Our Team
Meet our established team of Research Professionals passionate to identify and assess risk and develop occupation-based interventions for preventing high-risk behaviours and improving mental and physical health in the workplace.
Assistant Professor
Emily Geldsaler Grant Early Career Professor in Workplace Mental Health
Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Member, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute
Faculty Researcher, Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Affiliate Scientist - Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network
Collaborating Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Principal Investigator
Dr. Behdin Nowrouzi-kia
OT Reg. (Ont.), PhD, FRSA
0000-0002-5586-4282
Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science, where he also holds the inaugural Emily Geldsaler Grant Early Career Professorship in Workplace Mental Health. Through an occupational lens, his research program is a systematic study of occupations in the areas of work disability prevention, return to work, and disability management. This approach is designed to produce results directly applicable to identify and assess risk and to develop interventions for preventing or improving high-risk behaviours in the workplace. Dr. Nowrouzi-Kia’s work is motivated by efforts in the field of work disability prevention that extends beyond the efforts to prevent or cure diseases from a purely physical perspective, towards more holistic approaches.
Dr. Ali Bani-Fatemi
Research Associate
Dr. Ali Bani-Fatemi is Postdoctoral Fellow at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, and the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the UofT. His research focuses on evaluating influences of genetic and epigenetic alterations as potential risk factors for suicidal behaviour. Using a biopsychosocial approach, he investigates the sociocultural and clinical variables that may be related to suicidality. Dr. Bani-Fatemi has published 17 peer-reviewed papers as first author and 17 as co-author. He holds the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Innovation Grant and 2018 Discovery Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship. He has expertise in conducting rigorous research, and has strong methodological experience in review studies, quantitative methods, and analyses.
Dr. Vijay Kumar Chattu
Senior Research Scientist
Dr. Vijay Kumar Chattu is a Senior Research Scientist and prior to this he worked as a post-doctoral fellow (Global Occupational Health) for a year in the Department of OS & OT based at ReSTORE lab. He is a medical doctor (MBBS) and did a Residency (MD) in Community Medicine from India, holds an MPH in Health Policy from Belgium, MPhil in Global Health Governance from Stellenbosch University and PhD in International Relations. Besides, he specialized in Global Mental Health from Harvard University in 2014 and in Refugee Mental Health from University of Toronto & CAMH in 2017. Dr. Chattu joined the University of Toronto as a Research Fellow in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry in 2019 and later, he completed a 2-year Research Fellowship in Occupational Medicine (Digital Health) from Department of Medicine, University of Toronto based at St. Michael’s Hospital in 2021. He has published over 350 research articles to his credit and is consistently rated among the world's top 2% Scientists in Medicine and Public Health by Stanford University Rankings since 2021. Dr Chattu is also an Adjunct Professor at University of Alberta, Guest faculty at McGill University, University of Ottawa, Ghent University and a Visiting Research Fellow at United Nations University-CRIS, Belgium. Dr Chattu is also the Founder and CEO of Global Health Research and Innovations Canada (GHRIC) based in Toronto with global operations.
Maryam Shahzad
Doctoral Trainee
Maryam is a clinical occupational therapist and doctoral student in the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. Maryam has experience in qualitative and knowledge synthesis studies in the areas of resiliency and brain injury and health behaviours of Indigenous and immigrant populations. She is interested in studying occupational disability and rehabilitation in diverse populations. She has clinical experience supporting the return to work and community integration of individuals with brain injury.
Donia Saleh Mohammad Obeidat
Doctoral Trainee
​Donia is a Jordanian occupational therapist and a Ph.D. student in rehabilitation science at the University of Toronto. As an occupational therapist and a future scientist, Donia is mainly interested in the working environment and related disabilities, engagement in community, and improving quality of life.
Aaron Howe
Research Analyst
Aaron Howe completed his Master’s studies at Columbia University in Clinical Psychology. He has previously worked at the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health on various projects related to investigating epigenetic and genetic mechanisms of suicidal behavior in adult schizophrenia spectrum patients. He also has experience conducting clinical and research mental health assessments of mood disorders, psychoeducational assessments, and short-term cognitive behavioral therapy. He has experience internship experience with clinical patient management at private practices and at larger institutions including Montefiore Medical Centre – Children’s Hospital in New York City. He provides expertise in occupational mental health projects within the ReSTORE lab.
Alexia Haritos
Research Assistant
Alexia is a third-year student from the University of Toronto Scarborough specializing in Psychology. She joined the ReSTORE Lab in September of 2023 to gain a deeper understanding of psychological outcomes and patterns in the workplace through an occupational lens. She is passionate about cognitive and clinical psychology, with current hopes to attend graduate school. Alexia is currently continuing her time at the lab as a part-time student to gain further lab experience and advance her data analysis skills.
Alexia Haritos
Co-op Student
Alexia is a third-year student from the University of Toronto Scarborough specializing in Psychology. She joined the ReSTORE Lab in September of 2023 to gain a deeper understanding of psychological outcomes and patterns in the workplace through an occupational lens. She is passionate about cognitive and clinical psychology, with current hopes to attend graduate school. Alexia is looking forward to contributing to the ReSTORE Lab to advance both analytical and data analysis skills, as well as gain valuable lab experience.
Bao-Zhu Stephanie Long
Co-op Student
Stephanie is a third-year student majoring in Health Studies (Population Health) at the University of Toronto Scarborough, with a double minor in Statistics and Psychology. Drawing inspiration from her previous roles as a research project assistant and learning disabilities tutor, Stephanie is passionate about making meaningful contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the realm of work disability at the ReSTORE lab. She is excited about acquiring valuable research experience through the use of various platforms like REDCap and R to collect and evaluate data during her time at the lab.
Kishana Balakrishnar
Co-op Student
​​Kishana is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto Scarborough majoring in Population Health with minors in Biology and Statistics. Kishana joined the ReSTORE Lab as a co-op student in January 2024, hoping to leverage her previous research experience to make meaningful contributions to the team and enhance her skills. She is passionate about research, public health, and epidemiology, and aiming to pursue graduate school.
Edris Formuli
Co-op Student
​Edris is a third-year student at the University of Toronto Scarborough majoring in Health Studies - Population Health. He joined the ReSTORE Lab in January 2024 to gain a deeper understanding of the role of occupational science in public health research. Edris is excited to gain experience with occupational health research by contributing to study design, data collection, analysis, and writing. He is looking forward to using software such as R, REDCap, SPSS and NVivo to support the research process.
Beatrice Yuen
Volunteer
Beatrice is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto’s St George campus and is completing her undergraduate degree specializing in Global Health. Beatrice is passionate about global health and hopes to combine her research interest in occupational science and mental health to improve the quality of life within the community. Beatrice joined the ReSTORE Lab as a research trainee to learn more about occupational science and gain research skills
Yazan Adnan Saleh
Volunteer
Yazan Adnan Saleh is a first-year undergraduate student at Queen's University, undergoing his Bachelors in Health Sciences. He is currently a volunteer at the ReSTORE lab, where he first joined the team in May 2022. Yazan is passionate about research, and his areas of interest include mental health, occupational, and neurology research. He is currently working on projects pertaining to workplace mental health and its relationship to suicide across diverse occupational groups. He is keen to continue employing his skills and is looking forward to contributing to future projects and developing valuable research skills.
Joyce Lo
Volunteer
Joyce is a research assistant who is now volunteering at the ReSTORE lab. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health Studies from the University of Toronto. At the lab, Joyce has worked on projects that focus on topics such as gender-based violence in the workplace, return to work, and psychosocial factors at work. Her research interests include occupational and mental health.
Collaborating Investigators
Alumni
Sharada Nandan
Co-op Student
Sharada is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto Scarborough specializing in psychology. With her experience in qualitative research and conducting thematic analysis, she is excited and eager to contribute to the projects at ReSTORE Lab. She hopes to further her understanding of laboratory research while also learning new skills along the way.
Dr. Yiyan Li
Post Doctoral Trainee
Yiyan Li, who holds a PhD degree in Sociology, is a postdoctoral fellow at the ReSTORE Lab. Her research interests focus on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), disability research, and mental health. She has years of experience working on health-related topics among equity-deserving groups, conducting systematic and scoping reviews, quantitative and qualitative research, as well as community-based research. Currently, she is researching mental health issues among skilled trades workers.
Yifan Hao
Work Study Student
I am a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, specializing in Statistics. I joined the ReSTORE lab as a Work-Study Student in September 2023. I am excited to apply my statistical skills to support the lab's projects. I look forward to contributing to the data analysis and research effort of the lab while also gaining valuable insights into the field of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy.
Shangkai Zhu
Work Study Student
I am a Fourth year Work Study Student at the University of Toronto St. George Campus, specializing in statistical science. I joined the ReStore Lab in September of 2023. I am interested in applying statistical skills in psychology and mental health and look forward to using data analysis skills to contribute to the lab.
Druphadi Sen
Volunteer
Druphadi Sen is an undergraduate student studying molecular biology and immunology at the University of Toronto - St. George. Her varied academic fields contribute to a multidisciplinary approach to her study of occupational health at the Restore lab. Her research interests include occupational therapy, accessibility, neuropathology and biotechnology-based therapeutics. She looks forward to contributing to upcoming projects with the Restore Lab.
Anson Li
Sharan Jaswal
Volunteer (Research Analyst)
Volunteer
Anson is a Manager at Ernst & Young LLP (EY) within their Tech Consulting practice and has worked with companies across different industries to improve their business processes through technology. Prior to consulting, Anson has been involved in research and academia. He has 7 research publications (including 5 that were published with Dr. Nowrouzi-Kia at the ReSTORE Lab) across various disciplines, including occupational health, genetics, ophthalmology, and gastroenterology. Anson is looking forward to working with the ReSTORE Lab and contributing to research projects related to digital health.
Sharan is in her third year at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where she is in the progress of completing a Specialist Program for Psychological and health sciences. Sharan has a passion for research science, and is interested in occupational therapy and science and hopes to grow within the field. She recently has joined the ReSTORE Lab as a Research Assistant and is looking forward to contributing to the upcoming projects.
Simrat Ubhi
Co-op Student
Simrat is a fourth-year student in the psychology specialist program at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Simrat is excited to use her mental health and psychological background to contribute to the ReSTORE Lab projects. She is looking forward to gaining research and data analysis skills with the lab and relevant experience as a research assistant. Simrat is passionate about psychology and the mental health field and hopes to attend graduate school to eventually work in a clinical setting in the future.
Chantal Atikian
Co-op Student
Chantal is a third-year student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, specializing in Mental Health Studies. She joined the ReSTORE Lab as a research assistant in 2023 to learn more about the field of occupational therapy and develop her research skills. Chantal is passionate about clinical psychology and psychoeducation. Moving forward, Chantal looks forward to contributing to the ReSTORE Lab and continuing to work on ongoing projects.
Kathy Zhou
Co-op Student
Kathy is a third-year undergraduate student from the University of Toronto Scarborough specializing in Psychology and minoring in Statistics. She joined ReSTORE Lab as a Co-op Student in May of 2023. Kathy is passionate about neurodevelopmental disorders and hopes to expand her views on mental health outcomes in an occupational setting. She looks forward to gaining valuable research experience and developing her analytical skills at the lab.
Shane Avila
Co-op Student
Shane is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, specializing in Psychology. Shane joined the ReSTORE Lab as a co-op research assistant in May 2023. With an interest in occupational health, he hopes to apply his knowledge in psychology to utilize a multidisciplinary approach to the research he contributes to. Shane is currently contributing in projects related occupational health and burnout.
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Ana Júlia de Azevedo
Mitacs student
Ana Júlia de Azevedo is a third-year student at the State University of Northern Paraná in Brazil, she is majoring in physical therapy and intends to specialize in neurofunctional physical therapy. She is passionate about neuroscience, human anatomy and human physiology. She joined the ReSTORE lab in January 2023 and she is excited to join the team and begin research on Functional Profile of Upper Limb Spasticity after Stroke. She is always looking to learn new things and how to improve her skills to efficiently contribute to the projects she is involved in.
Natalia Saade
Mitacs Research Student
Natalia Saade is a passionate medical student from Colombia and currently in her final semester of studies. Throughout her academic journey, she has developed a profound interest in public health and epidemiology, recognizing their crucial role in improving the well-being of communities. Investigation has become an important part of her learning process, allowing her to dive deeper into medical challenges and find innovative solutions. In the lab she will be joining us for data analysis, writing and construction of projects. She is happy to be part of the lab and learn more about investigation and the diverse approaches from the multidisciplinary team that collectively contribute to improving healthcare.
Connie Chan
Mitacs Globalink Research Intern
I am an enthusiastic and driven second-year undergraduate nursing student at the University of Hong Kong. With a passion for public health and a commitment to providing the highest standard of patient care, I have recently embarked on an exciting research opportunity as a Mitacs Globalink Research Intern at the ReSTORE Lab, starting in June 2023. Recognizing the collaborative nature of healthcare, I am dedicated to working harmoniously with multidisciplinary teams and other healthcare professionals. With an unwavering dedication to evidence-based practice, I am committed to conducting rigorous research and employing innovative strategies to address pressing public health challenges. By combining my nursing background with research methodologies, I aspire to generate meaningful insights that can inform policy decisions and improve healthcare practices.
Abigaile Beamish
Research Trainee
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Abigaile is an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo and is in her fourth year of Health Studies with a minor in chemistry. She joined the ReSTORE lab in June 2022 through the Institute of Medical Science Summer Undergraduate Research Program (IMS SURP) at the University of Toronto and was able to return in June 2023 through the same program. Abigaile has a passion for science and public health and mental wellness. She is excited to combine her passions by learning about biological precursors to mental health and burnout. Abigaile plans to continue developing her passion for public health and science as she hopes to pursue a career in medicine.
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Mitchel Morrison
Co-op Student
Mitchel is a mathematics and physics student currently studying at the University of Waterloo. Mitchel is working primarily on data analysis and interpretation of projects relating to occupational mental health. With a passion for statistical applications, he hopes to contribute greatly to and gather valuable experience with quantitative data analysis at the ReSTORE lab.
Harseerat Saini
Coop Student
I am a third-year student at the University of Toronto St. George campus, specializing in Health and Disease and minoring in Immunology. With a passion for mental health and community development, I have joined the ReSTORE lab to not only enhance my research skills, but also to further my knowledge of the occupational health field. I am excited to contribute to the lab's ongoing projects and make a meaningful impact in this important area.
Amanda Illeperuma
Research Assistant
Amanda is a third year student at Western University in the Medical Sciences program. She is passionate about the fields of public health and data sciences and hopes to explore its intersectionality through health informatics. She has joined ReSTORE Lab through the Summer Undergraduate Data Science (SUDS) Research Program from the Data Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. She is excited and grateful for the opportunity ReSTORE Lab is giving her to learn about the field of data science.
Dr. Fatin Akeela
Volunteer
Fatin is highly experienced as a general physician in different countries outside Canada and has a post-graduate diploma in clinical research. She is currently a volunteer at ReSTORE lab, where she first joined the team as a research assistant in January 2022. She has solid knowledge of clinical research methodology and documentation. She is passionate about helping others, and that is why she works in rural areas to survey living standards, provide counselling, health and sanitation education, vaccinations and various cancer screenings, volunteer for charity and interpretation to help people with their language barriers.
Christy Tam
Research Assistant
Christy is a third year co-op student at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus, where she is studying under a specialist program in cognitive neuroscience. She is passionate about using scientific research to inform quality efforts in healthcare. Her research interests include physical and mental rehabilitation, including therapy for individuals with sensorimotor diseases. Christy joined the ReSTORE lab as a Research Assistant in fall of 2022, and has assisted the lab with its various project branches. She is grateful for being provided with ample opportunities at the ReSTORE lab to enhance her abilities in organizing and analyzing scientific research.
Genavieve Joncic
Research Assistant
Genavieve is a third-year co-op student specializing in neuroscience and minoring in biology at the University of Toronto Scarborough. She is interested in research in neuroscience, psychology, and occupational health and aims to expand her knowledge in a workplace setting. Genavieve works as a Research Assistant at ReSTORE Lab as of May 2022 and is excited to bring her passion for science into the projects with this team.
Yusra Fayyaz
Work Study Student
Yusra is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Economics, Statistics and Computer Science at the University of Toronto - St. George. She is currently a work-study student at the ReSTORE lab as of May 2022. Yusra is passionate about applying her statistical skills towards research related to psychology and mental health. She is currently working on the statistical analysis of a number of projects related to workplace mental health. In the future, she hopes to pursue a graduate degree in data analysis, and she looks forward to the further development of her skills and experience at the ReSTORE lab.
Molly Borritt
Research Trainee
Molly is a second year student at McGill University studying International Management, with a focus on health and analytics. She is interested in research that considers the intersection of health, analytics, and business. Molly joined the ReSTORE lab in May 2022 as a Research Trainee through the inaugural year of the Summer Undergraduate Data Science program, run by U of T’s Data Science Institute. She is grateful for the opportunities that this program and the lab have provided to learn more about the importance of research as a catalyst for change.
Mahika Jain
Research Assistant
Mahika is a third-year co-op student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, specializing in Neuroscience and minoring in Applied Statistics. She is passionate about research and helping others. Her research interests include occupational, clinical and mental health research. She has become a part of the ReSTORE Lab as a Research Assistant, starting May 2022. Mahika has contributed to various projects and has gained valuable research skills from the ReSTORE lab.
Raabia Khan
Research Assistant
Raabia is a fourth-year co-op student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, completing a double major in Health Studies (Population Health) and Molecular biology, immunology, and disease. Raabia enjoys conducting scientific research specifically in areas of epidemiology and occupational health. She joined the ReSTORE Lab in September 2022 as a Co-op Research Assistant. Working at the Restore lab was an enriching experience that provided Raabia with the opportunity to conduct literature reviews, prepare grant applications, and write research papers. Most importantly, Raabia learned how to use data analysis software programs such as NVivo and RStudio. Overall, her experience has provided her with valuable skills, knowledge, and practical experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative research all while learning from the expertise of a highly qualified research team.
Samantha Bestavros
Research Trainee
Samantha was a Student Research Trainee with the ReSTORE Lab through the University of Toronto Institute of Medical Science Summer Undergraduate Research Program from June 2022- August 2022. She is currently in her fourth year of studies toward obtaining an Honors Bachelor of Science with a specialization in biology at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Samantha has a deep passion for both physiological and mental biology, health, and wellbeing, and has previous research experience regarding attitudes and cognitive diversity surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. She continued to work with such interests through her time with the ReSTORE Lab, where she examined the mental health of frontline rehab professionals who worked throughout the pandemic. She won an Honourable Mention Award for her poster presentation regarding the findings of this project at the University of Toronto Institute of Medical Science Summer Undergraduate Research Program Research Day. Through her continuous commitment to critical thinking, problem-solving, and further enhancing her research skills, she hopes to go on to medical school in pursuit of a career as a dermatologist.
Bushra Alam
Research Assistance
Bushra is in her fourth year at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus and is currently majoring in human biology and health studies. Her research interests span across diverse areas including occupational science, public health, clinical research and mental health research. She is always open to acquiring new knowledge and skills. Bushra has joined the ReSTORE Lab as a Research Assistant starting September 2022. Being given the oppurtunity to work at the ReSTORE lab has been a great experience, one for which she is immensely grateful. Throughout here time at the ReSTORE, Bushra has had the opportunity to grow, learn and develop a wide variety of research, administrative and interpersonal skills. She feels privileged to have been a part of such a dynamic and innovative team.
Kevon Jules
Placement Student
Kevon is a fourth year co-op student at the University of Toronto studying Kinesiology with a focus on psychology and mental health rehabilitation. Kevon is extremely grateful for this placement opportunity and seeks to view all projects at the ReSTORE lab through a biopsychosocial lens to consider the opinions and needs of all individuals involved. Kevon hopes to learn how to better analyze qualitative and quantitative data to create a comprehensive picture of challenges individuals face in the real world. In the future, Kevon hopes to work within the field of occupational therapy with a focus on paraplegic equity, representation, and accessibility.
Matthew Yeug
Volunteer
Matthew completed his Bachelors in Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of Hong Kong. He joined the Restore Lab on January 4th, 2023 as a volunteer. His research interests are in mental health, occupational health and neurology. Matthew has joined the Restore Lab to help with various research projects in order to garner more experiences and to prepare for his graduate studies. He looks forward to contributing to the Restore Lab's cause.
Jeremy Tan
Placement Student
Jeremy is a fourth-year undergraduate student enrolled in Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto St. George campus. Having experienced working in skilled trades in his family's contracting business, he is interested in providing research-informed interventions toward workplace health through ergonomics and occupational health. Being exposed to such multidisciplinary approaches within Kinesiology, he has developed a great interest in holistic views of health and the various lenses and methods to achieve them. He recently joined the ReSTORE Lab in September 2022 as a Research Assistant and part of his Faculty's Professional Placement Program, where he is excited to contribute to the research projects that help people in similar working careers.
Liu Zhicheng
Work-study Student
Zhicheng is a second year student from the UofT Mississauga campus currently studying Molecular Biology. Zhicheng joined the lab in September 2022. His research interests include decoding genetic passcodes that govern human behaviour. He is also interested in 'how researcher efficiency can be boosted by improving their occupational settings'. During his free time, Zhicheng loves to dive into the music world and enjoys taking adventures and exploring nature. Zhicheng is very thrilled to be a part of this team and is always willing to contribute his best to empower the progress of the ReSTORE lab.
Muhammad Siddiqui
Research Assistant
Aditya Peri
Work Study Student
Chika Nwodika
Research Trainee
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Ana Soberanis
Research Trainee
Ana is a fifth-year medical student at the Universidad Latina de México. Due to her interest in research, she joined the ReSTORE lab in March 2022 as a Research Intern through the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship program. Ana is currently contributing in projects related to systemic lupus erythematosus, looking forward to improve the quality of life of patients with lupus, and to acquire strong research skills.