Meet Our Team Elementary

BrainReach Elementary Committee 2024-25

Annie Phan - Co-President

After completing her undergraduate degree in Biology and Psychology and Master's degree in Neuroscience, Annie is now a PhD student in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience at McGill. She is interested in studying how prenatal and early life stressors and experiences affect neurodevelopment using mice models, studying how they relate to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Annie is an avid traveler and has visited over 50 countries in 6 continents. She hopes to one day run a marathon in Antarctica. When not in the lab or traveling, Annie can be found training at her local kickboxing gym.

Frédérike Parent-L’Ecuyer - Co-President

During her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology, Frédérike took a course on motor control and she fell in love with neuroscience. After completing a project on Parkinson’s disease, she enrolled in a MSc program to pursue research on how the brain control locomotion, especially in clinical populations. She graduated from McGill in 2023 and pursued her studies in literature at UQAM in order to specialize in knowledge translation. She started volunteering for BrainReach in 2021 as a volunteer teacher, she was school coordinator in 2022 and 2024, and, in 2024, she became co-president. Outside of her studies, Frédérike enjoys baking and participating in all kinds of outdoor activities.

Peter Fleming - Volunteer Coordinator

Peter is a second year Master’s Neuroscience student at McGill. He joined the Neuroscience program after completing his undergraduate degree in Immunology. He is currently researching the rare neurodevelopmental disorder FOXG1 Syndrome. Outside of the lab he enjoys cycling, hiking, reading, and teaching. This is his second year working with the BrainReach program.

Sneha Sukumaran - Materials Coordinator

Sneha is a PhD student in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience at McGill University. Her research project is on deciphering the molecular mechanisms behind medulloblastoma, which is a pediatric brain tumor. Outside of the lab, Sneha enjoy sketching and swimming!

Jax Norman - Materials Preparation / Management

Jax is a PhD student studying pain and neuroscience at McGill. As a volunteer with BrainReach for three years, Jax loves sharing her passion for neuroscience with local elementary students. Her goal is to make science fun and accessible for everyone, no matter their background. Outside of her studies Jax enjoys pinball, amateur taxonomy, and hosting dinner parties.

Amelia Semenak - School Coordinator

After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, Amelia joined the Integrated Program in Neuroscience at McGill as a PhD student. Amelia’s research is focused on the design of gene therapy tools for Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive brain tumour. Amelia volunteered last year as an educator and now works as one of two school coordinators on the BrainReach Elementary team.

Edan Shpigel - Social Media Manager & Creator

After completing his Bachelor’s in Physiology and Minor Psychology, Edan is a 2nd year Master’s student in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience at McGill. His project focuses on the role of Neogenin in the development of cortical interneurons as well as rodent behaviour.
Away from the lab, Edan is captain of the McGill Tennis Team and is also active in multiple soccer intramurals teams. During his off time, Edan can be found playing tennis, BIXI-ing, and/or running around Montreal!

Olivia Cargnel - Web / Blog Manager & Creator

Olivia recently completed her B.Sc. in Psychology at McGill with a minor in Biology. Before she pursues another degree, Olivia is dedicating a year to working and volunteering with various organizations, including Brainreach!
If Olivia’s not working or studying, she’s probably making coffee, skipping leg day, or hanging out with her cat Felix :)

Previous Committee Members

2022-2023

Co-President - Annie Phan
Co-President - Justine Fortin-Houde
Volunteer Coordinator - Peter Fleming
Volunteer Coordinator - Iliana Ibañez
Materials Coordinator - Sneha Sukumaran
External Events Coordinator - Amelie Metz
Presentation Designer - Ali Kassab
English School Coordinator - Frédérike Parent-L'Ecuyer
Materials Distributor - Hilary Sweatman
School Coordinator - Amelia Semenak

2019-2020

Co-President - Noor Al-Sharif
Co-President - Hyo Lee
Volunteer Coordinator - Arianna Izawa-Ishiguro
Volunteer Coordinator - Badriah Basma
French School Coordinator - Alice Bruneau
English School Coordinator - Camille Couture
Materials Coordinator - Victoria Jones
Materials Distributor - Hilary Sweatman
Materials Distributor - Shaima Alsuwaidi
Materials Distributor - Sofia Skromne
Presentation Designer - Alexa Derksen
Presentation Designer - Nicholas James
External Events - Sonja Soo
Communications Officer - Alexander Bailey
French Translator - Alexandra Potvin-Desrochers

2018-2019

President - Noor Al-Sharif
Volunteer Coordinator - Yvonne Yau
Volunteer Coordinator - Zahraa Chorghay
French School Coordinator - Alice Bruneau
English School Coordinator - Nicole Ledwos
Materials Preparation - Jennifer Boateng
Materials Distributor - Nicholas James
Presentation Designer - Reesha Raja
Presentation Designer - Hyo Min Lee
External Events - Gloria Castaneda
Communications/Social Media - Marie-Julie Allard

2017-2018

President - Anastasia Sares
Volunteer Coordinator - Yvonne Yau
Volunteer Coordinator - Zahraa Chorghay
French School Coordinator - Maria Zamfir
French School Coordinator - Marie-Julie Allard
English School Coordinator - Scott Bell
English School Coordinator - Gloria Castaneda
Materials Preparation - Philip Cooper
Materials Distributor - Jennifer Boateng
Presentation Designer - Noor Al-Sharif
Presentation Designer - Reesha Raja
Communications/Social Media - Katrine Iversen

2016-2017

President - Daniel Zhou
Volunteer Coordinator - Yvonne Yau
Volunteer Coordinator - Zahraa Chorghay
French School Coordinator - Anastasia Sares
French School Coordinator - Marie-Julie Allard
English School Coordinator - Sreeparna Pradhan
English School Coordinator - Gloria Castaneda
Material Preparation - Reesha Raja
Material Distributor - Noor Al-Sharif
Presentation Designer - Scott Bell
Presentation Designer - Keren Ginzberg
Communications/Social Media - Falisha Karpati

2015-2016

President - Falisha Karpati
Volunteer Coordinator - Yvonne Yau
Volunteer Coordinator - Zahraa Chorghay
French School Coordinator - Veronique Laforte
French School Coordinator - Anastasia Sares
English School Coordinator - Gloria Castaneda
English School Coordinator - Sreeparna Pradhan
Materials Preparation - Kangjoo Lee
Materials Distributor - Reesha Raja
Presentation Design - Daniel Zhou
Presentation Design - Scott Bell

Previous years

Emily Coffey, Jonathan Berken, Laureline Arnaud, Jessie Kulaga, Neda Parine, Sibylle Herholz, Jenea Bin, Cindy Hovington, Pascal Kropf, Rola Dali, Gina Trinh, Ian Mahar