Lab Director

Photo credit: Oliver Mann (UBC Faculty of Arts)

Nancy L. Sin, PhD

Email: nsin@psych.ubc.ca

Dr. Nancy Sin (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia.

She is a health psychologist interested in understanding how positive and stressful aspects of people’s day-to-day lives influence long-term health. Her research examines physiological mechanisms (e.g., inflammatory, neuroendocrine) and behavioural pathways (e.g., sleep) that link daily experiences to aging-related diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease. She is especially interested in the health benefits of positive experiences during times of stress. This research is conducted using ecological methods for capturing experiences and stress physiology as they unfold in their natural settings. By charting the daily lives of midlife and older adults, her work aims to identify ordinary circumstances that can be targeted in interventions to promote healthy aging.

Originally from California, Dr. Sin earned her BA at UCLA and PhD at the University of California, Riverside. She was a National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco and in the Center for Healthy Aging at Pennsylvania State University. In recognition of her work, Dr. Sin received the Springer Early Career Achievement Award in Research on Adult Development and Aging from the American Psychological Association, as well as the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar Award. Her research has been supported by funding from the U.S. National Institute on Aging, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

Outside of work, Dr. Sin enjoys knitting, crocheting, and being walked by her famous dogs Muffet (cocker spaniel/poodle mix) and Luke (terrier mix).

Graduate Students

Jin Wen (he/him)

Jin is a PhD student in the Health Psychology program. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Chapman University (Orange, California) in 2015. Jin is interested in examining individual differences and within-person fluctuations in responses to daily stressors. His research focuses on cognitive appraisals as potential mechanisms in the links between sleep (e.g., measured via wrist actigraphy) and next-day affective reactivity to daily stressors.

Lydia Ong (she/her)

Lydia is a PhD student in the Health Psychology program. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Chapman University in 2020. Lydia is interested in stress processes and how positive events may buffer stress from everyday discrimination. In her work, she employs various methods including daily diaries and community-based participatory research.

Nicole Stuart (she/her)

Nicole is a MA student in the Health Psychology program. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Waterloo in 2020. She is interested in assessing how health behaviours (e.g. diet, exercise, social relationships) impact cognitive aging in older adults through inflammatory processes. She is also interested in how these associations may differ between the sexes.

Lab Manager

Cecilia Liu (she/her)

Cecilia is a fourth year honours Behavioural Neuroscience student. She is primarily interested in the bidirectional relationships between stress and health, as well as the impacts of stress on the brain. In the future, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in research. Outside of the lab, Cecilia enjoys baking, creating art, and crocheting.

Research Assistants

Mina Han (she/her)

Mina is a 3rd-year undergraduate student studying Behavioural Neuroscience. She is interested in health psychology research that can improve people’s daily lives, and is especially interested in the broad effects that stress has on long-term health. Outside of the lab, Mina enjoys learning languages and watching the sunset. She hopes to pursue a career in mental health.

Faith Vaughan (she/her)

Faith is currently in 3rd year of her undergraduate studies. She majors in Psychology in the Faculty of Arts. She is mainly interested in intergenerational trauma and chronic health conditions amongst minorities. For hobbies, Faith loves singing, enjoys gaming, and is very interested in Indigenous beading. She hopes to pursue Clinical Psychology. Her goal for the future is to help Indigenous communities heal from intergenerational trauma.

Amy Morales-Arellano (she/her)

Amy is a 3rd-year Biology undergraduate student at UBC minoring in Behavioural Neuroscience. Her research interests vary from microbial genetics to the relationship between stress and failures in executive function. Amy enjoys being the co-president of the UBC Neuroscience Club and knitting in her spare time. Amy aspires to attend graduate school and pursue a career in healthcare.

Kirsten Luk (she/her)

Kirsten recently graduated with a BA in Psychology with a minor in Commerce. She is particularly intrigued by the immediate and long-term effects of daily and chronic stressors on our health and how levels of perceived stress impact stress management and biobehavioral mechanisms of aging. Outside of the lab, Kirsten was actively involved with various clubs at UBC such as the PSA, and she enjoys meeting new people. Kirsten hopes to further her studies at the graduate level and pursue a career in mental health.

Navindi De Silva (she/her)

Daria Hammond (she/her)

Daria is a fourth year student majoring in Psychology. She holds a particular interest for the topics of stress, anxiety, perfectionism, eating disorders, and non-suicidal self-injury. Daria aims to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and hopes to both conduct research and work as a registered psychologist. Outside of school she works as an assistant to a children’s occupational therapist. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and going for hikes with her dog.

Zoe Dong (she/her)

Zoe is a third year undergraduate majoring in Behaviour Neuroscience. She is interested in the causes and long-term effects of daily stress and mood shift, topics on cognition (for example perception and learning), and topics on mental illness.  Outside of the lab, Zoe enjoys drawing, playing guitar, exploring different places and food, walking in nature, and wind-surfing. Zoe plans to continue her studies at the graduate level and pursue a career in cognitive psychology or clinical psychology research.

Kyra Gert (she/her)

Kyra is a third year undergraduate student majoring in Behavioural Neuroscience. Her research interests center around mental health and wellbeing, specifically how mental wellbeing is influenced by dynamic life factors such as sleep, social support, physical activity, as well as genetic and biological predispositions. After her bachelor’s degree, she hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Outside the lab, she enjoys dancing, spending time with friends and family, and finding new dog walk adventures.

Brishk Manzoor (she/her)

Taima Gheriani (she/her)

Taima is a current 2nd-year psychology student with a special interest in researching health and lifestyle factors that influence development – especially throughout childhood and adolescence in diverse environments. With an additional interest in speech perception, she is curious to understand how social and cognitive components interlink to enhance one’s quality of life and advocates for mental well-being and equity for all.  She hopes to continue researching in grad school and aims to pursue a career in health care. Outside the lab, Taima enjoys video editing, thrifting, and hearing the stories of new people she meets.

Alice Luan (she/her)

Eshana Mishra (she/her)

Eshana is a fourth-year Psychology undergraduate student with interests in cross-cultural stress, anxiety, and coping mechanisms across the lifespan. She also has academic interests in sociology and social justice. In her free time, Eshana enjoys reading fantasy novels, curating Spotify playlists and spending time with friends. She aspires to work in the mental health field, with a particular emphasis on supporting women of colour, and promoting inclusivity and intersectionality in healthcare.

Andree Fluckiiger (she/her)

Andree is in her 5th year of her B.A. in Psychology. She works as a student leader and peer supporter with students in recovery. Her research interests include exploring variations in methods of recovery from behavioral and substance addictions; and the role of meaning making in recovery from traumatic events. Outside of work and school, Andree enjoys longs distance running, cycling, and hiking in the mountains. She also loves connecting with friends over a delicious latte!:) Andree hopes to pursue a career working as a psychologist in addictions both as a researcher and a clinician.

Elisabeth Herrington (she/her)

Elisabeth is heading into her fourth year of her Bachelor of Arts Degree. She is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Law and Society and hopes to one day combine those two passions in her future career. She is passionate about advocating for mental health as well as for social justice, and is very interested in the impacts of long-term stress on the body. Elisabeth hopes to pursue a career as a registered psychologist and possibly a career in public health.

Scott Weber (he/him)

Scott is a fourth year, honours Psychology student. He is primarily interested in the neuroscience of pathologies, and how different health factors impact the brain. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in research. Outside the lab, Scott enjoys playing hockey and soccer.

Iris Caglayan (she/her)

Meet Iris, a passionate third-year Cognitive Systems student with a minor in Data Science. She is dedicated to understanding the impact of habitual dynamics on psychosocial well-being, sleep, and overall health, particularly in relation to mental health. Iris believes that in today’s stressful and anxiety-ridden world, we need more accessible options to alleviate these burdens and improve daily lives. With her vision of creating technology-driven solutions, Iris aspires to offer effective remedies for these challenges. In her free time, she likes dancing, reading books, staying active, and cherishing moments with her friends over a cup of coffee.

Karen Johal (she/her)

Karen is starting her fifth year of her undergrad, majoring in Psychology. She currently works as a Child and Youth Support Worker but hopes to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy. Karen is interested in learning and mental health and aspires to bring awareness of mental health to the South Asian community. In her spare time, Karen enjoys long walks, spending time with her family, and painting.

Lab Alumni

Dr. Patrick Klaiber

Patrick graduated from the Health Psychology program in 2023 and is now an Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology at Tilburg University in The Netherlands! Patrick is interested in studying positive events in daily life. In this new role, he studies how positive aspects of daily life support people during life transitions in older adulthood (e.g., becoming a grandparent, retirement).”

Olive Huang (Directed Studies & Lab Manager)

Olive newly graduated with a B.A. in Psychology, with interests including daily stress and anxiety, health promotion, and social determinants of health. Outside the lab, Olive loves to dance and is actively involved in cultural clubs and communities. She also enjoys watching the sunset on the shores of False Creek. She hopes to pursue a career in mental health, possibly in public health or as a registered psychologist.\

Alex Ng (he/him)

Alex is a 4th year student majoring in Behavioural Neuroscience. He is broadly interested in understanding the biological mechanisms underlying psychological factors in health and illness. Outside of the lab, Alex works as a pharmacy assistant and he hopes to pursue a career in healthcare.

Christina Felber

Christina is a 3rd year undergraduate student majoring in Behavioural Neuroscience. Her research interests surround how habits and daily life experiences can impact the brain, as well as the effects of stress on health outcomes. Outside of the lab, Christina enjoys reading, listening to music and creating videos. Christina hopes to pursue a career in mental health.

Moha Chaturvedi

Moha is a 4th year student majoring in Psychology. She is broadly interested in the relationship between daily stressors, social relationships, and long-term health outcomes. Outside of the lab, Moha has been teaching herself to play the ukulele and to paint. She hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology.

Angela Lee (Directed Studies)

Angela recently graduated from UBC with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Biology. She is interested in the motivations behind health promotion and illness prevention more specifically, the effects of stress on sleep as well as how positive events during stressful times can influence affect. Outside the lab, Angela is a competitive archer and enjoys rock climbing.  She hopes to pursue a career in public health.

Rory Mills

Rory (they/them) is a fourth-year psychology student at UBC who is also completing a minor in Health and Society. They have research interests centered on the axis between physical health, mental health, and substance use. Especially prevalent for Rory is the connection between these concepts and the ongoing opioid epidemic in the lower mainland. On this topic, Rory hopes to pursue a career in mental and physical health advocacy. Otherwise, Rory enjoys a multitude of sports, community engagements, and creating art!

Brian Qi (Directed Studies & Lab Manager)

Brian recently graduated with a BA in Psychology. He is broadly interested in the interaction between daily positive experiences and stress on healthy aging. He is particularly interested in exploring behavioural interventions that improve people’s daily lives. Outside of the lab, Brian works as a Behavioural Interventionist and enjoys camping and hiking. He currently pursuing a career in UX Design and hopes to create digital interventions to improve health and wellbeing.

Amy Lee (Directed Studies)

Amy is a 4th year Psychology student minoring in Health and Society. Since her interest focuses on Health Psychology, she intends to interpret the relationship between experiences of daily life and emotional well-being. By working as a Research Assistant, she wishes not only to enhance her knowledge in Psychology, but also to improve her laboratory skills. Outside of the lab, she works as a Pharmacy Assistant.

Life after UPLIFT (2022): After 3 years in the lab, Amy became a research coordinator at the Vaccine Evaluation Centre at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.

Fei Ying (Directed Studies & Lab Manager)

Fei is a recent graduate with a BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience. She is drawn to the integration of biological and psychosocial perspectives in health psychology, and is particularly interested in how variability in sleep relates to daily stress and positive affect. Outside the lab, Fei enjoys Pilates and birdwatching on weekends. She is planning to build on all the research skills she’s learned in the lab by pursuing a Master’s and PhD in clinical psychology at Western University.

Life after UPLIFT (2022): Fei is a MA/PhD student in clinical psychology at Western.

Juliane Henkel (Directed Studies)

Juliane is a 3rd year Psychology undergraduate student minoring in Biology. With pursuing a minor in Biology, she is also fascinated by what evolutionary and social factors drive people to act in more health conscious ways. Outside of the lab, Juliane enjoys spending time outdoors, and being physically active. She hopes to pursue a career in health research.

Life after UPLIFT (2022): Juliane works at PHS Community Services to provide housing services for people living with mental health concerns and substance dependencies.

Stephanie McCardle

Stephanie McCardle is pursuing a second undergraduate degree after a career in marketing and communications. She is interested in the impacts of social support on long-term health outcomes and aims to work in health sciences.

Chloe Dean

Chloe recently graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Law and Society. Her research interests include stress and anxiety, sexual dysfunction and self-esteem, and personality disorders. Outside of the lab, Chloe enjoys sunny days at the beach, traveling, and hiking. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and to become a registered psychologist.

Life after UPLIFT (2022): Chloe works in mental health services at the Provincial Health Services Authority.

Sophia Guan

Sophia (she/her) is a 2nd-year student majoring in Psychology with an interest in minoring in Economics. She is particularly interested in the phenomenology, etiology, and treatment of eating disorders. In addition, Sophia works as a Cultural Assistant at UBC and loves hiking, visual art, and watching films. Sophia hopes to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology.

Sohrab Ghassemieh

Sohrab is a fourth-year psychology student at UBC. He received his first Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from IAUM. He is interested in exploring social and biological factors that predispose people to experience more daily positive events and also how such factors influence people’s overall health. Outside of the lab, he is involved with community work and hopes to further his education in the field of Clinical Psychology.

Armina Rahimisoureh

Armina is a 4th year psychology student and a research assistant in health psychology labs. Her research interests focus on the effects of daily experiences on long-term social relationships and health. She is particularly interested in the associations between stressful events and sleep. Armina is actively involved in the community-based work and is working with children and with older adults in rehabilitation. She hopes to pursue a career in public health, with the intention of applying findings from psychology to the areas of health and social well-being.

Holy Ghaly (Lab Manager)

Holy is a 4th year undergraduate student studying Kinesiology and Psychology. She is very keen about Health Psychology and is particularly interested in the impact of stress on health, and how healthy behaviours can attenuate this effect, such as by reducing inflammation levels. Holy hopes to further pursue her studies at the graduate level and to promote mental well-being as an important health determinant.

Life after UPLIFT (2021): Holy is a medical student in the UBC Vancouver Fraser Medical Program.

Kevin Chi (Directed Studies & Lab Manager)

Kevin recently graduated from UBC with a BA in Psychology and minor in Education. His research interests focus on understanding the biological and behavioural mechanisms linking everyday social interactions to health and well-being in old age. Kevin has received over a dozen awards and scholarships, including the UBC Quinn Research Assistantship Award to support his independent project on age differences in the associations between daily prosocial activities and health.

Life after UPLIFT (2022): Kevin is a PhD student in psychology at Stanford University.

Kiana Maeda

Kiana is a research assistant who recently earned her BA in Psychology from UBC. She is interested in Health Psychology and is particularly intrigued by how social interactions and mental health can influence overall physical well-being such as acute and chronic illness. Outside of the lab, Kiana is actively involved in community work, and she is pursuing further training in the field of Counselling Psychology.

Life after UPLIFT (2019): Kiana earned a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Adler University and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor.

Ye-Von Lee

Ye-Von is a research assistant who recently graduated from UBC with a BA in Psychology and minor in Health & Society.  She is particularly interested in Health and Developmental Psychology. Currently, she is involved in research studying infancy, cross-cultural aspects of human development, and biobehavioral pathways to healthy lifestyles and aging. Ye-Von hopes to pursue a career in Public Health, with the intention of applying her knowledge and background in psychological research to promote psychology as an important determinant of health.

Life after UPLIFT (2019): Ye-Von worked as a research coordinator at the Oak Tree Clinic (clinical care for women and families with HIV/AIDS) at BC Women’s Hospital.

Jamile De Medeiros e Silva (Honours Thesis)

Jamile is a 4th year Honours Psychology student who is conducting her Honours Thesis at the UPLIFT Health Lab. Her research focus is on how positive/negative daily experiences can influence one’s quality of sleep, and how that in turn can affect one’s health. She is overall very interested in Health Psychology, particularly how social connectivity can affect one’s physical well-being, in particular cardiovascular disease risk and inflammation. Outside of the lab, Jamile is very involved with clubs at UBC, such as the Brazilian Student Association. For the future, Jamile hopes to further pursue her studies at the graduate level in Psychology, specifically in Health or Social/Personality. 

Taekeun (TK) Choi

TK is a research assistant who is in his 4th year majoring in Psychology. He has an interest in Health Psychology focused on how one’s emotions and attitude influence their mind and health. Additionally, TK would like to study more on how early social interactions form one’s personality. Besides from working in the lab, TK is actively involved in various Korean student clubs and goes on adventures to find new food.

Story Hu

Story is a 4th year psychology student. She is interested in how effective health psychology can help reduce the costs spent in health care services by improving health behaviours before the development of any illnesses and improving disease management if any illnesses have developed. Besides her interest in health psychology, she is also interested in neuroscience, so she enjoys volunteering for Let’s Talk Science and finds the experience incredible when she is able to incorporate what she has learnt at school when teaching kids. Outside of school, Story plays the harp and some other instruments in her leisure time.

Life after UPLIFT (2022): Story works as a language interpreter and plans to pursue graduate training in conference interpreting.