Lab Director

Dr. Chris Davis

Professor

Chris completed his undergraduate studies at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, his graduate studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, and post-doctoral studies at the University of Michigan. He joined the Department of Psychology at Carleton University in 2001. He has three main areas of research, specifically 1) the cognitive and emotional adaptations people make following life-changing experiences, 2) the psychological consequences of secret-keeping, and 3) addiction-related issues, including alcohol, substance use, and gambling.

Graduate Students

Joy McLeod, PhD Student

Joy is a third-year PhD student. Her past research examined the psychological factors that influence the adjustment process among individuals living with spinal cord injury, specifically, the role of counterfactual thinking (e.g., ‘if only I had done something differently…’) and the receipt of peer support. Her PhD research will focus on burnout among informal caregivers. Specifically, she is looking at the protective role that resources play. In her free time, Joy likes to hike, play board games and softball, and experiment with new vegan recipes.

Undergraduate Students

Kaya Scherr, Honours Student

Kaya is an undergraduate student doing her thesis with Dr Davis at Carleton University. Her project is looking at minority stress among LGBTQ+ people. Specifically, she is looking at whether lack of social support from friends and family can serve as the mechanism by which outside events of discrimination can turn into internal stress. She is also looking at how keeping secrets might interact with discrimination to exacerbate stress. In an independent research project she is also looking at meditation as a potential factor which can increase the brains resilience to pathology and age-related decline. In her free time she likes meditating, cooking, and lifting weights.

Past Students

PhD: Hannah Brazeau, Danay Novoa, Christine Frank, Jennifer Thake, Ersin Asliturk, AnnMarie Churchill

M.A.: Mark Dennis, Wardah Mahboob, Niall Stewart, Elisabeth Bailin Xie, Janessa Porter, Darcie Valois, Hannah Brazeau, Christine Frank, Warren Armstrong, Shelley Taylor, Erin Beasley (Massé), Francine Barr (Tremblay)