FORMER STUDENTS, INTERNS, RESEARCH ASSISTANTS AND INVITED FELLOWSWilliam AffleckFormer Research AssistantWilliam Affleck is completing a Master's degree in Biomedical Ethics a McGill University. His interests include clinical ethics, mental health ethics, and qualitative health research. Will's research at the Unit examined issues and concerns surrounding Research Ethics Boards approval of emerging neuroimaging technologies; the social / health needs and experiences of bereaved parents; and ethical issues in research involving emotionally vulnerable populations. Upon completion of his MA, Will plans on entering a PhD program in Social and Transcultural Psychiatry at McGill.
David BouvierFormer internDavid Bouvier holds a PhD in cellular and molecular neurobiology from the University of Montreal. He pursued his interests in neuroscience and neuroethics through an internship at the Neuroethics Research Unit, from 2006 to 2007, examining stakeholder perspectives and public understanding of the ethical and social issues of cognitive enhancement using methylphenidate. He is currently pursuing postdoctoral neuroscience research in Geneva.Luciana CalimanPrevious invited fellowAfter studies in psychology, Luciana Caliman did a Master's and a Ph.D. in Collective Health at the Institute for Social Medicine (IMS), State University of Rio de Janeiro. She has spent two years at Max-Planck-Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, researching for her doctoral thesis on “The historical constitution of the moral biology of attention”. Currently, she is professor at the department of psychology, Brazilian Faculty UNIVIX, and a post-doctoral student at the Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Her research interests include the history of the inattentive individual, and the ethical challenges of the extension of the childhood diagnosis of ADHD to adults.
Zoë Costa-von AeschFormer Research AssistantZoë Costa-von Aesch received her BScH from Queen's University and completed her MSc at McGill University, specializing in Biomedical Ethics. Her research interests include women's health, HIV/AIDS and research ethics. Zoë is now a MD / PhD candidate at McGill University. She is now studying medicine at McGill University.
Constance DeslauriersFormer Graduate Student Constance Deslauriers graduated from California State University Sacramento with a degree in Biological Sciences with minors in Organic Chemistry and Microbiology. Her concerns and interests for diverse biomedical ethic questions guided her towards the Neuroethics Research Unit where she focused on the ethical issues that arise from the recent technological progress neuroimaging. Constance also developed an interest for qualitative research which she is planning to integrate in her future practice of medicine.
Marie-Josée DionFormer internMarie-Josée Dion was a graduate student in Biomedical Ethics at McGill University and is currently attending medical school at Université de Montréal. She has a particular interest in applied clinical ethics and hopes to pursue a career in that field.
Amaryllis FerrandFormer internAmaryllis studied biomedical sciences and psychology at the University of Ottawa and she is now pursuing medical studies at the at the same university. Her interest for questions at the intersection of neuroscience, ethics and epistemology led her to join the Neuroethics Research Unit for an internship in 2007.
Marta KarczewskaFormer internMarta Karczewska is currently a student at McGill University. She finished the Medical Preparatory year in May 2006 and has started Medical School the same year. She is interested in ethics and would like to pursue a career as a physician involved in clinical practice as well as research.
Danaë Larivière-Bastien Former Master’s student Danaë Larivière-Bastien holds a degree in international studies (Law profile) of the University of Montreal and the International Program diploma of the Institute of Political Studies of Paris. She is doing a Master's in bioethics within the Programs of bioethics of the University of Montreal. She has worked with disabled persons in the school setting. She is a member of the clinical ethics committee of Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital. She is interested in the ethical issues related to the various aspects of the experience of people living with a disability, particularly with cerebral palsy. Danaë received one of the scholarships of excellence of the Bioethics Programs in 2008-2009.
Bruce MaxwellPostdoctoral fellow Bruce Maxwell joined the Neuroethics Research Unit as a postdoctoral research fellow in early 2009. Prior this position, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Montreal Centre for Research on Ethics (CRÉUM) where he retains an affiliation with the division of fundamental ethics. Having worked as associated researcher at the University of Münster’s Institute of Educational Studies and Institute for the Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, he obtained his Ph.D. in education and philosophy from that university in 2007. His present research projects deal with the ethical and social dimensions of deep brain stimulation, theoretical frameworks for character education, emotion theory and cognitive behaviour therapy, and the ethics and moral psychology of teaching and learning about genocide. Bruce now holds a professorship at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in the Department of educational sciences.Simon OutramPrevious invited fellow Simon Outram is a postdoctoral fellow at Novel Tech Ethics, Dalhousie University funded by States of Mind: Emerging Issues in Neuroethics, and Therapeutic Hopes and Ethical Concerns: Clinical Research in the Neurosciences. Simon has a background in Social Anthropology (MA University of Manchester) and Environmental Epidemiology (MSc London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine). He completed his PhD in May 2007 (St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London). His PhD explored the use of racial and ethnic categories in genetics and biomedical research. The study examined the relationship between science and society in the production and interpretation of racial/ethnic data, especially the conceptual and methodological frameworks used to present racial/ethnic identities as genetic categories or casual epidemiological variables. Since completing the PhD, Simon joined the Open University Innogen Research Centre in September 2007 to conduct research exploring biotechnology and science communication within sub-Saharan Africa. His current research at Dalhousie includes: exploring the social values associated with using psychotropic drugs for the purposes of cognitive enhancement and for treating ADHD; analysing the development and purpose of ethical guidelines on the use of such psychotropic drugs for cognitive enhancement; and, the critically assessing the use of socially malleable categories (such as criminality, violence, and addiction) within neuroscientific research, and popular interpretations of such research.
David RisseFormer Research AssistantDavid Risse studied philosophical ethics at the Universities Nancy 2 and Strasbourg 2 (Master’s, DEA). His doctoral dissertation on ethics and sexuality will be defended at Laval University and is supported by a Charles - De Koninck scholarship. He is a member and regular speaker for the International Association of French Language Sociologists and has interest in sociology of sexuality, youth and family. His diverse contributions in public health, social philosophy and philosophical bioethics will soon be published in a book format. He plans to extend his expertise to the neuroethics of sexuality and brain development.
Matthew B. SeidlerFormer InternMatthew Seidler is currently a medical student at McGill University. Matthew’s work in the Neuroethics Research Unit focused around the public understanding of neuroscience and the Terri Schiavo case, where he helped gather study data. Aside from being an avid reader, Matthew enjoys exploring technology as well as caring for his dogs.
Brandy Vanderbyl Former Research AssistantBrandy recently obtained a Master’s degree in neurological sciences at McGill University after completing undergraduate work at the University of British Columbia in the same field. As well as working at the IRCM she is also a research assistant in neuropathology at the Montreal Neurological Institute. She is particularly drawn to studying vulnerable populations with neurological deficits including those with psychiatric disorders, brain cancers and degenerative disorders. This fits well with her current project in the Neuroethics Department at the IRCM which focuses on internet marketing of supplements to those with Alzheimer’s disease.