Team Leads
Simran Mughal
Simran is a second-year PhD student in the Sensorimotor Integration and Neuroadaptive Plasticity (SINAP) Lab. Her research focuses on neuroplasticity mechanisms, and the cerebellum's role in cognition and ADHD. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading and playing tennis.
Kayla Dolman
Kayla is a PhD candidate in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences specializing in neuroscience. Her research and doctoral thesis examine the long-term effects of concussive brain injuries on mechanisms of sensorimotor integration. Outside of academia, Kayla enjoys cheering on the Buffalo Bills, travelling with her pilot husband, and spending time with her grandparents!
Event Leads
Maral Ghodsi Boushehri
Maral is a first-year PhD student in the Aging, Health, and Well-being program. Her research focuses on improving the quality of life of older adults with cognitive challenges. Her master's thesis examined how lifestyle factors influence the mental health of older adults. She is also interested in exploring how emerging technologies can support the well-being of people living with dementia. Outside of academia, Maral enjoys going to the gym and learning figure skating.
Sadia Mohammad
Sadia is a Master of Development Practice (MDP) student at the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), with a background in population health. She has experience in quality improvement, knowledge translation, and project management in community and digital health, with a focus on aging in place and sustainable development. Outside her studies, Sadia enjoys content creation, exploring new cuisines, and travelling.
Event Programming
Arthur Casagrande Pinto
Hi everyone, my name is Arthur. I'm a second-year MSc student in the Department of Kinesiology, where my research focuses on Parkinson's disease, specifically freezing of gait and the autonomic nervous system's involvement. Outside of school, I spend way too much time falling down YouTube music rabbit holes. I'm looking forward to being involved in creating the programming for SoAR 2026!
Jess Vander Vaart
Jess is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences with a specialization in neuroscience. Her research explores how music listening influences the neural processes involved in sensorimotor integration. Beyond academia, she is passionate about Muay Thai, where she trains both as an athlete and shares her knowledge as a coach.
Marketing and Communications
Alysia Ermacora
Hi, I’m Alysia, an MA student in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. My research examines coping and well-being strategies, with attention to changes through adulthood and the experiences of older adults. I primarily focus on how leisure engagement can enhance life satisfaction. In my spare time, I enjoy staying active through Pilates and yoga.
Elizabeth Wang
Elizabeth is a second-year MSc student in the School of Public Health Sciences and the Marketing and Communications Lead for SoAR. Her research focuses on biological and cognitive markers of organismic resilience in middle-aged and older adults. In her free time, she enjoys building miniature houses, drawing, and hiking with her family.
Treasurer
Hajr Hameed
Hajr is a PhD student in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Her research aims to understand the complex relationship between gait and cognition to identify subclinical predictors of neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of research, Hajr enjoys spending time with friends, reading, and taking care of her pet bunnies.
Website Manager
Ben Masters
Ben is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering studying the perception and measurement of effort during conversations. The long term goal of his research is to develop more realistic ways to assess the performance of hearing assistive technologies. He previously received his Master of Applied Science, also from Waterloo, and Bachelor of Science in Acoustical Engineering from Purdue University. Aside from his research, he enjoys teaching, playing music, and the outdoors.