Madison L. Pesowski, PhD
Principal Investigator
Dr. Pesowski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of the Fraser Valley, and is the director of the Kids in Developmental Science (KIDS) Lab. She received her PhD from the University of Waterloo and completed post-doctoral training at the University of California San Diego before joining UFV in 2022.
Kaitlyn Doerksen
Lab Coordinator
Kaitlyn has recently finished her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology (Hons) at the University of the Fraser Valley. She has always been passionate about working with children and promoting mental health, and throughout her time at UFV, recognized her interest in conducting meaningful research focused on children, development, and families. Kaitlyn hopes to continue pursuing these passions through a Master’s Degree and PhD in Clinical Child Psychology.
Awfa Albakri
Work Study Student
Awfa is a third-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in psychology at the University of the Fraser Valley. Her main interests are language production, acquisition, and comprehension, but she is also interested in culture, emotions, and health. After completing her degree, she hopes to pursue a Master's degree in speech-language pathology.
Alysha Smith
Work Study Student
Alysha is a fifth-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Psychology at the University of the Fraser Valley. She is passionate about working with children and supporting their development. After completing her degree, she hopes to pursue a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, with the long-term goal of becoming a school counsellor dedicated to supporting students through academic and personal challenges.
Niamh Canning
Honours Thesis Student
Niamh is a fifth-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Psychology at the University of the Fraser Valley. After completing her degree, she hopes to pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Jeni Cardinal
Honours Thesis Student
Jeni is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in psychology at the University of the Fraser Valley. She has discovered her passion for research and learning throughout her degree and is looking forward to pursuing further education to become a psychiatrist or psychologist.
Eliza Mocanu
Honours Thesis Student
Eliza is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student at the University of the Fraser Valley. She is majoring in Psychology and is also working towards a Certificate in Communications. She is passionate about working with children and learning about development at all stages of life. Some of her research interests include relationships, morality, and emotions. After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree, Eliza hopes to pursue a Masters and PhD in Developmental Research or Clinical Psychology.
Ella Vander Wyk
Directed Study Student
Ella is a third-year Bachelor of Arts student at the University of the Fraser Valley. She is majoring in Psychology and minoring in English. With a passion for working alongside children, she hopes to one day pursue a master's degree in school and applied child psychology.
Alyssa Doerksen
Research Assistant
Alyssa is a third-year Bachelor of Arts student, majoring in psychology at the University of the Fraser Valley. She is passionate about working with children, promoting mental health, fostering inclusivity, and conducting meaningful research. After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree, Alyssa hopes to continue to pursue these passions through a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.
Emilee Haas
Research Assistant
Emilee is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student, majoring in psychology at the University of the Fraser Valley. After completing her degree, she hopes to pursue a Master's degree in Counseling. The end goal for Emilee is to become a therapist and connect with children and youth struggling with mental health.
Jess Pike
Research Assistant
Jess is a fifth-year Bachelor of Arts student at the University of the Fraser Valley, majoring in psychology. She has a passion for working with others and promoting well being. Following the completion of her degree, she hopes to pursue a masters degree in school and applied child psychology or experimental psychology.
Lab Alumni
Taylor Flentge, Research Assistant (2023-2025)
Sim Kaur, Honours Thesis Student (2024-2025)
Sarah Thiessen, Directed Study Student and Research Assistant (2024-2025)
Isabella Hooge, Research Assistant (2024)
Ariel Dennison-Hardy, Honours Thesis Student (2023-2024), graduate student at Brock University
Ekam Banipal, Research Assistant (2022-2024), graduate student at the University of Manitoba
Sam Messmer, Honours Thesis Student (2023-2024), graduate student at Simon Fraser University
Amelia Goertzen, Research Assistant (2022-2023)
Amanda Hooge, Research Assistant (2022-2023), graduate student at the University of Calgary
Honorary Lab Members
Are you an undergraduate student who is interested in joining the lab?
Undergraduate researchers play a crucial role in our research! There are openings within the KIDS lab and there are a few ways to join:
Research assistants - As a RA you will learn about research in Developmental Psychology, help recruit participants for studies, coordinate events with the broader community, and assist with projects. Work in the lab requires a time commitment of approx. 6 hrs/week.
Directed Studies - Students may enroll in a 3-credit course (PSYC 493A or PSYC 493B) or in a 5-credit course (PSYC 495). Please see this webpage to learn more about the courses, requirements, and prerequisites.
Honors Thesis students - Students should apply for the Psychology Honors program after attaining at least 90 credits towards their degree. Read more about the Honors program here.
To apply to the lab, please send an email to madison.pesowski@ufv.ca with the following information:
your CV/resume
your unofficial transcript
a brief explanation of your interest in joining the lab
a description of any previous research experience and/or experience working with children and families
your availability for the term you are applying for