Graduating Class of 2021

Congratulations to all of the graduating lab members at MI! Despite the unusual circumstances of this year, you should all be so proud of everything you did to get here. We are all cheering you on through Zoom!

Bonnie Densmore

1) What did you study at UBC?

I pursued a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology!

2) What are your plans/hopes for the future?

In the immediate future, I hope to gain experience working in the mental health/clinical field, as well as take some time to travel. After that, my goal is to get my Master’s in counselling psychology!

3) What kind of research are/were you doing at UBC? 

The research I did at the MI lab primarily focused on understanding the effect of conceptual relatedness on emotional memory. Specifically, I collaborated on projects that explored the relationship between conceptual relatedness and emotional retrospective memory (memory for an object that precedes an emotional event), as well as associative memory for emotional and neutral items. 

4) What is one memory from your time at UBC that you would like to share?

One of my most notable memories from my time at UBC was studying at IKB (the library) on a Saturday afternoon with a few of my friends. As per usual, we set up camp on the third floor with our coffees, textbooks, and laptops. A few hours later, one of us happened to go on Facebook and noticed that Noah Kahan & James Bay would be performing at the Doug Mitchell stadium that evening. We spontaneously bought tickets to the concert, so after our study session we raced back home to get ready just in time for the opening act. The concert was amazing and we even ended up meeting Noah Kahan!

Kate Checknita

1) What did you study at UBC?

I completed my BA Psychology degree!

2) What are your plans/hopes for the future?

I am looking forward to taking some time off school this year to work and pursue my interests. I am passionate about sexual and reproductive health, and hope to gain experience in this field of research. My hope for the future is that I’ll be able to work in education, advocacy, or research in this field. Beyond work, going to Thailand and Vietnam are at the top of my list, and I cannot wait to explore places like these with friends and family!

3) What kind of research are/were you doing at UBC? 

I spent a lot of my time in MI working on three projects related to emotional memory. This summer, I am starting a new exciting study that is focusing on how people remember experiences related to unsuccessful in vitro fertilization treatments. I also worked and volunteered in two clinical labs, which both focused on topics surrounding anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. 

4) What is one memory from your time at UBC that you would like to share?

My favorite memory was doing the UBC duathlon last year right before COVID. I remember being super nervous the day of the race, but also very excited because I was doing it with my friend. I didn’t place very well, but I was super proud of myself for finishing! I rewarded myself with pizza and wine that night after months of training, and to make up for how sore my legs were.

Young Ji Tuen

1) What did you study at UBC?

I completed a BA (Hons) in Psychology.

2) What are your plans/hopes for the future?

The future ahead feels very exciting! I am looking forward to long-awaited travel plans, brushing up on my foreign languages and getting more serious with my yoga/pilates training. Career wise, I’m taking the time I have now to expand my skill set and explore my passions and options.

3) What kind of research are/were you doing at UBC? 

In the MI lab, I’ve worked on projects relating to diverse topics like discounting, associative memory, and episodic future thinking. Before joining the MI lab, I was volunteering in a social psychology lab where we looked into how economic inequality affects behaviours and personality. Currently, I’m also part of a clinical lab and have been exploring ADHD and social media in the context of peer relationships.

4) What is one memory from your time at UBC that you would like to share?

My time as an undergrad was incredibly fulfilling! One memory I am especially fond of was my volunteer trip to Laos. My team and I stayed in an elephant conservatory, did construction work and taught English at the local elementary school. Having no internet connection and being so far away from my busy life back home, I began to find joy in the simplest of things. I also got to meet and bond with a group of amazing individuals with whom I shared great laughs, good food and beautiful scenery 🙂

Braedon Ballance

1) What did you study at UBC?

I completed my BSc (Hons) in Behavioural Neuroscience.

2) What are your plans/hopes for the future?

Now that I’ve finished up my undergrad, I’m hoping to reschedule my trip across Europe that got cancelled during the pandemic! Until then though I’ll just be bartending and trying to take some time to relax, learn guitar, and try and stick to learning a new language. As far as my academic career, I’m just finishing up a final prerequisite as an unclassified student and then hoping to apply to some graduate programs in the Fall!

3) What kind of research are/were you doing at UBC? 

In the MI Lab, my research focused on the relationship between the emotional valence of imagination and our decision-making tendencies. Specifically, I conducted a study looking at how engaging in emotionally valenced episodic future thinking before making an intertemporal choice influences our propensity for delay discounting. Outside the MI Lab, I also conducted research looking at different decision-making related processes in the Centre for Gambling Research in my 3rd year. 

4) What is one memory from your time at UBC that you would like to share?

I think one of my fondest memories was participating in ‘Storm the Wall’ for my first time. I was always used to frantic walks/runs across campus to try and get to my next class, but getting to sprint through campus in a relay race and clamber up the wall was a great time. Surprisingly, our team made it to the semi-finals despite the fact that I thought we had signed up for the ‘for fun’ group. 

Hallie Liu

1) What did you study at UBC?

I completed a BA Psychology degree.

2) What are your plans/hopes for the future?

I will be taking 1-2 years off to work as a full-time RA to gain more experience in Psychology research. After that, I hope to further explore memory research topics using Cognitive Neuroscience techniques in graduate studies, and ultimately work in relevant research fields. Outside of my career path, now that I’m back home in Hong Kong, I would love to enjoy my time here with my family and friends. I also plan to get back into reading and running, and to check out more great films. I’m learning to write better film reviews! 😀

3) What kind of research are/were you doing at UBC? 

For the past two years in MI lab, I’ve worked on projects investigating how we remember emotional memories using qualitative data as well as brain imaging data. Currently, I’m working on a meta-analysis project on stress generation in the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Lab. 

4) What is one memory from your time at UBC that you would like to share?

When I first moved to Ponderosa Commons on campus in the summer before the pandemic, I would just spontaneously bring my dinner down to Wreck Beach and enjoy the sunset up close while listening to some audio book. I really miss living a few-minute walk away from the beach! Don’t miss the stairs though.

Victoria Wardell

1) What did you study at UBC?

Psychology (BA Hons)

2) What are your plans/hopes for the future?

This September I’ll be starting grad school in clinical psychology at UBC! I’m excited to be continuing under the supervision of Dr. Palombo, researching links between memory and mental health. I am particularly interested in traumatic memory, and how negative experiences impact our sense of self. I hope to pursue a career in academia, conducting research that will help inform accessible treatment options for people who have experienced trauma.

3) What kind of research are/were you doing at UBC? 

My research thus far has focused on autobiographical memory, or memories of our personal past. I work with a lot of narrative data, examining the types of details individuals speak to when they recall events from their past. My research has explored questions such as how does emotion impact our memories? Or how consistent are our memories over time? 

4) What is one memory from your time at UBC that you would like to share?

In my third year, I had a seminar Tuesday nights. After every class, a group of us would go down to Koerner’s for their Taco Tuesday deal. We’d take up one of the big, long tables down the middle of the restaurant and discuss the things we had learned about in class. One night I remember debating whether or not free will existed- we stayed until close and were still completely divided on the topic. Still on friendly enough terms to rendez vous for tacos the following Tuesday though!