TRAIL Lab - Our Team

Meet the staff and students of TRAIL.

Scientists

Dr. Sally Lindsay, Principal Investigator and Leader of TRAIL lab.

Sally is a Senior Scientist in the Bloorview Research Institute and Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto

See Dr. Sally Lindsay's full scientist profile

Staff 

RESEARCH CO-ORDINATOR

Peiwen (Lily) Cao, MSc, Lily has a Master’s degree in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Western University. Her research interests focus on the psychosocial adjustment of youth with disabilities and their families.

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS 

Natanela Dain, MA, Natanela has a Master of Arts in Sociology & Legal Studies from the University of Waterloo. Her research interests include transitions from youth to adulthood, as well as psychosocial predictors of wellbeing. She is passionate about working with youths and young adults with disabilities.  

Shaelynn Hsu, BSc (Candidate), Shaelynn is currently working towards her Honours BSc in the Biomedical Sciences program at York University. She hopes to combine her passion for working with youth and adults with disabilities and interest in research to develop inclusive strategies and facilitate independence. She is also currently working as a Life Skills Assistant in the VolunteerABLE program. 

Lise Olds, BA, Lise received her BA in Indigenous Studies from Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (now First Nations University of Canada) at the University of Regina. She has a strong interest in inclusion and overall well-being. Lise is active in her community and also works in the Bloorview Research Institute as an Administrative Assistant.

Postdoctoral Fellows and Graduate Students

Over 150 people (trainees and highly qualified personnel) have trained in the TRAIL lab and most have been very successful with receiving external awards and scholarships (over $490,000 to date) and going on into careers in academics, health policy, government and health sciences.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS

Narges Abdeahad, PhD, 2023-2024, Narges received her PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies from the University of Waterloo. Her research interests are in the areas of the youth mental wellbeing, motivation, leisure as a coping resource and social psychology of sports.

Yiyan Li, PhD, 2022-2024, Yiyan received her PhD in Sociology from the University of Saskatchewan. Her research interests focus on immigrants and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Rushmita Alam, PhD (Cand.), 2023-2027, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto. Rushmita has a Masters in Inclusive Design. Her thesis focuses on "Clothing ableism: co-creating adaptive clothing for and with children and youth with disabilities."

Tyaibah Biswas, MScOT (Cand). 2023-2024, Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto.

Keira Mattook, MScOT (Cand). 2023-2024, Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto.

Alumni