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

Yanxin Xu

Yanxin completed her MSc and is currently completing her PhD in Psychology (Cognition and Brain Sciences) under the supervision of Dr. Tarek Amer and Dr. Jordana Wynn. She  completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Queen's University in Kingston, where she discovered her interest in cognitive neuroscience. For her MSc, Yanxin explored the functional role of eye movements in memory retrieval. 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, Yanxin enjoys camping, trying different ethnic foods, and watching standup comedy.

Emiko Osborne

Emiko is an MSc student supervised by Dr. Tarek Amer and Dr. Jordana Wynn. She grew up in Banff and Victoria, then completed her Honours BSc in Neuroscience at Western University in Ontario. The projects she is currently working on investigate semantic memory and gaze reinstatement. Broadly, her research interests include memory, learning, perception, future simulation, and how these processes change over the course of development. Outside of the lab, Emiko loves to swim, craft, and play crib!

Anna Lawrance

Anna is an MSc student supervised by Dr. Tarek Amer and Dr. Jordana Wynn. Throughout her undergraduate degree at UVic, much of her work aimed to assess the integrity and interconnectivity of associative memory structures in young and older adults. Anna's work examines how controlled retrieval demands modulate access to perceptually detailed episodic memories across the lifespan. She is also investigating how age-related changes in semantic memory impact early visual processing. Outside the lab, you can find her cycling around town, running, or taking copious photos of her flower garden.

Jenna Sonoski

Jenna is an MSc student studying Psychology with a focus in Cognition and Brain Science. She completed her Honours BA at the University of Waterloo with a Research-Intensive Specialization and a minor in Studio Fine Arts. Under the supervision of Dr. Tarek Amer and Dr. Jordana Wynn, she is conducting research on memory as it relates to aging. She hopes to learn more about how eye movements support memory, and how memory changes throughout healthy aging. Her current research project is investigating the role of art expertise in memory. Beyond her research, she enjoys oil painting and going for hikes with her dog, Koda.

Kate Prosperi

Kate is in the final year of her undergraduate degree, majoring in Psychology. Under the supervision of Dr. Tarek Amer, she is completing an Honours research project this year. Her academic interests include memory, attention, and the application of psychological research to health and medicine. Following graduation, she plans to pursue further studies in medicine. Outside of academics, Kate enjoys reading, trying new baking recipes, and practicing yoga.

Jasmine Brenton

Jasmine is a fourth 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.