Julia Kam, PhD
Principal Investigator
Julia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. She obtained her PhD from the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Todd Handy, where she established the electrophysiological signatures of internal attention. She then completed her postdoctoral training with Robert Knight at the University of California, Berkeley, where she examined the neural structures and mechanisms supporting internal attention. When she’s not studying about wandering minds, she loves to let her mind wander in nature, in museums, in concert halls, and in the kitchen.
​
Email: julia.kam @ ucalgary.ca
Sairamya Nanjappan Jothiraj, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate
Sairamya is a postdoctoral associate in the Internal Attention Lab, Department of Psychology, at the University of Calgary. She completed her PhD in bio signal processing at the Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (India) in 2021, where she was involved in developing an automatic tool for diagnosis epileptic seizure activities and its types. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the brain computer interface field at the University of Quebec at Trois-Rievere, where she conducted the experiments to control the robotic arm through EEG signals and hand gestures. Her research interests include signal processing, machine learning, deep learning, neural engineering, and AI in health care. Outside the lab, she enjoys nature walks, cooking, and playing badminton.
​
Email: sairamya.nanjappanjo @ ucalgary.ca
Quentin Raffaelli, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate
Quentin is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Internal Attention Lab. He obtained his PhD from the University of Arizona under the supervision of Jessica Andrews-Hanna, where he investigated how the content and dynamics of thoughts relate to long lasting features of cognition. With his postdoctoral work, he hopes to provide further insight into the neural correlates of spontaneous thoughts. Outside the lab, he enjoys his own wandering mind, pretending he can drum, cinema, and learning Japanese.
​
Email: quentin.raffaelli @ ucalgary.ca
Chelsie M. Hart, MSc
Doctoral Student
Chelsie is a PhD Candidate in Experimental Psychology at the University of Calgary, examining the relationships between mind wandering and executive functions in individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. She got her BSc majoring in psychology from the University of Victoria, where she also got experience in environmental psychology research. She then went on to volunteer in multiple labs which focused on social perception and cognition, sleep and empathy, and spatial cognition. Chelsie received her MSc in Experimental Psychology at the University of Calgary under Suzanne Curtin, studying language development in young children at high risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Her overarching research interest is in the effects of gender and sex on cognition and mental illness. When not conducting research, Chelsie spends much of her time exercising, working on one of her many hobbies, or playing video games.
​
Email: chelsie.hart @ ucalgary.ca
Yudhajit Ain, MSc
Doctoral Student
Yudhajit completed his MSc in Biological Sciences from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal as well as in Psychology at the University of Calgary. His interest in neuropsychology stems from a long-term fascination with the human brain, and how it underlies everything from optical illusions and social evolution, to attitudes towards and borne out of its own pathology. Outside of his research about the different dimensions of internal mentation, he is passionate about environmental sustainability and social justice. When not in the lab, you'll probably find him cooking, studying cat behaviour, reading, or getting existential to post-rock (often all at once).
​
Email: yudhajit.ain @ ucalgary.ca
Chris Clark, MSc
Doctoral Student
Chris is a PhD student who started in the fall of 2024. He completed his undergraduate honours degree in Psychology at the University of Calgary before completing his MSc degree in Experimental Psychology with a focus in Cognition and Neuroscience at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. His research has focused primarily on the behavioral and neurological markers of executive functioning and control and it’s applications in anxiety disorders, depression, memory, and attention. He also has experience as a methodological and statistical consultant for various research projects. Outside of work, Chris enjoys building computers, basketball, kayaking, and hiking the many mountains in Alberta and across Canada.
​
Email: christopher.clark2 @ ucalgary.ca
Cecilia Liu
Master's Student
Cecilia is a Master’s student in Experimental Psychology at the University of Calgary. She completed her BSc in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia, where she developed her interest in health psychology and cognition. Bridging the two topics, her research interest lies in the benefits and consequences of the relationship between stress and attention in our daily lives. Outside the lab, Cecilia can often be found crocheting, drawing, or experimenting in the kitchen.
​
Email: cecilia.liu1 @ ucalgary.ca
Undergraduate Students
Kimberly Taylor
Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student
Libby LeDrew
Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student
Maya Panganiban
Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student
Our lab is currently recruiting graduate students for Fall 2025!
​​
Prospective graduate students should apply through the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary by November 15th, 2024.
Check out the Join Us page for more information.
Lab Alumni
Simrit Rai || Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student, 2023-24
current position: Research Coordinator, University of Calgary
​
Tatsuya Hansen || Neuroscience, Neur 506 Student, 2023-24
current position: Graduate Student, University of Calgary
​
Jen Schweitzer || Psychology, Psyc 499/508, 2022-24
current position:
​
Tarannum Rahnuma || Neuroscience, Honor's Thesis Student, 2022-23
current position: Medical School Student, University of Calgary
​
Nikita Nukala || Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student, 2022-23
current position: Research Coordinator, Hotchkiss Brain Institute
​
Bhavneet Chohan || Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student, 2022-23
current position: Research Coordinator, Hotchkiss Brain Institute
​
YeEun Park || Psychology, Master's Student, 2021-23
current position: TBD
​
Raela Thiemann || Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student, 2021-22
current position: Graduate Student, University of Calgary
​
Lauren Wan-Sai-Cheong || Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student, 2021-22
current position: Contact Center Coordinator and Community Resource Specialist, Distress Center; Project Coordinator, University of Calgary
​
Fiza Hasan || Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student, 2021-22
current position: Graduate Student, Simon Fraser University
​
Alexandra Ouellette Zuk || Research Assistant and Project Coordinator, 2021-22
current position: Graduate Student, University of Toronto
​
Jihye Choi || Psychology, 2020-21
current position: Graduate Student, William and Mary University
​
Gahyun Kim || Psychology, Honor's Thesis Student, 2020-21
current position: Graduate Student, University of Toronto
​