EPIC Lab | Our Team
Meet our team of scientists, research staff, trainees, and alumni.
Scientist
![]() | Tim Ross, PhD, RPP, MCIP |
EPIC Lab Staff
![]() | Meaghan Walker |
![]() | Zehra Kamani |
Doctoral Trainees
![]() | Élyse Comeau, MPl |
![]() | Javaneh Abbaspourasadolah |
![]() | Yixue Zhang |
Masters Trainees
![]() | Lauren Foote |
![]() | Marjan Fadaei |
![]() | Shalaine Sedres |
![]() | Yuelin Ge |
Amanda Mac
Amanda is a first-year medical student at the University of Toronto. Amanda is currently supporting numerous projects within the lab, including a scoping review on disability and race within healthcare and a scoping review on access to play spaces for children in hospital. Having family members who live with chronic illness and disability, she is passionate about supporting research on transitional care, accessible and inclusive spaces and enhancing community resilience among marginalized populations
Julia Hess
Julia is a summer volunteer in the EPIC Lab. She is a Concurrent education student at Queen’s University, completing her Bachelor of Education, as well as her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Julia is currently supporting two projects in the lab, including a social media scan of EDI content with a focus on autism, and a scoping review looking at play spaces in health care settings.
Maddy DeWelles
Maddy DeWelles is a PhD Candidate in the Social Justice Education Department at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto where she conducts research that intersects disability and childhood studies. Maddy’s dissertation research explores how Down syndrome is represented to children and adults before, at, and following the birth of a baby with Down syndrome. Maddy also loves teaching and interacting with children. Maddy’s current volunteer work with the EPIC Lab focuses on experiences of inclusive playgrounds and their surroundings.
Roshan Sivarajah
Roshan is a third-year undergraduate student completing his Bachelor of Medical Science degree at Western University. As a volunteer research student in the EPIC Lab, he is contributing to research on air travel experiences for children with disabilities and their families.
Past Staff
- Catherine Stratton, Research Assistant
- Emily Buliung, Research Assistant
- Téa Christopoulos, Research Assistant
Past Ward Summer Students
- Danielle Nicolardi, Summer 2021
- Iqra Mahmood, Summer 2020
- Madalyn Murray, Summer 2021
- Sarah Qureshi, Summer 2021
- Sophie Weaver, Summer 2021
Past Trainees
- Bianca Serapiglia, MSc. OT, University of Toronto
- Emma Melo, MSc. OT, University of Toronto
- Melissa Ngo, MDes, OCAD University