Lab Director

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Dr. Sarah Racine received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from McGill University where she conducted her senior honours thesis with Dr. Howard Steiger at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. She completed her PhD at Michigan State University under the mentorship of Dr. Kelly Klump. Her graduate work used twin study methodology and longitudinal menstrual cycle designs as methods to unravel the complex etiology of disordered eating behaviours. Her clinical internship and postdoctoral training were completed at the University of Pittsburgh/Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Wildes. She was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Ohio University from 2014-2017 before returning to her alma mater as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2017. Dr. Racine’s research aims to elucidate how genetic/biological risk for eating disorders operates through personality and emotional characteristics as well as what psychological and environmental factors make individuals with these characteristics more likely to develop an eating disorder versus another psychological condition. In her spare time, Dr. Racine enjoys doing Zumba, eating Mexican food, watching psychological and crime dramas, and practising her French.

post doctoral fellow

Katarina Huellemann is a postdoctoral fellow at McGill. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2018), Master of Science in Psychology (2020), and PhD in Psychology (2024) from Western University. Her Master’s thesis, which was supervised by Dr. Rachel Calogero, investigated the effectiveness of a self-compassion writing intervention on various body image-related stigmatizing and affirming self-perceptions in women. Her doctoral thesis, completed under the supervision of Dr. Rachel Calogero and Dr. Eva Pila, involved the completion of three mixed-method studies investigating a novel construct, compassionate physical activity, and how the practice of self-compassion in physical activity is related to women’s body image and physical activity behaviour. In her postdoctoral position at McGill, Katarina will be investigating the concept of relational body image in friend groups, that is, how our body image fluctuates or changes depending on the friends we spend time with and how the social status of friends in the group impact these changes. In her spare time, Katarina enjoys yoga, true crime, travel, reading, and listening to Taylor Swift.

graduate students

Laura Lapadat is a third-year PhD student studying Clinical Psychology at McGill. She completed her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Victoria, and worked as a research assistant in the University of British Columbia Department of Psychiatry, under the supervision of Dr. Erin Michalak. In the past, Laura has published on participatory research, mobile health, and bipolar disorder. Her research in graduate school will focus on loss of control in eating disorders, and eating disorder-bipolar disorder comorbidity. In her spare time, Laura enjoys yoga, skiing, and spending time with friends, family, and her cat Hank.

Devyn Riddle is a first-year PhD student studying Clinical Psychology at McGill. She completed her B.A. in Psychology at Lehigh University, and then worked as a research coordinator at Drexel University’s Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (The WELL Center). Devyn has published on emotion dysregulation and binge-spectrum eating disorders. Her research in graduate school will focus on the relationship between emotion dysregulation and maladaptive coping strategies like disordered eating behaviors. In her spare time, Devyn enjoys reading, running, and spending time with friends and family.

Victoria Franco is a first-year PhD student studying Clinical Psychology at McGill. She completed her B.A. in both Psychology and Spanish at Stanford University, where her undergraduate honors thesis examined the neural correlates of emotion regulation and binge eating in adolescent females. Victoria also completed an M.S. in Community Health and Prevention Research through Stanford School of Medicine. She then worked as a clinical research assistant at McLean Hospital working on different projects investigating the epidemiology and neural underpinnings of binge-eating disorder. For her graduate research, she is interested in examining different mechanistic sub-types underlying binge eating. In her free time, she enjoys baking, food photography, and hiking.

Vittoria Trolio is a fourth-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at McGill. She completed her B.A. in Psychology at McGill where she explored clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in an adult cohort of patients with ARFID, under the supervision of Dr. Howard Steiger at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. Vittoria's graduate research will investigate restrictive eating and associated traits across the spectrum of eating disorders, with a focus on shared mechanisms and differentiating factors between avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and anorexia nervosa. In her spare time, Vittoria likes to attend concerts, practice hot barre, and travel whenever possible.

research coordinators

Beth Hales graduated from McGill with a double major in Psychology and International Development and a minor in Behavioural Science in 2024. Beth completed their undergraduate thesis at the BEEP lab exploring cognitive restraint and restriction in women with restrictive eating disorders using ecological momentary assessment data. Beth is interested in making psychological research accessible to the public. She enjoys nature, backpacking, and listening to music.

Angela Gao graduated from McGill University majoring in Honors Psychology in 2024. She is interested in learning how addictive behaviours and substance use disorders interact with personality, social, and cultural factors. While at the BEEP Lab, Angela is eager to learn more about reward processing and EDs and hopes to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the city, crafting, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.

Undergraduate students

Elizabeth Pung is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Honours Psychology. Broadly, she is interested in how social factors, particularly cultural backgrounds, may influence the onset of various forms of psychopathology such as eating disorders. She hopes to one day pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology or become a psychiatrist. Some of her favourite activities include attending concerts, volunteering at the animal shelter, and learning new languages.

Madeleine Hébert is a second-year undergraduate student at McGill University, majoring in Honours Psychology and minoring in Religious Studies. She is interested in the cognitive, social, and emotional contributors to the development and maintenance of eating disorders. She aspires to go to graduate school in clinical psychology to further her knowledge and research skills. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, listening to classical music, shopping for fun trinkets, and taking long walks to discover the sights of the city.

Diep Nguyen is a first-year undergraduate student at McGill, majoring in Psychology, with minors in Behavioural Science and Science for Arts Students. She is interested in the effects of nutrition and psychoactive substances such as psychedelics on cognitive processes, and she aspires to develop a holistic approach to mental health treatment. After completing her bachelor's degree, she hopes to pursue either Psychiatry or Clinical Psychology. In her spare time, Diep loves experimenting with fun new recipes, reading next to her cat, and digging up weird movies to watch.

Ignacio Carrera graduated from McGill University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy and Behavioural Science. He is interested in acculturation and its impact on the concept of self and mental health in young adults, as well as how the same risk factors develop into different disorders. He hopes to become a clinical psychologist. In his free time, he likes to play chess, read, write and watch shows.

Madhumitha Murugavel Sangeetha, currently in her third year, is pursuing a major in Psychology and a double minor in Science for Arts Students and Behavioural Science . She aspires to go to med school and become a doctor working in either the psychology field or the cardiology field. Madhu is very interested in the concepts of psychopathology, and is excited to learn essential skills at the BEEP Lab this year! During her leisure time, she enjoys reading novels, spending time with loved ones, and touring museums and art galleries.

Can Kök graduated from McGill university in Honours Psychology and minored in Philosophy. His research interests are substance use, impulsivity, and transdiagnostic risk factors for psychopathology. In the future, he hopes to pursue graduate school in clinical psychology or neuroscience. In his spare time, he enjoys watching movies and live music.

Safia Ouedraogo is a second-year undergraduate student at McGill University, majoring in Honours Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science, and Science for Arts students with a focus on Physiology. She is particularly interested in learning about eating disorders in athletes and the relationship between eating disorders and addiction. In the future, she hopes to pursue graduate school in clinical psychology. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing volleyball, and painting.

Adèle Gille graduated from McGill University with a major in Psychology and minors in Behavioral Sciences and East Asian Studies. Her academic and personal interests focus on disordered eating as a coping mechanism from trauma and its intersection with sexuality, and she is excited to expand her knowledge and further develop her research skills during her time in the BEEP lab. She aspires to become a licensed Clinical Psychologist, aiming to work in both clinical intervention and research settings. In her free time, you’ll find her brainstorming new script ideas, shooting short films with friends, or watching the latest French melodrama featured at the Cannes Film Festival.

Maryam Aaouatif is a second-year undergraduate student at McGill University in the Honours Psychology program with a minor in Science for Arts Students. She is interested in learning about the biopsychosocial factors underlying eating disorders and how these differ from those underlying substance use. She aspires to go to medical school and become a psychiatrist or a pediatrician. In her spare time, she likes to go on walks, discover new restaurants, and spend time with her loved ones.

Tehya Armstrong is a first-year undergraduate student at McGill University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Indigenous Studies. A proud member of the Broken Head Ojibway Nation in Manitoba, Tehya is passionate about mental health and is dedicated to pursuing a career in psychology that supports and uplifts Indigenous communities.

Graduate & Post doctoral Alumni

Aiden Mehak

Ege Biçaker

Alexia Miller: Staff Psychologist at McGill University Health Centre

Samantha WIlson: Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan

Sarah Schell: Staff Psychologist at McGill University Health Centre

undergraduate Alumni

Josie Brooks: Completing Master’s in Health Psychology at University College London
Maryam Aaouatif
Alexandra Sheppard
Samah Ellithi: Completing PsyD at Université de Sherbrooke
Audrey Gottschild: Completing Master’s in Mental Health at University of Edinburgh
Polina Iourtchenko
Julia Paterson: Completing Master’s in Mental Health at McGill University
Julia Durcan
Elizabeth Pung: Completing MD at Université de Sherbrooke
Nicole Iordache
Jane Wan
Tayla Bain: Completing PhD in Clinical Psychology at Simon Fraser University

Talia Schroeder: Completing PhD in School and Clinical Child Psychology at University of Toronto

Adèle Hotte-Meunier: Completing Master’s in Sexology at Université de Québec de Montréal

Bronwen Lathrop: Completing Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University
Amanda McCue: Completing Master’s in Sports Psychology at Univerité de Montréal
Rida Siddiqui
Katerina Giannoumis
Nesrine Mesli:Completing PhD in Clinical Psychology at Concordia University
Victoria Stillitano
Johanna Keller: Completing MSc in Clinical and Mental Health Sciences at University College London

Bianca Adjei: Completing BCL/JD Program at McGill University
Lisa Zhu: Completing PhD in Clinical Psychology at Western University
Rachel Dufour: Completing PhD in Clinical Psychology at Concordia University
Ruqayya Hirji: Completing MD at the University of British Columbia
Alexandra Smedmor
Ivy Salloum; Completing Master’s of Teaching at the University of Toronto
Jesse Rae: Completing PhD in Clinical Psychology at the Université de Montréal
Justine Daigneault: Completing Masters in Biomedical Sciences at the Université de Montréal
Ben Lawson: Completing PhD in Experimental Psychology at the University of Toronto
Lana Downs
Lina Badran
Tasha Liang: Completing JD at Osgoode Hall Law School
Charlotte Sacré
Müge Acar: Completing Masters in Child Studies at Concordia University
Rosie Chaykin: Completing MSc in affective disorders at Kings College London
Yuvika Dandiwal
Malka Reich
Viveca Lee: Completing Maters in Work, Organizational, and Personnel Psychology in the Erasmus Mundus Program
Genevieve Auclair: Completing Masters in Counsellling Psychology at the University of Ottawa

Nilufar Mokhtarian: Completing Masters in Counsellling Psychology at the University of Ottawa Etienne Tessier

Samantha Castelli
Bianca Akeson: Completing Master’s in Educational Psychology at McGill University
Helen Liu: Completing Master’s in Counselling Psychology at Simon Fraser University
Seffie Yip
Stephanie de Silva: Completed Masters in Cognitive and Decision Sciences at University College London
Chloe White: Completing Clinical Psychology at Simon Fraser University
Alice Luo: Completing MD at Temple University Medical School
Chloé Savignac: Completing PhD in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience at McGill University
Amané Asakawa: Completing PhD in Clinical Psychology at University of British Columbia-Okanagan

Doosik Shin: Completing Master’s in Counselling Psychology at the University of Ottawa
Joyce Quansah: Completing PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology at Université de Montréal
Isabella Tremonte: Completing Master’s in Kinesiology at Brock University
Akira Wang: Completing PhD in Clinical Science at University of Minnesota

ALUMni 2023-2024

Back row from left to right:

Can Cök, Talia Schroeder, Beth Hales, Ege Bicaker, Alexia Miller, Nicole Iordache, Julia Durcan, Senna Mantel, Angela Gao.

Lower row from left to right:

Dr. Racine, Vittoria Trolio, Ting Ting Liu, Elizabeth Pung, Madhumitha Murugavel Sangeetha, Julia Paterson, Laura Lapadat, Aiden Mehak.

ALUMni 2022-2023

First row from left to right (standing):

Sarah Schell, Alexia Miller, Laura Lapadat, Talia Schroeder, Bronwen Willa, Tayla Bain, Ege Bicaker, Angela Gao

Second row from left to right (standing):

Lisa Zhu, Vittoria Trolio, Samantha Wilson, Nesrine Mesli, Amanda Mccue, Jane Wan.

Bottom row from left to right (sitting):

Dr. Racine, Aiden Mehak, Adele Hotte-Meunier

On the Computer:

Katerina Giannoumis

ALUMni 2020-2021

Top row:

Dr. Racine, Vittoria Trolio, Tasha Liang, Rachel Dufour, Lina Badran

Second row:

Alexia Miller, Justine Daigneault, Samantha Wilson, Ruqayya Hirji, Alexandra Smedmor

Third row:

Charlotte Sacré, Ivy Salloum, Lana Downs, Bianca Akeson, Müge Acar

Fourth row:

Rosie Chaykin, Aiden Mehak, Jesse Rae, Ben Lawson, Ege Bicaker

Bottom row:

Malka Reich, Helen Liu

ALUMni 2019-2020

From left to right (standing):

Muge Acar, Dr. Racine, Vittoria Trolio, Sarah Schell, Sam Wilson, Aiden Mehak, Alexia Miller, Chloe White, Viveca Lee, Stephanie de Silva, Rosie Chaykin, Malka Reich, Étienne Tessier, Bianca Akeson, Ege Biçaker, Alice Luo

From left to right (sitting):

Helen Liu, Seffie Yip, Nilufar Mokhtarian, Yuvika Dandiwal, Geneviève Auclair

ALUMni 2018-2019

From left to right (standing):

Vittoria Trolio, Isabella Tremonte, Alice Luo, Alexia Miller, Dr. Racine, Sarah Schell, Léah Suissa-Rocheleau, Dana Ajjaoui, Amane Halicki-Asakawa, Doosik Shin.

From left to right (kneeling):

Chloe White, Chloe Savignac, Joyce Quansah, Aiden Mehak, Akira Wang

ALUMni 2017-2018

From left to right (standing):

Irene Giannis, Léah Suissa-Rocheleau, Sabrina Martel, Dr. Sarah Racine,

Sarah Brassard, Julia Ferrone