Research Assistants

Helen Liu

Research Coordinator

Helen graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology from McGill University in spring 2022. She joined the lab in March 2023 because of her interest in parent-child attachment and adolescent mental health. Through her previous research and work experiences, she has become deeply passionate about trauma-informed and culturally-sensitive care, specifically for underrepresented populations. Helen began her MA in Counselling Psychology at SFU in the Fall of 2023.

Email: helen_liu_4@sfu.ca

Bonnie Vu

Senior Research Assistant

Anh-Thu (Bonnie) Vu moved to Vancouver in 2017 and completed her BA in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Counseling in June 2022. She joined the Adolescent Health Lab as a senior research assistant in Spring 2023. Bonnie plans to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests include developmental disabilities, attachment, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), affective disorders, and adolescent mental health.

Email: bonnie_vu_2@sfu.ca

Rowan Heseltine

Research Assistant

Rowan graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BA in Psychology Spring 2023 and joined the Adolescent Health Lab shortly after. Prior to her studies, Rowan worked as an Educational Assistant supporting children and youth with complex needs and disabilities and is now working with vulnerable women and families transitioning to safer housing. She is passionate about understanding mental health in a societal context and is looking forward to expanding her knowledge to inspire her future studies. 

Taelor Lay

Research Assistant

Taelor joined the Adolescent Health Lab in January 2025. She is currently completing her BA in Psychology at Simon Fraser University, where she has been a research assistant since August 2023, examining prosocial behaviour and subjective well-being. Her research interests are informed by her experiences working with diverse clinical populations and are centered on the health needs of underserved and underrepresented groups. She is particularly interested in issues such as early adversity, resilience, and the variety of biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to mental and physical health across the lifespan. Taelor is eager to explore the intersections of these issues and contribute to therapeutic models that support individuals in overcoming barriers to well-being. She is currently focused on examining the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and attachment theory, as well as the variety of factors that contribute to resilience across the lifespan. Taelor can be contacted at taelor_lay@sfu.ca.

Hanna Erceg

Research Assistant

Hanna graduated with a B.A. (Hons) in Psychology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Spring 2023. She joined the Adolescent Health Lab in January 2025 because of her interest in family dynamics, attachment relationships, and adolescent mental health. Hanna plans to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology and aspires to conduct research that informs the development of evidence-based interventions for at-risk youth and their families. Email: hanna.erceg@kpu.ca

Anna Kristen, M.Sc.

Research Associate

Anna graduated with a M.Sc. in Developmental and Clinical Psychology from University College London in 2021. Following graduation, Anna joined the Adolescent Health Lab as a research associate. Anna is currently pursuing her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of British Columbia.

Christine Church

Lab Coordinator

Christine graduated from Temple University, Philadelphia in 2015 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology (Hons) and a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience. Shortly after graduation, Christine joined the Adolescent Health Lab in 2016. She completed her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2022 from the University of Alberta and is a registered Occupational Therapist in B.C. Her interests include integrated functional health, adaptive mechanisms, holistic approaches to well-being, and intervention science.

Alumni

  • Dara Enns

  • Ryan Smith

  • Alana Pace

  • Cassia McIntyre

  • Alejandra Saldana

  • Michelle Korlacka

  • Mari del Casal

  • Emily Thornton

  • Brooke Davis