mental health struggles. I am also a Teaching Assistant for the introductory psychological research methods course here at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV. My main research interests include how healthy relationships are created and maintained, and how they can serve as buffers against negative or adverse experiences. I have been a research assistant for the Close Relationships Lab since October 2022.