Potential Supervisors
The following is a list of RSI faculty who have self-identified as currently recruiting students*.
*This list is incomplete. For a more extensive list, please visit our Faculty Directory.
Please contact the graduate coordinator at: rsi.gradcoord@utoronto.ca if you have any questions, comments, concerns and/or issues finding a potential supervisor.
Deryk Beal
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Deryk Beal is a Senior Scientist at the Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and an Associate Professor in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto. His research focus is on understanding neurodevelopment to inform intervention innovation.
He is currently seeking a PhD student to work on a CIHR funded project testing the feasibility and early efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to promote self-regulation and helpful regulatory approaches for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder. This clinical trial involves exploring the behavioural and neural outcomes of the rTMS treatment program via combined clinical testing and neuroimaging via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The project is best suited to a student with a strong interest in developmental neuroscience, MRI acquisition and analyses, and feasibility testing of randomized control trials.
LOOKING FOR: PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow
CONTACT: dbeal@hollandbloorview.ca
Brian Chan
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
There is a current opening for a bright, enthusiastic and independent MSc trainee to examine the cost impact of providing assistive technology bundles for individuals with dementia. The research team is looking for an individual who is very much interested in learning about economic evaluations in health care and willing to put in the hard work to identify costing from various sources and to help assist with other activities related to the larger project.
LOOKING FOR: MSc
CONTACT: brian.chan@uhn.ca, rosalie.wang@utoronto.ca
Vincy Chan
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Vincy Chan is an Assistant Scientist at the KITE Research Institute at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network and Assistant Professor (status) at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on understanding the health, health service use, and health outcomes of individuals with a traumatic brain injury across the lifespan and continuum of healthcare. Dr. Chan is recruiting a MSc student to participate in a program of research focused on addressing traumatic brain injury in underserved populations.
LOOKING FOR: MSc
CONTACT: vincy.chan@uhn.ca
Charlene Chu
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Charlene Chu (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto (UofT) and an Affiliate Scientist at KITE, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute University Health. Dr. Charlene Chu’s program of research addresses digital ageism, gerontology, co-design and patient centered technology-based interventions to support older adults aging in place. One of her main focuses is the co-design and development of multi-modal sensor technologies for older adults. Dr. Chu’s team also contributes to a variety of international projects investigating digital ageism, equity, and innovation. Dr. Chu is a Registered Nurse with over 16 years’ experience including a PhD in Nursing from the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing with a collaborative specialization in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care Across the Life Course.
Project #1:
It is not well understood how older Canadians of different ages, sexes, and socioeconomic classes experience active aging at home. OAs are often excluded from technology design, despite making up a large portion of the population. Sensor systems have the potential to enable insights about active aging and support aging at home; however, more development to enhance system capabilities to process and analyze sensor data in real-time, as well as increasing the useability and adoption of the sensor system by OAs is required. The objective of this research is to develop, and advance the integration of, sensor technology relevant to OAs living in the community. The research team will focus on the following short-term objective over the five-year DG program:
- Co-design a multi-model system and mobile app that can collect sensor data and feedback from a diverse group of OAs (e.g., age, sex, gender, socioeconomic status), which will then be verified and evaluated at its early developmental stage;
- Contribute to Develop machine learning models to analyze the sensor system data and accurately predict active aging related outcomes to gain insights into how variables related to active aging such as age, sex, gender, and socioeconomic status, differentiate the predictions;
Project #2:
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacted unparalleled devastation globally on older people living in residential long-term care (LTC) homes and those who care for them. Older people in LTC have suffered disproportionately and experienced the highest proportion of deaths due to COVID-19. Transformative change and innovations (defined as new ideas, practices, or policies) are desperately needed to support recovery and build resilience in LTC to prevent more harm. The U.N. Research Roadmap (2020) for the COVID-19 Recovery outlines that research can help identify how best to include the voices and meet the needs of marginalized populations (e.g., older adults living in LTC).
The research goal is to develop a robust conceptual framework and tool that enables the inclusion of older adults in the development and implementation of innovations in LTC within multiple socio-political and cultural contexts. This is an international multi-method project representing 4 low- and high-income countries with varying socio-political cultures and healthcare systems. The research objectives may include:
- situational analysis to understand the organizational context and processes of LTC innovation design and implementation.
- an international e-Delphi survey, informed by the environmental scans, about strategies for including older adults in innovation design and implementation.
LOOKING FOR: Masters, PhD
CONTACT: Charlene.chu@utoronto.ca
Janine Farragher
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Chronic kidney disease affects 1 in 9 Canadians, yet it is often overlooked as one of the major chronic diseases impacting our population’s health. My research is focused on understanding how chronic kidney disease and dialysis treatment impact people’s ability to participate in life activities and roles (eg. doing household tasks, socializing, working at a job), and how to minimize their impact. My research investigates person-level and environmental factors contributing to disability, and uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to develop implementable solutions that can improve day-to-day participation for people with chronic kidney disease and other chronic diseases. I would love to work with motivated and dedicated students interested in chronic disease management and related topics.
LOOKING FOR: MSc
CONTACT: janine.farragher@utoronto.ca
Sharon Gabison
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Sharon Gabison (she/her) is an Affiliate Scientist at the KITE Research Institute at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto. She is a registered Physical Therapist with a special interest in the prevention and management of wounds and secondary complications of immobility. Her interdisciplinary research is focused on supporting individuals and their caregivers through the development and evaluation of rehabilitation tools and technologies. Dr. Gabison has a passion for supporting graduate students towards the development of their research career through mentorship, support and forming collaborative partnerships. For more information about Dr. Gabison’s research, please visit www.woundresearch.ca.
Dr. Gabison is currently seeking one master student and one PhD student to work on two projects beginning immediately:
- The co-development and evaluation of a smart textile to prevent intensive care unit (ICU) acquired weakness: We are currently co-designing wearable technologies that will facilitate targeted neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy in the ICU. These wearables will be designed to monitor muscle contractions and heart rate in non-responsive patients. We plan on using advanced machine learning algorithms that will provide invaluable insights into therapy efficacy and patient comfort in patients who cannot respond due to mechanical ventilation and sedation. The first phase of this project will be to identify potential barriers and facilitators related to the adoption, application and evaluation of NMES in the ICU that will inform the “form” development of the NMES etextile. This project is best suited for a masters student with a strong interest in qualitative and quantitative research methods, feasibility testing and working within an interdisciplinary team of engineers, computer scientists and healthcare professionals. This project is funded by NSERC.
- Determining Repositioning in the Home Environment: Pressure injuries are a devastating secondary complication of immobility. Our team is determining how frequently individuals are being repositioned in the home environment. We are also looking at exploring potential barriers to repositioning in the home environment. We will use this information to guide the development and evaluation of Pressure Injury Management and Education (“PrIME”) that will not only provide education, but prompt the individual when repositioning is needed. This project is best suited for a masters student with a strong interest in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research, feasibility testing and working within an interdisciplinary team of engineers, computer scientists, healthcare professionals and end users including individuals at risk of developing pressure injuries and the caregivers who support them. This project is funded by CIHR.
If you are interested in joining our lab, please forward a cover letter, writing sample, CV and an unofficial transcript to shar.gabison@utoronto.ca.
LOOKING FOR: MSc, PhD
CONTACT: shar.gabison@utoronto.ca
Robin Green
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Robin Green's program of research addresses brain and behavioural mechanisms of recovery from mild (multiple concussions) to severe traumatic brain injury. Her lab focuses on neurodegenerative findings in the chronic stages of patients with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury. This novel conception of moderate-is needed to identify parallels with other forms of neurodegeneration and to reveal new avenues of treatment. She also focuses on (i) identification of post-injury treatment targets and (ii) development of treatments to offset neurodegeneration. She founded and runs a telerehab centre that integrates clinical care and research for patients in the chronic stages of acquired brain injury, which provides treatment and conducts research in patients across Ontario.
LOOKING FOR: PhD, Postdoc
CONTACT: robin.green@uhn.ca
Yani Hamdani
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Yani Hamdani (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto (UofT) and a Scientist at the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada. She is a registered occupational therapist, having worked in children’s rehabilitation for many years, and completed a PhD in Social and Behavioural Health Sciences at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at UofT.
Dr. Hamdani’s research focuses on health experiences, services and policy for people labeled with developmental disabilities (e.g., intellectual disability, autism). She has particular interest in mental health, critical qualitative inquiry and policy analysis. A good fit will be students interested in qualitative research and who are curious about critical social science perspectives as a lens for examining how social beliefs and assumptions about disability shape policies and practices and their implications for the people they aim to help and support.
LOOKING FOR: PhD, PostDoc
CONTACT: y.hamdani@utoronto.ca
Gillian King
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Topics related to (1) client engagement, resiliency, and outcomes in pediatric rehabilitation, (2) understanding environmental qualities and client experiences in the context of various intervention approaches, including solution-focused coaching, and (3) promoting the development of service providers’ skills and strategies, including listening and engagement skills.
LOOKING FOR: PhD, PostDoc
CONTACT: gking27@uwo.ca
Sally Lindsay
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Sally Lindsay is a Senior Scientist at Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Professor (Status) in Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto.
There is an opening for a MSc, PhD student or postdoc to work on a SSHRC-funded project on exploring the lived experiences of accessible and affordable housing among families, children, youth and young adults with disabilities and prioritizing solutions for inclusion.
There is an opening for an MSc student to work on a SSHRC-funded project exploring the intersection of discrimination, ableism and racism among children and youth with disabilities and their families. This qualitative research involves exploring the diverse lived experiences of youth with disabilities and the intersection of disability, ethnicity, gender and other factors.
LOOKING FOR: MSc, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellows
CONTACT: slindsay@hollandbloorview.ca
Crystal MacKay
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Crystal MacKay is a Scientist at West Park Healthcare Centre and has an appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. With training in physical therapy, health services research and implementation science, she uses qualitative and quantitative methods. Her program of research aims to improve health services delivery and health outcomes for people living with chronic health conditions, with a focus on individuals living with limb loss. Her research interests are developing and testing rehabilitation interventions (e.g., physical activity and exercise interventions) and examining patients’ health experiences and health outcomes.
LOOKING FOR: MSc
CONTACT: crystal.mackay@westpark.org
Roula Markoulakis
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Research at the Family Navigation Project aims to understand system navigation as a mode of support for youth with mental health and/or addiction concerns and their families. This includes exploring experiences of seeking, accessing, and transitioning through mental health and addictions care; identifying the outcomes of navigation supports for youth and families (e.g., on youth symptoms and functioning, family functioning, caregiver strain, health services utilization), particularly through mixed-methods clinical trials; and understanding and optimizing navigation models (e.g., through program evaluation, youth engagement, peer support, navigation standards, etc.)
LOOKING FOR: MSc
CONTACT: roula.markoulakis@sunnybrook.ca
Rosemary Martino
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
The University of Toronto/University Health Network Swallowing Lab is open to applications for Doctoral Student positions available in Fall of 2023 under the supervision of Dr. Rosemary Martino. Our work focuses on understanding swallowing impairment (dysphagia) and reducing its burden for patients, their caregivers and the community. The focus of these positions will be dysphagia in the adult population, particularly oropharyngeal dysphagia, secondary to neurological, cancer and cardiovascular etiologies.
The candidate will have the opportunity to receive advanced training and opportunities with large registry data sets, videofluoroscopic analysis, both qualitative and quantitative research methods and applied outcomes research in the clinical setting. In addition, they will have extensive opportunity to network and collaborate with clinicians, other scientists and research project stakeholders within the SLP department and the University Health Network.
Required Qualifications: An ideal candidate will be a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual who meets the Admission requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy, Rehabilitation Sciences Program at U of T and has demonstrated advanced research qualifications in speech and language sciences. Candidates with previous research experience in swallowing, swallowing disorders, exposure to grant writing, peer reviewed publications and scientific presentations are preferred but not required. Must work productively both independently and collaboratively with enthusiasm and poise.
LOOKING FOR: PhD
CONTACT: trixie.reichardt@uhnresearch.ca
Tatyana Mollayeva
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Mollayeva is a Scientist at the KITE Toronto Rehab-UHN and an Assistant Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health with cross appointments at the RSI and the Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Temetry Faculty of Medicine of the University of Toronto. She is also a Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health with the Global Brain Health Institute. Her research program is supported by Canada Research Chair in Neurological Disorders and Brain Health.
Dr. Mollayeva’s research explores sex and gender specific risk factors of neurological disorders and injuries to support primary prevention initiatives, pathophysiological and social hallmarks of neurological disorders and injuries to support secondary prevention and gender-transformative care, and disorders’/injuries’ progression to support rehabilitation and tertiary and quaternary prevention. Questions about equity in brain health are central to Dr. Mollayeva’s research.
LOOKING FOR: MSc, PhD (w/ background in statistics/computer sciences)
CONTACT: tatyana.mollayeva@utoronto.ca
Fiona Moola
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Fiona Moola is a professor and scientist and director of the HEART Lab at Ryerson University, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and the University of Toronto. With Dr. Ronald Buliung (Geography and Planning, University of Toronto), Dr. Roberta Woodgate (Nursing, University of Manitoba), Dr. Nancy Hansen (Disability Studies, University of Manitoba), and Dr. Lynne Heller (OCAD University), Dr. Moola is leading a national research program on childhood disability and the arts, funded by SSHRC.
Dr. Moola is looking for a PhD student to undertake QUALITATIVE & ARTS-BASED RESEARCH in the VISUAL ARTS, SOCIOLOGY AND HUMANITIES. Specifically, the desired PhD student will do their thesis on investigating the complex relationship between children and youth with disabilities and the visual arts, in Ontario. The student will be utilizing an arts-based research methodological approach, to generate sociological knowledge by exploring the artistic experiences and artistic creations of children and youth with physical disabilities in Ontario. This will be a funded PhD.
LOOKING FOR: MSc, PhD
CONTACT: nmoothathamby@hollandbloorview.ca
Emily Nalder
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Emily Nalder is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. Her research aims to enable individuals experiencing changes in their cognitive abilities (e.g., due to injury, illness, aging processes) to do the activities that they need or want to do. Her research explores issues of integration into the community following acquired brain injury. This includes examining resiliency in the context of traumatic brain injury (how individuals adapt to life challenges and periods of transition). Her work is also examining: intervention approaches that enable engagement in activity and the effects on mental health; and how technology can be harnessed in delivering rehabilitation services. Her current funding would support graduate students or post-doctoral fellows seeking to conduct research in the area of resiliency and traumatic brain injury.
LOOKING FOR: MSc, PostDoc
CONTACT: emily.nalder@utoronto.ca
Chavon Niles
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Chavon Niles leads the ACCESS Lab (Advancing Critical Disability Studies, Equity, and Social Change) in the Department of Physical Therapy. Her research explores how systems, including healthcare, rehabilitation, and education can be reimagined through the lens of justice, accessibility, and belonging. Dr. Niles focuses on the lived experiences of racialized individuals, disabled immigrants, caregivers with disabilities, and people living with chronic conditions such as Long COVID. She uses narrative methods, critical disability studies, and critical race theory to co-create change alongside communities who are often left out of research, policy, and practice. Her work is deeply collaborative, community-engaged, and oriented toward systemic transformation.
LOOKING FOR: MSc*
*Dr. Niles is accepting MSc students who are committed to equity, human rights, and critical approaches to rehabilitation research. Students from diverse lived experiences and academic backgrounds including public health, social work, rehabilitation sciences, critical disability studies, or community development are welcome. Ideal candidates are curious, reflective, and interested in participatory and qualitative research methodologies.
CONTACT: chavon.niles@utoronto.ca
Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia is an occupational therapist and assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, where he holds the inaugural Emily Geldsaler Grant Early Career Professorship in Workplace Mental Health. Through an occupational lens, Dr. Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia’s research program is a systematic study of occupations in the areas of work disability prevention, return to work, and disability management. This approach is designed to produce results directly applicable to identify and assess risk and to develop interventions for preventing or improving high-risk behaviours in the workplace.
Dr. Nowrouzi-Kia’s work is motivated by efforts in the field of work disability prevention that extends beyond the efforts to prevent or cure diseases from a purely physical perspective, towards more holistic approaches. The major tenets of his work use a biopsychosocial perspective to understand work disability and extend towards incorporating personal characteristics (e.g., psychosocial) and environmental (e.g., healthcare system, workplace, workers’ compensation system) factors in improving health outcomes (e.g., mental, and physical health).
LOOKING FOR: MSc
CONTACT: behdin.nowrouzi.kia@utoronto.ca
Kelly O’Brien
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Kelly O’Brien’s research is focused on episodic disability and rehabilitation in the context of HIV and chronic disease. Her Episodic Disability and Rehabilitation Research Program includes profiling the episodic nature of among adults aging with HIV over time (Episodic Disability Framework), examining effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions (physical activity and exercise interventions) on health and disability outcomes among adults living with HIV (Community-Based Exercise Study), and developing and assessing the properties of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of disability (HIV Disability Questionnaire (HDQ).
LOOKING FOR: PhD, PostDoc
CONTACT: kelly.obrien@utoronto.ca
Timothy Ross
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Ross is a Scientist at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. He is also a Registered Professional Planner and an Assistant Professor (status) with the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Ross’ research explores how children with disabilities and their families experience and view their community spaces (e.g., schools, playgrounds, hospitals, transportation environments). This research is oriented toward planning and designing more accessible and inclusive communities that account for the presence and diversity of childhood disability. His research program currently looks at four key topics: (1) education access, (2) transportation and mobility, (3) inclusive play, and (4) addressing institutional ableism. Questions about ableism and its normalcy within the planning and design of our built environments, services, and systems are central to Dr. Ross’ research.
LOOKING FOR: MSc, PhD
CONTACT: tross@hollandbloorview.ca
Nancy Salbach
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
The goal of research in my Knowledge-to-Action Lab is to optimize the mobility, exercise participation, and health of older adults with balance and mobility limitations resulting from the effects of stroke and other chronic health conditions.
We have two randomized controlled trials in which a graduate student can become involved. One is the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) Study that aims to evaluate a group, park-based walking program (see trial protocol here). Data collection is complete. We registered 190 older adults in this trial and have data on an extensive set of measures of physical capacity and health. The second trial is the TIME (Together in Movement and Exercise) at Home study. We are preparing to launch this trial to evaluate a virtual exercise program involving a pre-recorded video of balance and mobility exercises, hosted by a live facilitator, adapted to be done safely at home, in people with balance and mobility limitations.
LOOKING FOR: PhD
CONTACT: nancy.salbach@utoronto.ca
Tijana Simic
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
My current research interest lies in understanding the behavioural and neurological predictors of recovery in individuals with language deficits due to acquired neurological damage (e.g., post-stroke aphasia). Despite the overall efficacy of language intervention for these populations, recovery patterns can vary substantially: individuals with similar impairment profiles at baseline can show different patterns of recovery even after receiving the same treatment.
One of my long-term research goals is to develop a “theory of therapy” which can address this knowledge gap through detailed investigations of the active elements of language therapy. My research to date has focused on how principles of learning and neuroplasticity may be harnessed to improve treatment outcomes, as well as the role of executive control (EC) in language processing. The goal of this line of work is to develop clinical decision-making trees, which would allow for individualized treatment protocols that would enable persons with communication disorders to achieve their maximum potential for language recovery.
LOOKING FOR: MSc
CONTACT: tina.simic@utoronto.ca
Hardeep Singh
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Underrepresented communities, including ethnically diverse populations, individuals with complex care needs, and women, face inequities in stroke care, yet their experiences and perspectives remain largely underexplored in stroke research. We are seeking an MSc or PhD student interested in qualitative research to help inform the development of more equitable stroke services and inclusive research methodologies.
LOOKING FOR: MSc
CONTACT: hardeepk.singh@utoronto.ca
Karla Washington
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
The Pediatric Language, Learning, and Speech (PedLLS) Lab interests focus on speech-language development for monolingual and multilingual preschoolers. Specifically, our research seeks to characterize language learning and use in typical and disordered contexts with a particular interest in understanding how children’s contextual factors (i.e., Environmental and Personal, as defined by the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework) are related to their outcomes. Along with colleagues in communication disorders, linguistics, education, physics, and engineering, the PedLLS Lab applies different methodologies (e.g., acoustic duration, fMRI) to document learning and impairment in different linguistic contexts.
To characterize child language development and disorder the Lab applies intervention designs as part of a Randomized Controlled Trial as well as cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. In some current efforts, we focus on multilingualism to document Jamaican Creole and English-speaking preschoolers’ speech and language use, including functional communication and token-to-token variability. Our current focus on monolingualism documents language use in English-speaking preschoolers with and without developmental language disorder.
LOOKING FOR: MSc, PhD
CONTACT: karla.washington@utoronto.ca
Andy Wong
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
LOOKING FOR: PhD
CONTACT: andy.wong@uhnresearch.ca; kathryn.stok@unimelb.edu.au
Lisa Wickerson
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Wickerson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and an Affiliate Scientist at the Ajmera Transplant Centre and Toronto General Hospital Reserach Institute. Her research aims to advance hybrid pulmonary rehabilitation for surgical populations and interstitial lung disease across the care continuum. Areas of focus include remote functional assessment and monitoring, data-driven delivery models to inform stratified rehabilitation pathways and understanding non-linear functional trajectories before and after transplantation.
LOOKING FOR: MSc
CONTACT: lisa.wickerson@utoronto.ca