MEET OUR JUNIOR RESEARCHERS
SAM BRANDSEN
(he/him)
Sam Brandsen is an autistic parent of an autistic child. He completed his Ph.D. in physics at Duke University, focusing on quantum information theory. Towards the end of his Ph.D., he became fascinated by the quality of life of autistic individuals and spent almost all his free time thinking about autism and neurodiversity. Sam currently lives in Ontario, Canada and collaborates with several different universities and organizations on autism research and disability advocacy. Much of his work is focused on understanding how healthcare and therapy can be made more accessible to autistic individuals, especially those who may be particularly vulnerable to clinical harm or barriers to healthcare (e.g. autistic individuals who are in prison, institutionalized, uninsured/underinsured, and/or multiply marginalized.)
Léonie completed her master’s degree in School and Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP) at the University of Alberta. During this time, she explored the mathematical abilities of autistic youth under the supervision of Dr. Heather Brown. Currently, Léonie is a doctoral student in SCCP. Under the continued mentorship of Dr. Brown, Léonie aims to explore autistic adolescents’ narrative writing skills. Léonie aspires to work as a psychologist providing a combination of assessments and interventions to children and adolescents. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
HANNAH SANTILLI
(she/her)
Hannah Santilli (she/her) is a PhD student in the School and Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP) program at the University of Alberta. She completed an Honours BA in Cognitive Science at York University and an M.Ed. in SCCP at the University of Alberta before beginning her doctorate. Her doctoral research focuses on Autistic adolescents’ perspectives on learning to write in Canada, aiming to better understand their learning experiences and highlight their own recommendations for improving instruction. Hannah has also been a long-time contributor to the Campus Belonging Project, which explores how to foster greater belonging among Autistic students in postsecondary settings. Advocacy and collaboration are central to her work, and she is especially committed to research with practical impact on education and the well-being of Autistic individuals. When she’s not working on research, Hannah enjoys spending time outdoors hiking in the mountains, fostering puppies, studying with friends over coffee at a local café, or practicing her poor (but very enthusiastic) karaoke skills with friends.
EMILY COOMBS
(she/her)
Emily is an autistic PhD student in Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta. Her doctoral research is on understanding romantic relationships and sexuality from the perspective of Autistic individuals using a community-based participatory research approach. Emily has worked alongside Dr. Heather Brown on her research interests in support of Autistic university students. Together, they have established an Autistic Community Partner Collective for the Campus Belonging Study. Emily is also affiliated with the University of Calgary and the University of Victoria and aims to bridge these three institutions whenever similar research is being conducted.
ANYU WANG
(he/him)
My name is Anyu and I am a first year PhD student in the School and Clinical Child Psychology program at the UofA. Prior to this program, I graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2020 and my previous research in Singapore focused on the engagement of elementary students in special education. Working in the AIDAN Lab and learning about the social model of disability has broadened my perspective on what it means to be inclusive. In my current research, I study the autism-friendliness of spaces on the university campus, which could hopefully contribute to the building designs in the future. I hope to work as a psychologist supporting children with their learning needs in the future.
MICA PABIA
(She/they)
Mica is an Autistic, BIPOC and queer PhD student in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Science at the University of Alberta under Dr. Sandy Thompson-Hodgetts and Dr. Heather Brown. She is also a Registered Social Worker and received her Master of Social Work from the University of Waterloo. Her PhD research focuses on the intersections of ableism and racism that Autistic youth and young adults face, and she uses a critical disability, critical race, and anti-oppressive lens for her work. Mica's past social work experience has been in pediatric crisis mental health, policy work and EDI consulting, while her past research initiatives have been centred on disability justice and intersectionality.
RAEANN DEL COLLE
(she/her)
Raeann is currently finishing her master's degree in the School & Clinical Child Psychology program. She joined the AIDAN Lab team in 2017 while completing her B.A. Honours in psychology. Over the years, Raeann has worked on various projects involving neurodivergent children and adolescents. Her current thesis assesses the effectiveness of the JUMP Math program in teaching students with learning disabilities. Raeann aspires to become a psychologist who primarily works with disabled, neurodivergent, and queer youth. Outside of her studies, she enjoys reading, sewing, painting, and any other quiet activities that can be done by candlelight.
Izzy Weigel-Mohamed
(she/her)
Izzy is a 2nd year Master's student in the School and Clinical Child Psychology program at the University of Alberta. She is interested in understanding experiences of Autistic camouflaging, but loves working with the lab in a variety of capacities. She is training to be a psychologist and hopes to be able to support the Autistic community clinically one day. In her free time, she loves to write poetry and music and spend time with her loved ones.
SOPHIE SKILLEN
(she/her)
Sophie is a first-year Master’s student in the School and Clinical Child Psychology program at the UAlberta. Since completing her B.A. (Hons) in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (Mental Health) at McMaster University in 2021, Sophie has been working as a Psychometrist and Educational Consultant while continuing her involvement in applied research projects at McMaster University. Sophie is interested in supporting success and positive outcomes in Autistic and neurodiverse students and looks forward to advancing her knowledge of strengths-based learning approaches, inclusivity, and advocacy within the AIDAN Lab. Outside of school and work, Sophie enjoys reading, playing and coaching field lacrosse, travelling, and cheering on her hometown hockey team!
Ava Nakonechny
(she/her)
Hello! My name is Ava Nakonechny (she/her), and I am a fourth-year psychology student. This is my second year volunteering at the AIDAN Lab. I am pursuing a two-year research certificate focused on gaze behaviour in autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. I am fortunate to be assisting Anyu with his project on autism-friendliness in spaces and the development of the autistic researcher's page. I am excited to be a part of this team and to learn more about neurodiversity. I plan to continue my education and become a clinical psychologist supporting children's daily activities. Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and reading a good mystery novel!
JADE HAUSER
(she/her)
Jade is a fourth-year BA Honors Psychology student at the University of Alberta. She began working on her honors thesis under the supervision of Dr. Heather Brown in September 2024. Jade enjoys volunteering with children and also works at a seniors center when she is not in school. In the future, Jade hopes to attend graduate school for educational psychology, with the goal of working with neurodiverse children in a classroom setting. In her free time, Jade enjoys reading, playing video games, and sculpting things out of clay.
Erika Vanden Berg
(she/her)
Hey! My name is Erika. I am currently a fourth year BSc Psychology student. I began in the AIDAN Lab in September 2024 as part of an independent study pursuing a research certificate. I am passionate about improving supports available for Neurodivergent adults which drew me to working on the Campus Belonging project. I am passionate about advancing supports for neurodivergent adults and those experiencing houselessness. I hope to continue pursuing my passion for supporting people by attending graduate school for Occupational Therapy with the hope to continue to work with both the adult Neurodivergent population and houseless community.
Sydney Allen
(she/her)
Sydney is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts Psychology student at the University of Alberta. She began volunteering with the AIDAN Lab in September 2024 and is currently completing an independent study under the supervision of Dr. Brown. In addition to her academic work, Sydney is a youth worker with a strong passion for supporting children and adolescents. She plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and aims to become a registered clinical psychologist specializing in trauma. Outside of her studies, Sydney enjoys spending time with friends, going for walks, and traveling.
Monnica Kumaresan
(she/her)
Monnica is a fourth-year BSc student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta. She began volunteering with the AIDAN Lab in September 2024 and is currently an independent research student under Dr. Brown’s supervision. Her interest in understanding how sensory activities shape children’s experiences and in creating supportive environments that foster learning, growth, and inclusion began while working as an Early Childhood Educator. After graduation, Monnica plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology to further her knowledge and skills in supporting children’s developmental and educational needs. Outside of school, she enjoys canvas painting, volunteering, dancing, and singing.
Our Neurodivergent Team Members
Raeann Del Colle
Hannah Santilli
Sam Brandsen
Mica Pabia
Emily Coombs
