Meet members of the LEApPpS team!
Dr. Taniya S. Nagpal
Taniya is the Director of the LEA(p)P(p)S research program. She is an Assistant Professor at The University of Alberta with the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. Taniya completed her PhD from Western University Canada with the Exercise and Pregnancy Lab and Exercise and Health Psychology Lab. Following this she completed a Mitacs Elevate funded post-doctoral fellowship with The University of Ottawa and The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, and a one year faculty appointment in Kinesiology at Brock University. She joined The U of A in 2022.
"I was born in India, and immigrated with my family to Canada in 1996. I grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. As a first generation Canadian to pursue academia in my family, I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have had; in addition to my research interests, I am also passionate about being engaged in activities that aim to promote and improve accessibility to early research opportunities for students. I am actively involved with various health promotion organizations such as Obesity Canada (Education Team Member), American College of Sports Medicine (Pregnancy and Postpartum Special Interest Group Executive), International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity (Co-Chair Children and Families Special Interest Group) and Exercise is Medicine Canada (Co-Director, On Campus Program). If not on campus, I can be found spending time with my family, out for walks with the dog, or watching Harry Potter and Disney movies." Click here to learn more
Our Amazing Students
Jordyn Cox, MSc Candidate 2025
Research Question: How does stigma associated with postpartum urinary incontinence influence health seeking behaviours?
Scholarship: CIHR-CGSM
Recent Publication on Dissertation Work: A scoping review exploring stigma associated with postpartum urinary incontinence
Brooke Hebert, MSc Candidate 2026
Research Question: Exploring the intersect between weight and infertility stigma; what are the implications on health seeking behaviours?
Undergraduate Research Volunteers & Practicum Students
Rebecca Pallister, Practicum Student, 4th Year BSc Kinesiology
Lina El Sayed, Volunteer, 3rd Year BSc Kinesiology
Abi Tiemstra, Practicum Student, 4th Year BSc Kineosiology
Hanna Randhawa, Volunteer, 5th Year BSc Kinesiology
Kaylyn MacDonald, Volunteer, 4th Year BSc Kinesiology
2023/2024: End of year celebration for the LEA(p)P(p)S lab! Congrats to our students for all of their achievements and best of luck on their future adventures! Hanna Randhawa (back left) is graduating, Kaylyn MacDonald (back middle) joins us this summer as a Research Assistant, Rebecca Pallister (back right) is graduating, Abigail Tiemstra (front left) is graduating, Brooke Hebert (front middle) is joining us in September for her MSc, and Jordyn Cox (front right) will be starting her second year of her MSc and has successfully defended her proposal!