Our Team

Our research team is made up of graduate students, undergraduate students completing theses and independent projects, and many undergraduate volunteers.

Dr. Stanka Fitneva

Lab Director

I direct the Language and Cognition Lab at Queen's University. My interests are in the development of language, communication, and social cognition. Outside the lab, you can catch me hiking, doing yoga, baking or practicing on the piano at home.

Anya den Hartog

Lab Manager

BScH Psychology, 2022

I recently graduated from Queen’s and am currently the lab coordinator in the Queen’s Visual Cognition Lab. I have volunteered in the Language and Cognition Lab since my second year and completed an Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship in 2020. I am looking forward to start having participants in the lab again. Outside of the lab, I love to sing, run by the water and catch up with friends.

Kat Snelling

PhD Student

MA Developmental Psychology, 2021

BAH Psychology, 2018

I am in the third year of my PhD in Developmental Psychology. My research examines the role of prediction in language processing and learning. From infancy, people make predictions while listening to speech. My research evaluates the impact of correct and incorrect predictions on language processing and word learning. One of my favourite things to do in Kingston is watching the sun set over Lake Ontario!

Blake Noyes

Graduate Volunteer

BScH Psychology, 2018

I am currently a PhD student in the Centre for Neuroscience. I completed my undergraduate thesis in the lab in 2018, and have stayed involved since then. Outside of work and school, I love to play with my cat and dog, travel, go fishing, and watch Netflix!

Elif Gokcek

Undergraduate Volunteer

Psychology Major

I am a third-year majoring in BScH Psychology. Cognitive psychology is a fascinating branch for me, and I am very excited that we get to explore it more in our lab. I am particularly interested in the question of common blame and the explore-exploit dilemma. Outside the lab, I love to read, journal, and hang out with my 2 cats and 2 dogs!

Kate Hamilton

Undergraduate Volunteer

Psychology Major, Philosophy &

Religious Studies Minor

I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology. I am interested in studying social and developmental psychology, as well as linguistics and speech pathology for children. This is my second year in the lab, and I'm excited to learn as much as I can from this experience. In my free time I love to read (specifically historical fiction), do yoga, run, and bullet journal.

Shiyi Bin

PSYC 501 Honours Thesis Student

Psychology Major

Hi everyone, my name is Shiyi Bin. I am a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Language and Cognition Lab. I’m currently doing a thesis about the effect of source credibility on epistemic emotions and exploration behaviour. I love hiking, fishing, kayaking, and bird watching in my spare time.

Camden Trepanier

PSYC 570 Directed Lab Student

Psychology Major, Philosophy Minor

My name is Camden, I am a third-year psychology major, and this is my second year in the lab. My research interests include cognitive themes, such as how people attribute blame and determine responsibility. This year, I will complete a directed research course in the lab and continue as an RA. When not studying, I can be found working with my dog, Birdie.

Alexandra Culbert

Undergraduate Volunteer

Psychology Major, History Minor

My name is Alexandra, and I am a second-year student majoring in psychology and minoring in history. This is my first year volunteering in the lab and I am excited to gain experience and learn more about my passions within psychology. I am particularly interested in blame association and influences on word learning. Outside of the lab I love reading, baking and listening to music.

Breanna Way

Undergraduate Volunteer

Psychology Major, Linguistics Minor

I am a third-year psychology major with a minor in linguistics, and this is my first year volunteering in the lab! I’m super excited to take a closer look at the cognitive functions behind language this year, I specifically have a lot of interest in psycholinguistics and language acquisition. Outside of the lab I enjoy reading, playing music, and binge-watching reality TV.

Adelle Barsky-Moore

Undergraduate Volunteer

Psychology Major, Health Studies Minor

I am in my second-year BScH Psychology major and a Health Studies minor at Queen's. This is my first year as a research assistant in the Language and Cognition Lab, and I am so excited. I am fascinated by how language affects learning and our perception of others. I love reading, hiking, musical theatre, and yoga.

Calvin Choi

Graduate Volunteer

BA Psychology, 2022

I am a recent graduate of the University of Alberta with a BA, majoring in psychology and minoring in political science. My interests lie in the language development in youth and adolescents. Specifically, examining how drug use negatively affects overall high-order cognition development compared to linguistic development. Whilst in the Language and Cognition Lab, I am excited to further my methodological and statistical skills, not just for psychology but for a plethora of fields of study. Outside of the lab I enjoy learning languages, skiing, and playing chess.

Mark Pistea

Undergraduate Volunteer

Health Sciences Major

I am a third-year Health Sciences major. I am really passionate in regards to ways bilingualism affects learning and cognitive development. Outside of the lab, I like reading, baking/cooking, and I am on the Queen's fencing team.

Lab Alumni

Honours Thesis Students

2021- 2022: Hannah Clark

2020-2021: Rina Gutzin, Bronwyn Bates

2019-2020: Joanna Mrowca-Migiel, Jamie Fournier, Sydney Thib

2018-2019: Alexis Winfield

2017-2018: Blake Noyes, Katherine Snelling

2016-2017: Jennifer Zhang

2015-2016: Ida Liao, Samantha Lenahan, Alexandra Macisaac

2014-2015: Peter Elliott, Katie Harper, Sandra Krause

2013-2014: Breanna Kelly, Alastair Hibberd

2012-2013: Nancy Dai

2010-2011: Amy Wainer

2009-2010: Laurel Dault, Justin Goddrad, Arielle Mida

2008-2009: Kristen Hadfield

2006-2007: Scott Ross

2005-2006: Bronwen Fullerton

2004-2005: Ketana Teav, Erin White

Graduate Students

Katharine Bailey (co-supervised with Dr. N. Im-Bolter), PhD 2021.

Now instructor, Concordia University of Edmonton.

Katherine Snelling, MA, 2021.

Now PhD student in Psychology, Queen’s University.

Michael Slinger, MSc, 2020.

Now PhD student in Sociology, Dalhousie University.

Rana Pishva, MSc, 2010.

Now in clinical practice.

Kristen Dunfield, MA, 2006.

Now associate Professor, Concordia University.

And many, many directed lab students, summer interns, and volunteers! Thank you!