Dr. Ellen Gutowski
Dr. Gutowski (She/her) is an Assistant Professor at University of Toronto. Her broad interests include promoting the well-being of underserved populations, understanding the role of psychosocial factors (stress, trauma, relationships) in mental health and functioning, and engaging in social justice/anti-oppression work within teaching and clinical practice. Her specific interests are intimate partner violence and developing trauma-informed systems of care. She is particularly committed to understanding how systems-level responses to those who are affected by intimate partner violence may either promote well-being or cause harm.
She is a scientist-practitioner and received her PhD from Boston College, served as a clinical fellow for two years at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School and completed her clinical residency at Emory School of Medicine.
Dan Gheorghiu
Dan is currently pursuing his first year of a PhD in the School and Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP) program at the University of Toronto/OISE. Before embarking on his PhD journey, Dan completed a Master of Arts in SCCP and earned a Master of Science in Biology at York University, where he also obtained a Neuroscience Graduate Diploma. During his MA, Dan gained valuable experience working with the Toronto District School Board, where he provided assessments for children from junior kindergarten through grade 12.
Dan's research focuses on disruptive behaviors and ADHD, specifically investigating physiological markers that may shed light on the relationship between these conditions. He has extensive experience conducting assessments with both children and adults, and has also worked therapeutically with adolescents. With a keen interest in trauma research, Dan is joining the TIR research group as a Graduate Assistant, where he will contribute to ongoing projects on intimate partner violence, enhancing his clinical research experience.
Aida Retta
Aïda (eye-ee-da, She/Her) is a first-year student in the Master of Education in Counselling Psychology program. She has been working with survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) since 2017. Her work has included volunteering on rape crisis lines and working in shelters for families fleeing domestic violence. She is currently employed as a support worker and advocate at a transitional housing society for survivors of domestic abuse.
Aïda's experiences doing anti-violence work have increased her awareness of the multiple systemic barriers to safety that IPV survivors face in the process of leaving an abusive partner, or immediately following separation. She is particularly interested in producing research that elucidates such barriers and aims to reduce them.
Currently, Aïda is involved in a project examining the relation between IPV, legal abuse, and legal outcomes for court-involved mothers.
Yuzi Zhou
Yuzi Zhou is a first-year student in the Developmental Psychology and Education M.Ed program at University of Toronto. Currently, she is enrolled in the research practicum course and is working as a research assistant in the Trauma-Informed Responses Research Group. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in International Relations from University of Southern California. During her undergraduate studies, she focused not only schoolwork, but also continued her interest in psychology and education. She has been volunteering and working in the field of psychology and education field for more than twelve years. During her prior experiences, she spent lots of time observing, communicating with and helping Special Education Needs students and their parents as the principal's assistant. Ultimately, she established and applied a Special Education Needs standard operating procedures with the school's leadership team. While providing life coach services and organizing Peers Advisory Group discussions for both students and adults, she found her true passion. She is eager to make a positive change to the world and improve the accessibility, efficiency and accuracy of mental health services and promoting well-being.
Yansong (Harry) Guan
Yansong (Harry) Guan is a first-year master’s student in Developmental Psychology and Education Program at University of Toronto. He received Bachelor of Science degree from the same school, major in psychology and sociology. Harry has great passions in developmental and social psychology. During his undergraduate, he was the research assistant in two different social psychology lab, which increased his interests to research on interpersonal relationships. Harry would like to research more about factors affecting the relationship between intimate partners and how it can be applied in clinical practices.
Mikayla Lisi
Mikayla (she/her) is a first year M.Ed. student in the Developmental Psychology and Education program at OISE, and a recent HBSc graduate from The University of Toronto. Her primary research interests include understanding the effects of stress and trauma on development, cognition, behaviour, and both mental and physical health. She is passionate about promoting well-being through implementation of biopsychosocial interventions, and trauma-informed care practices. She aspires to pursue Clinical Psychology and focus on advancing research in these critical areas.
Sharan Sagoo
Sharan Sagoo is a driven and compassionate individual currently embarking on an educational journey in the field of psychology. A first-year psychology undergraduate student at York University, Sharan brings a unique blend of academic expertise and a profound commitment to helping others. Having previously completed an undergraduate degree in Law and Society, Sharan possesses a deep understanding of the intricate web of institutional and social challenges.
Sharan's dedication to supporting those in need extends to their role as a Crisis Line Volunteer at the Distress Centers of Greater Toronto. Beyond volunteering, Sharan actively engages in research focused on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) survivors and the services available to them. Their research aims to illuminate critical services and benefits that can positively impact the lives of IPV survivors, ultimately contributing to enhanced support systems for those in vulnerable situations.
Alia AlQazzaz
Alia AlQazzaz is currently a first-year student in the Master of Education in Counselling Psychology program at OISE. With an Honors Bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology and over five years of experience working in Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) agencies, Alia is dedicated to supporting survivors and advancing systemic change.
Alia combines academic insight with practical expertise to address the complexities of trauma and recovery. Grounded in a trauma-informed approach, Alia is committed to fostering empowerment, amplifying survivor voices, and advocating for equitable and compassionate practices across systems. She believes in the transformative power of empathy, education, and systemic reform to create a world that is safe and free from violence.
She is currently involved in research that examines the experiences of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) survivors in court.