People

Dr. Tarek Amer

Tarek is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Victoria. He completed his Ph.D. with Drs. Lynn Hasher and Cheryl Grady at the University of Toronto and the Rotman Research Institute. He later completed his postdoctoral work with Dr. Lila Davachi at Columbia University and Dr. Daniel Schacter at Harvard University.

Tarek is a big fan of basketball and documentaries and enjoys outdoor adventures, including hiking with his dog and scuba diving.

tarekamer@uvic.ca @TarekAmerPhD

Yanxin Xu

Yanxin is completing an MSc in Psychology (Cognition and Brain Sciences) under the supervision of Drs. Tarek Amer and Jordana Wynn. Yanxin studied at Queen's University at Kingston for a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, where she discovered her interest in cognitive neuroscience. In the future, she hopes to conduct research that advances our understanding of visual cognition and ways we could apply scientific research to better people's daily lives. Outside of academics, she enjoys camping, trying different ethnic foods, and watching standup comedy.

Anna Lawrance

Anna is an upper-year BSc psychology candidate at the University of Victoria. She is currently working to complete her honours thesis—examining the integrity and interconnectivity of associative memory structures in older and younger adults—under the supervision of Dr. Tarek Amer. Following her undergraduate degree, Anna aims to pursue graduate studies in cognitive neuroscience, focusing on age-related changes in attentional control and its consequences on implicit learning. In her spare time, you can find Anna cycling around town, trying to play the guitar, or taking photos of things that catch her eye.

Jasmine Brenton

Jasmine is a second year work study student working with Drs. Tarek Amer and Jordana Wynn. She is currently pursuing a major in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Music. Jasmine's post undergraduate plans include the pursuit of a career in neuroscience in either a research or medical field. Outside of her studies, you can find Jasmine climbing, skiing, playing guitar, or hanging out with her extensive plant collection.

Olivia Leyden

Olivia is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a major in Psychology and a minor in Linguistics. She is working on several studies investigating the link between eye movements and different cognitive processes. Olivia is planning to continue her studies in Speech-Language Pathology. Outside school, she enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and sipping specialty coffee.

Jalene Plamondon

Jalene is a fourth-year Psychology student at the University of Victoria, minoring in Leadership Studies. She works with Drs. Tarek Amer and Jordana Wynn, focusing on cognitive control, attention, eye-tracking, and memory processes. Inspired by her own experience with a neurological disorder, Jalene is committed to lifelong learning of the brain-body connection. After graduation, she aims to pursue Clinical or Neuropsychology. Outside of academics, she enjoys cycling, running, weight training, and getting creative in the kitchen.

Linnea Poyhia

Linnea is a fourth year work study student working with Drs. Tarek Amer and Jordana Wynn. She is currently completing her degree in Biology and Psychology with a concentration in Neurobiology. Linnea is interested in cognitive processes and how they relate to neurological health along the aging trajectory. Outside of school, she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending as much time outdoors as possible, whether camping, kayaking, or skiing.