Lab alumni

• Postdoctoral scholar alumni
• PhD alumni
• MSc alumni
• Other alumni

Postdoctoral scholar alumni

Dr. John E. Muñoz PhD

I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the MBClab in 2019-2022  and was funded by Dr. Barnett-Cowan's Early Researcher Award and UW Trailblazer Award and co-supervised by Dr. Jennifer Boger, Dr. Shi Cao, and Dr. Laura Middleton. Working with a large interdisciplinary team, I led the team to co-design and build video games that incorporate exercise and use sensors to get real-time info on cognitive and physiological functions for older adults living in the community and long-term care in partnership with the company VR Vision. Currently, I am a UX Research Scientist at J F Alliance Group. John E. Muñoz LinkedIn

Dr. Séamas Weech PhD

I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the MBClab in 2017-2019  and was funded by Oculus Research/Facebook/Meta Reality Labs to study motion sickness in virtual reality. Following this, I secured an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship and a Mitacs Accelerate Fellowship to assess motion sickness on moving base vehicle simulators. I was also supported by an award from McGill University's Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives/NeuroSphere Initiative. Séamas Weech LinkedIn

Dr. Sophie Kenny PhD

I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the MBCLab and the Games Institute in 2017-2018 where I assessed the role of narrative on immersion and sickness in virtual reality. I then served as a Lecturer with the Royal Military College and Laurentian University prior to working at VPixx Technologies as a Staff Scientist. Sophie Kenny LinkedIn

Dr. Jessy Parokaran Varghese PhD

I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the MBCLab in 2016-2017 where I assessed the role of the cortex on postural perturbations and sickness in virtual reality funded by Dr. Barnett-Cowan's Facebook Distinguished Professor Award. I then served as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Bill McIlroy. Jessy Parokaran Varghese bio

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PhD alumni

Dr. Robert McIlroy, PhD

I received my PhD in Kinesiology and Health Sciences in 2023 from the MBCLab where I investigated the visual determinants of postural control and perception during physical and visual motion. Currently, seeking job opportunities in industry. Robert McIlroy LinkedIn

Dr. William Chung, PhD

I received my PhD in Kinesiology and Health Sciences in 2022 from the MBCLab where I investigated Sensory Conflict: Effects on the Perceived Onset of Motion and Cybersickness in Virtual Reality. Currently, I am a postdoctoral fellow at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. William Chung LinkedIn 

Dr. Aysha Basharat, PhD

I received my PhD in Kinesiology and Health Sciences in 2022 from the MBCLab where I investigated  Multisensory Integrative Processes and Aging. Currently, I am a Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Postdoctoral Fellow working for the Government of British Columbia. Aysha Basharat LinkedIn 

Dr. Richard Donker PhD OD

I successfully defended my PhD in March 2021. Co-supervised by Dr. Barnett-Cowan, Dr. Ben Thompson and Dr. Daphne McCulloch I used non-invasive brain stimulation to assess its potential to treat amblyopia. Currently, I am a clinical trials specialist for Retinal Consultants of America. Richard Donker LinkedIn

Dr. Alessandro Nesti PhD

I successfully defended my PhD at the University of Tübingen in 2015. I was co-supervised by Dr. Barnett-Cowan, Dr. Paul MacNeilage and Dr. Heinrich Bülthoff working out of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. Currently, I am the Principal Data Scientist at the Swiss Data Science Centre. Alessandro Nesti LinkedIn

Dr. Florian Soyka PhD

I successfully defended my PhD at the University of Tübingen in 2012. I was co-supervised by Dr. Barnett-Cowan and Dr. Heinrich Bülthoff working out of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. After working as a Senior Development Engineer for Mercedes where I worked on driver simulation and autonomous driving, I am currently a member of Scientific Staff at the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health IFA (DGUV). Florian Soyka LinkedIn

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MSc alumni

Fira (Alimu) Gulifeire, MSc

I earned my MSc investigating the mechanisms underlying cybersickness in virtual reality, with a focus on how postural control and sensory reweighting relate to user discomfort. Using immersive VR roller coaster simulations and markerless motion capture, to examine how movement instability predicts cybersickness severity. More broadly, I am interested in multisensory integration, human movement, and the use of VR and motion capture to study perception and discomfort in immersive environments. Fira (Alimu) Gulifeire LinkedIn

Alyssa Lynn, MSc

I earned my MSc investigating the role of the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) in virtual reality sickness (cybersickness). Using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate rTPJ activity, I aimed to shed light on the relationship between sensory reweighting and cybersickness manifestation. Alyssa Lynn LinkedIn

Claudia Martin Calderon, MSc

I earned my MSc in Kinesiology in 2022 where I investigated The influence of body orientation relative to gravity on egocentric distance estimates in immersive virtual environments in the MBCLab. Currently, I am a PhD candidate working with Dr. Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo where I am assessing the use of eye movements for improving pilot training in aviation. Claudia Martin Calderon LinkedIn

Siyavash Izadi, MSc

I earned my MSc in Kinesiology in 2019 where I investigated physiological determinants of cybersickness in virtual environments in the MBCLab. Currently, I am a PhD candidate in the MBCLab where I am assessing sensory reweighting following exposure to cybersickness. Siyavash Izadi LinkedIn

Ogai Sadiq, MSc

I earned my MSc in Kinesiology in 2019 where I investigated psychophysical determinants of cybersickness in virtual environments in the MBCLab. Currently, I am a Clinical Study and Regulatory Assistant at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Ogai Sadiq LinkedIn

Carolin Sachgau, MSc

I earned my MSc in Kinesiology in 2018 where I investigated the perceived timing of active head movements in the MBCLab. Currently, I am a Doctoral Student at the University of Tübingen where I am co-supervised by Dr. Barnett-Cowan and Dr. Hanspeter Mallot and where I am investigating sensory flow and multisensory integration in electroreception using in vivo intracellular recordings and simulations. Carolin Sachgau LinkedIn

Aubrieann Schettler, MA

I earned my MA in Philosophy in 2017 and was cosupervised by Dr. Barnett-Cowan and Dr. John Turri. I investigated how sensorimotor function contributes to the human sense of self using virtual reality.  Currently, I am a Doctoral Student at Western University's Rotman Institute of Philosophy. Aubrieann Schettler bio

Dr. Aysha Basharat, PhD, MSc

I earned my MSc in Kinesiology in 2017 where I investigated audiovisual simultaneity and event related potentials in young and older adults. I went on to complete my PhD in the MBCLab in September 2022. Currently, I am a Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Postdoctoral Fellow working for the Government of British Columbia. Aysha Basharat LinkedIn

Dr. William Chung, PhD, MSc

I earned my MSc in Kinesiology in 2016 where I investigated the perceived timing of active head movements and the role of vision and head movement velocity. I went on to complete my PhD in the MBCLab in December 2022. Currently, I am a postdoctoral fellow at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. William Chung LinkedIn

Julian Lupo, JD Law, MSc

I earned my MSc in Kinesiology in 2015 where I investigated the perceived timing of auditory and inertial cues during a postural perturbation in younger and older adults. I then went on to study law at Western University. Currently, I am an Associate at Wildeboer Dellelce LLP. Julian Lupo LinkedIn

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