Information about THOR Lab members, including names and pictures, is listed here only with the explicit consent of each student. Thus, the presence or absence of a student’s name cannot be interpreted as membership (or not) or participation (or not) in the THOR Lab or THOR Lab projects. For all inquiries of this nature, please contact Dr. Frisbee directly at sfrisbee@uwo.ca (only legitimate inquiries for verifiable purposes will receive a response).
THOR Lab Director
Stephanie J. Frisbee, PhD, MSc
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Cross Appointment in Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario
Associate Scientists, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario
Dr. Frisbee completed her BSc at the University of Guelph in Biomedical Sciences, followed by an MSc in Consumer Policy and Affairs with a focus on applied economics. Dr. Frisbee completed an MA in Political Science (American Politics and Policy) and a PhD in Public Policy Analysis, with a specialization in Health Policy, from the West Virginia University.
Dr. Frisbee’s career initially developed in a clinical setting in the Quality and Outcomes division at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Rapid expansion in the need for quantitative evaluation of the quality and outcomes of health care resulted in expansion of this division, and Dr. Frisbee rising to the level of manager of the Outcomes Department and the National Outcomes Center. Following relocation to West Virginia University in 2004, Dr. Frisbee became a member of faculty in the Department of Health Policy, Leadership and Management in the School of Public Health, contributing extensively to curricular design and implementation. Dr. Frisbee also contributed substantially to the creation of a novel PhD program in Clinical and Translational Sciences. At WVU, Dr. Frisbee was a core member of the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences Center, and was a researcher associated with the C8 Health Project.
Since 2016, Dr. Frisbee has been a faculty member in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. She is deeply invested in educational program development and delivery, serving as a core member of the One Health program and as the creator of the new Clinical and Translational Sciences Graduate Program. Dr. Frisbee’s research program, which has extensive participation with undergraduate trainees, focusses on the determinants of cardiovascular health and disease, working across the translational research spectrum.
Dr. Frisbee’s expertise and projects include:
• Population health, health policy analysis, complex statistical and epidemiologic analysis, clinical and translational science
• Cardiovascular health in Canadians, including the development of the Canadian Cardiovascular Health Index (CCVHI
• Quality and outcomes in cardiovascular rehabilitation programs
• The prevalence and burden of poor cardiovascular health combined with stroke, dementia, and depression in Canadians
• Complex statistical modeling of determinants of cardiovascular health in basic science research
Undergraduate Students
Jordan Côté
Degree: Biomedical Sciences – IMS
What I like about research: Learning something new, working with different people
Sports Teams: Toronto Raptors
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Research Intern
Jashnoor Chhina
I am an undergraduate student at Western University concurrently enrolled in the Medical Sciences and Scholar’s Electives programs. Last year, I was a recipient of the American Physiological Society’s (APS) Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and this year I was fortunate to receive Western University’s Undergraduate Summer Research Internship (USRI) award! Recently, I presented my research at Experimental Biology in Philadelphia, pertaining to a scoping review on cardiovascular disease associated with radiation therapy for breast cancer- which is currently pending publication. If you are considering getting involved with research- my advice is to go for it! It truly exposes you to a dynamic ecosystem from which there is so much to learn. Aside from research- I am an avid fan of R&B and rap, a gym enthusiast, and an ice cream connoisseur!!
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022;Scholar’s Elective, Undergraduate Summer Research Internship, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship ( American Physiological Society)
Natalie LY Chow
Degree program: Honours in Anatomy, Medical Cell Biology and Interdisciplinary Medical Science
Career goals: Hoping to become a PA in the future
What I like about research: If you're thinking about exploring research, do it! Working together in a team to investigate associations that genuinely impact the lives of other people is incredibly fun and unbelievably rewarding.
Fun fact: I have minor synesthesia! Words and some scents have specific colours to me.
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Research Intern
Tina Dao
I am a 3rd year undergraduate student pursuing an Honours Specialization in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. I was really eager to explore these two fields when I was first admitted into the module, which was why I was stoked to be a part of the THOR Lab! I am currently working on a scoping review on Brain Health! The term “brain health” is commonly used in literature; however, the term is often loosely used and it is unclear what “brain health” exactly means. I am really excited to see how researchers from various fields define brain health and identify some common determinants of brain health. One thing I love about epidemiology and biostatistics is how applicable it is to numerous areas of science, health, and research. Furthermore, I love how the fields push me to focus on the bigger picture of health, considering health on a biological, environmental, and social level!
Fun fact: I recently learned fan dancing for a Vietnamese cultural show!
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Undergraduate Thesis, Research Intern
Nazia (Iffath) Haider
I'm a 4th year student pursuing an Honours Specialization in the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences. I have always had a passion for women's health advocacy and equitable healthcare. My goals are to minimize health disparities among minority women to better address structural healthcare gaps and to influence practice at the population-level. As a Research Assistant under Dr. Frisbee's supervision, I am involved in a few projects including: a scoping review identifying sex-based differences in the clinical outcomes and psychosocial factors of women after undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR); a clinical study investigating relationships among anxiety sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and clinical outcomes in patients enrolled in CR at St. Joseph's Hospital; and a physician assessment survey study evaluating the quality of care for patients that have survived a myocardial infarction in Canada.
THOR Lab Member 2020-2022; Research Intern
Francine He
Degree: BMSc double major in One Health and Pharmacology
Project: NET and CVD scoping review
What I like about research: I use a lot of the skills I’ve acquired over the years when doing research, and often end up learning new things and developing new skills!
How I got involved/advice: I got my first research position at a biology lab through cold emailing the professor. I know it seems very intimidating and scary, but professors receive so many emails every day and if they don’t end up contacting you, they won’t remember your name. My first research position wasn’t in the exact field I was interested in, but I learned and gained a lot of new lab techniques and research skills.
Fun fact: I am obsessed with solitaire… I can play it for hours and hours.
Career goals: Public health or biotechnology
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Undergraduate Thesis, Research Intern
Sophia Huang
I am in the One Health module. I am an aspiring optometrist and this year, I had the pleasure of working on the project "Evaluation Approaches of Supportive Housing Communities in St. Thomas, Ontario". Research is quite a lot of work, yet it's very rewarding to be working on a project concerning the topic of mental health, which I am passionate about. I'm grateful that Dr. Frisbee had this project in mind when I reached out to her for my thesis!
Fun fact: I have a pet turtle.
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Undergraduate Thesis
Sophie Huang
I am a student in the Bachelor of Medical Sciences program, hoping to pursue a career in healthcare or research. I am part of the Vascular Measures of Health and the Student Laser Doppler Flowmetry projects. I enjoy research because I am able to contribute to scientific knowledge that can improve people’s lives and patient care. By working with the THOR lab, I have been able to learn about the value of research as a tool to answer healthcare-related problems.
Fun fact: I have a large collection of houseplants and I love to chat about plant care.
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Research Intern
Daniyal Khan
I am currently a Bachelor of Medical Sciences Candidate in second year and heading into my third as of September 2022. My career goal is to become a medical health professional and being able to provide top quality care to my patients. Currently, I am working with a team of about 7-10 students on a research paper regarding Vasculature Health and ways to measure that using different techniques (i.e. cIMT, PWV) in clinical populations. What I enjoy about research is the idea of unity; everyone is so like-minded, hardworking, dedicated and is working towards the common goal of just learning about the topic at hand and eventually, a publication. I got involved with research back in October 2020, when I emailed Dr. Stephanie Frisbee as I was really interested in her work in CVD, health policies and clinical and translational sciences! While things were a bit slow at start, I'm really proud to be an active member of the THOR Lab!
Fun fact: Well, I'm a big Messi and FC Barcelona fan, I play all types of sports (besides hockey because I can't skate!) and in my free time I like to read!
THOR Lab Member 2020-2022; Research Intern
Joylen Kingsley
Degree: BMSc, Double Major in Physiology and Pathology
Projects: The Depression and Exercise project, Exercise Testing project, The Smoking and Exercise project, The Physician Study, The Anxiety and Sensitivity project
How I got involved in research: I started looking up different labs that were hiring on campus, and I started emailing professors to see if they were interested in taking on students. I got really lucky, because I managed to find the THOR lab that was focused on cardiac rehabilitation, which was an interest of mine. I love the team environment created by Dr.Frisbee and the students, it really is a great place for mentorship, and friendship all based on a mutual drive to improve healthcare through research! My biggest suggestion to anyone looking to find a lab position, is to keep trying until you find something that fits! Don’t give up if a few professors says no, keep at it, and you’ll find somewhere that satisfies both your professional and personal interests!
Fun fact: I actually met one of my roommates through the THOR lab. Funny how things work out...
THOR Lab Member 2019-2022; Research Intern
Rihana Kukkadi
I am a third year student in the BMSc program, pursuing a double major in Pathology/Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences. I am currently working with the team on a scoping review on brain health. The goal of our project is to develop clarity around the term “brain health” so as to unite efforts across the field to investigate and measure it. This is my first experience with research and it’s been so exciting to learn about different research methods and the process of conducting a scoping review, while developing skills such as adaptability and the ability to think laterally; I hope to continue pursuing research in my career, especially in neurocognition, an area that I’m passionate about.
Fun fact: my favourite animal is the koala!
THOR Lab Member 2020-2022; Undergraduate Thesis
Duo Li
I am studying Medical Sciences in the One Health module here at Western! I am currently working on a project that looks at localizing the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals to London, Ontario. Going to our weekly 7 am meetings has been a struggle, but research has been a great way to take a break from my typical sciences courses and actually apply what I've learned through university. Although this project was initially part of my undergraduate thesis, my experience at the THOR lab has opened my eyes to how my research can make a difference in the local community! During my free time, I love to go to escape rooms and play board games with my friends!
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Undergraduate Thesis
Manothri Mallikarachchi
I’m going into my fourth year of an Honours Double Major in One Health and Spanish. As a part of the THOR Lab, I’m currently working on the NET-CVD project. Thanks to the Western Undergraduate Summer Research Internship (USRI), I will be continuing this project into the summer!
I love learning new things and delving deep into topics, which is what initially drew me to research. I got into research by cold emailing professors in first year. I emailed at least 70 people before I got the opportunity to volunteer with the GERAS Centre for Aging Research at McMaster. That opportunity, along with volunteering in Dr. Frisbee’s and Dr. MacDougall-Shackleton’s labs, has taught me a lot about research. Gaining skills that are applicable to other interests that I want to pursue is part of what makes any type of research valuable to me. For those interested in research, pursue your passions, be enthusiastic and respectful, and work on developing the necessary skills: wet lab work, coding, effective communication, etc., so that you be the best possible addition to a lab.
Fun fact: When I was 14, I had a passing ability to sing and play four instruments: piano, trumpet, tuba, and guitar! I've since lost my proficiency.
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Undergraduate Thesis, Research Intern
Jose Navarro
I'm in the Physiology & Pharmacology module at Western. I'm really passionate about health equity and hope to carry this interest into a career in public health and medicine. For the THOR lab, I had the privilege of being involved in the scoping review on the cardiac side-effects of radiotherapy for breast cancer. Outside of school, music is a huge part of my life - I'm the music director for Equivox, Western's competitive all-gender acappella group!
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Research Intern
Degree: Honours Degree Bachelor of Science Double Major in Biology and Medical Science
Project: Supportive housing
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Research Intern
Amber Northover
Maryam Oloriegbe
I am a third-year medical science student double majoring in Microbiology and Immunology and One Health. My team and I are currently working on a project that attempts to define 'brain health,' and it's definitely been a challenge but also a very rewarding experience. My favourite part of research is learning different things as you're reading through studies and articles. The most challenging part is staying motivated throughout the research process and keeping up to date with everything that's going on. If you don't know whether research is for you, start off small, try taking up some research and writing courses and if you find that's something you want to pursue, go for it! To get involved in research, I recommend reaching out to a professor in a field you're interested in. Cold emailing can be frustrating, but you only need one reply for a position!
Fun fact: I am left-handed and really like pineapple on pizza (don't hate on me, ok?!).
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Research Intern
Milica Pavlovic
My name is Milica Pavlovic. I am currently in Medical Sciences with an Honours Specialization in One Health! Looking at health problems through the holistic one health lens has given me a whole new perspective.
Project: I am currently working on is a scoping review on Brain Health. I am interested in understanding factors impacting brain health and how brain health is defined and measured.
What I love about research: I love to contribute to research being done in various fields and collaboratively work with other researchers to further our knowledge and understanding.
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Research Intern
Hannah Sendzik
I am a fourth year medical science student obtaining on Honours Specialization in IMS. In THOR Lab I was involved in writing a scoping review investigating the cardiovascular outcomes associated with breast cancer radiotherapy treatment. I love the collaborative aspect of research and the constant exposure to new scientific perspectives. If you're a student thinking about getting involved in research, don't hesitate to reach out to different professors that work in a field of research you're interested in, many are very eager to help student volunteers gain research experience!
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Research Intern
Radhika Thakkar
I just finished my fourth year at Western completing an Honours Specialization in Biology. Working at the THOR lab was my second time as a research intern and I couldn’t have asked for a better lab to grow and learn as a student. I was a part of the Vascular Measures of Health and the Student Laser Doppler Flowmetry projects. This scoping review definitely had its ups and downs. Many times my team and I were left scratching our heads late into the night, but it was an incredible learning experience and the first time I will be a co-author so it’s definitely an important milestone for me as a researcher.
Outside of school, I love music and singing. Recently, I got into K-POP, so if you want to talk about that with me, get ready to chat for hours!!
THOR Lab Member 2021-2022; Research Intern
Graduate & Medical Students
I am a first year MSc student in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, also pursuing the Collaborative Specialization in Machine Learning for Health and Biomedical Sciences. I completed my BSc in Medical Biophysics at Western in 2022, where I first got into vascular research. My past research includes quantifying the characteristics of the microcirculation in rats undergoing dialysis and contributing to the vascular measures scoping review. For my MSc thesis, we hope to assess the relationships between vascular contributors to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) and cognitive function using epidemiological methods and machine learning. Beyond academics I love to learn, be in nature, and try new things!
THOR Lab Member 2022
Gabrielle Alimorad
Zach Schonberger
I am currently a Schulich medical student in the class of 2024. I obtained my bachelors and masters at the University of Guelph where I studied ecological theory. I plan to pursue a residency in rural family medicine. This past year I co-authored a review paper for non-invasive assessment techniques of vascular function and structure. Working with Dr. Frisbee, I have discovered the unique ways clinicians can remain involved in the world of research and would like to one-day incorporate research into my practice.
THOR Lab Member 2020-2022; Schulich Research Opportunities Program Award