911³Ô¹Ï

Yitong Wang, MA

PhD Student

I am a doctoral student in the developmental psychology program at 911³Ô¹Ï (911³Ô¹Ï). I am working under the supervision of Dr. Tanya MacGillivray in the Culture and Development Lab. My primary research interest is to examine social and cultural factors that shape children’s development. The overall goal of my research is to examine child development from a socio-cultural perspective to ensure that current knowledge and theories are generalizable and more representative of the global population. More specifically, I am interested in cultural similarities and differences in how children develop and how variation in children’s early experiences affects their developmental processes, including motor development, social learning, and moral development. I am passionate about building authentic partnerships with communities in the research process with the goal of developing community-engaged research.

Srujana Duggirala, MA

PhD Student

I am a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Developmental Area at 911³Ô¹Ï, working under the supervision of Dr. Tanya MacGillivray in the Culture and Development Lab. My main research focuses on exploring the socio-cognitive and ecological mechanisms that influence the development and expression of prosocial and altruistic behaviors. I also study the different sleep arrangements of infants around the world and examine tools for sharing developmental science knowledge with parents and educators. Outside of my academic work, I enjoy activities such as meditation, art, and learning new languages.

Ishani Bharadwaj, MA

Phd Student

I am a first-year PhD student in the lab, supervised by Dr. Tanya MacGillivray and Dr. Grace Iarocci. For my MA, I studied the effectiveness of a mindful-self compassion-based intervention for families of autistic children. Currently, I am interested in researching positive experiences in early childhood, parent-child interactions and neurodiversity affirming practices. In addition to research, I work in the editorial department of the Child and Family Global Outreach (CF-GO) to bring science from academia to parents and communities. 

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Hilary Aime, MA

PhD Student

Camouflaging among children: Investigating informant discrepancies between parent- and teacher-reported autistic characteristics.

Hemanshi Bhandari, BSc

MA Student 

I am a master’s student in the Clinical Psychology Program (Child Track), receiving supervision from Dr. Tanya MacGillivray and co-supervision from Dr. Marlene Moretti. For my master’s thesis, I am examining cross-cultural differences in the conceptualization of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among Canadians and ni-Vanuatu. I hope to incorporate the results of my thesis into developing culturally sensitive interventions for youth and adults with ACEs. In addition to ACEs, my research interests include cross-cultural differences in attachment behaviours, positive childhood experiences, and resilience in the face of traumatic events. Ultimately, I aspire to work in clinical settings to provide culturally sensitive and trauma-informed care to youth and adults. Outside of academia, I enjoy baking, talking to friends, and travelling. 

Dilpreet Lidder, BA

MA Student

I am a second-year M.A. student in Developmental Psychology working under the supervision of Dr. Tanya MacGillivray. My research focuses on mutual joy in father–child interactions and natural observation methods in developmental research. Outside of my academic work, I enjoy practicing yoga, exploring new restaurants, and traveling.

Neda Azimi

Suhavi Kaur

Lab Manager

I’m Suhavi, a 5th year undergraduate Psychology major currently completing my honours. I have a deep interest in developmental psychology, especially in child adversity and  developmental variations  across cultures. I’m excited to be part of Dr. Tanya’s lab as a lab manager. Where I can both observe, support  and actively participate in hands-on research.  My goal is to pursue graduate studies in psychology and continue expanding my understanding of how diverse cultural contexts shape development specifically, family and parenting dynamics. I look forward to collaborating with the team and contributing to the lab’s ongoing projects.

Brahmjot Kaur 

Research Assistant

I am in my final year of my BA, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Educational Psychology. The Culture and Development Lab’s work aligns closely with my interests, particularly how parenting practices, educational systems, and cultural values influence children’s cognitive and social development. I am also interested in research that engages communities and reflects diverse perspectives. Through my involvement in the lab, I hope to deepen my understanding of cross-cultural research methods and contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects!

Megan Simpson 

Reseach Assistant 

I am a second-year psychology student with the intentions of graduating with a BA in psychology with honours. After my undergrad, I hope to attend graduate school in pursuit of a Master’s and PhD in psychology.

Puneet Bains

Research Assistant

I graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Minor in Counseling and Human Development. My interests lie in developmental psychology and seeing how early environments and relationships influence growth. As the majority of my work has been with children, I have seen how formative these early experiences can be, and how important it is to support development during these stages. I hope to pursue a career as a developmental psychologist and contribute to research that supports healthy child development.