BrainReach
BrainReach Elementary
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BrainReach Elementary Committee 2020-21

ALICE BRUNEAU - Co-President
​Born and raised in Montreal, Alice has always been passionate about the brain and how different parts of the body interact with the nervous system and has been a part of BrainReach Elementary for three years. 
​Her passion for sports has led to many experiences with pain and injuries, which got her wondering why people feel pain differently and sometimes don’t recover optimally from an injury. Her current research focus is on the neurophysiological mechanisms of chronic pain and prescription opioid misuse. Aside from neurosciences and neuropharmacology, she is passionate about puppies, cooking a good meal, playing various sports (at the beach or in the snow!) as well as just having a good time with her friends and family!
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NINA CAPORICCI-DINUCCI - English Volunteer Coordinator
Nina is a second year Master’s student in the Integrate Program in Neuroscience at McGill studying how a particular subset of cells in the brain, called ependymal cells, may be involved in Multiple Sclerosis progression.
Nina is passionate about accessible science communication and working with kids, which made joining BrainReach a no-brainer (no pun intended!)
​Besides neuroscience, Nina loves getting outside, cooking/eating, and reading.
ARIELLE CRESTOL - English Volunteer Coordinator
​Arielle is a second-year master’s student at McGill in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience. She is passionate about creating a better understanding of Alzheimer’s risk in women and is currently using imaging techniques to study the effects of menopause and genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s on memory and brain function.
As an enthusiast of all things science, she is excited to introduce neuroscience to kids in a fun and engaging way!
Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending her time either in nature or curling up with her cat and a good book.
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CAMILLE CHARLEBOIS-PLANTE - French Volunteer Coordinator
Camille completed her undergraduate studies in biomedical sciences as well as in psychology and is now a doctoral student in neuropsychology at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Louis De Beaumont. Her main interest is the long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injuries and sports concussions, as well as factors influencing post-trauma recovery. Through various non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, she evaluates the consequences of a blow to the head on neuronal plasticity. Beyond her academic interests, Camille is a yoga enthusiast and a true Foodie.
This is Camille's first year as Volunteers coordinator for French Elementary Schools, but her second year as a volunteer teacher for BrainReach. She is always delighted to share her passion for neurosciences with students.
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HYO LEE - Co-President
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Hyo is in the fourth year of his PhD study in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience at McGill University.
His research uses MRI and machine learning to model individual differences between epilepsy patients in order to predict their medication and surgical outcomes.
​Hyo loves to inspire enthusiasm, curiosity and thinking in young students about cool ideas in neuroscience and is excited to lead the team to make  BrainReach even more compelling to young minds!
​ALEXANDRA POTVIN-DESROCHERS - 
​French School Coordinator & French Translator
After completing her undergraduate degree and the MSc in Kinesiology, Alexandra is now doing her PhD in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience at McGill.
Her research uses brain imaging and non-invasive brain stimulation to study locomotion symptoms of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. This is Alexandra’s fourth year volunteering for BrainReach. She is now the French School Coordinator, and is also part of the on-call French translators team
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CAMILLE COUTURE - English School Coordinator
Camille completed her undergraduate degree in Anatomy and Cell Biology as well as her Master’s in the Integrated program in Neuroscience here at McGill and is now starting her PhD in Immunology and Microbiology at L’Université de Montréal.
Outside of research, Camille loves to get outdoors to play ultimate frisbee or go discover little cafes around Montreal.
​This will be Camille’s second year as the BrainReach English School Coordinator and she is very excited to be a part of the team and to work in collaboration with each school as well as with our volunteers.

VICTORIA JONES - Materials Coordinator
Victoria is a Neuroscience graduate proudly from Wales. Though currently taking a break from neuroscience research, Victoria is pursuing her desire to study and teach foreign languages. In her spare time, she loves to surf, to get creative in the kitchen and to explore all the cute tea spots around Montréal.
This will be Vicki’s second year on the BrainReach Elementary team and she is very excited about current projects the team are working on, despite the pandemic!
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HILARY SWEATMAN - Materials Distributor
Hilary is a PhD student in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience.
Her interests include cognitive development and education, and her research focuses on memory and social cognition in children with autism.
​Hilary is passionate about science outreach and hopes to encourage active learning, curiosity, and enthusiasm about the brain with her students.
​She spends her free time baking, kayaking, and exploring Montreal!

SOFIA SKROMNE - Materials Distributor
Sofia is a second year PhD Neuroscience student at McGill.
She moved to Montreal after completing her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. Her research interests encompass learning and memory, as well as addiction and PTSD.
This is her second year volunteering for BrainReach Elementary and she is super excited to be a part of the team!
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SHAIMA ALSUWAIDI -
​Materials Distributor and 
Presentation Designer
Shaima is pursuing a PhD program in the IPN.
Her research interests lie in using human tissue, cell culture techniques, and gene sequencing to understand diseases and disorders. This is her second year volunteering with Brain Reach Elementary as the Materials and Supplies Distributor and she is excited to also be working on presentation designs this year! She is passionate about inspiring people to use their skills and contribute to communities, and has been organizing creative learning programs in the UAE, Jordan and Zanzibar for 3 years now. Feel free to reach out to her if you want to chat about creative ideas!
ALEXA DERKSEN - Presentation Designer
Alexa is a second year Master’s student in the Integrated Program of Neuroscience at McGill University. Her research project focuses on the characterization of a novel gene believed to be implicated in an ultra rare leukodystrophy. In her free time Alexa enjoys playing soccer and baking. She is excited to express her creative side as presentation designer and hopes to inspire students’ interest in brain.
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ALEXANDER BAILEY -
Communications Officer and Presentation Designer

Alex is a recent graduate of Concordia University with a Bachelor of Science degree in honours behavioural neuroscience. He is currently working as research assistant in the Neural ABC Laboratory at Concordia University, where he examines functional connectivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis. Interested in all things brain-related, and after one year of volunteering with BrainReach Elementary, he is delighted to work as BrainReach Elementary’s Communications Officer and on the Presentation Design team. Having experienced BrainReach when he was in elementary school himself, Alex hopes that his full-circle journey might help inspire another generation to pursue the beauty and wonder of science and neuroscience.
SONJA SOO - External Events Coordinator
Sonja is a third year PhD student in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience at McGill University. Her research focuses on the genetics of aging and neurodegeneration. As the External Events Coordinator, she is excited about organizing public outreach events for BrainReach. In her spare time, Sonja likes biking, rock climbing and making ceramics.
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Previous Committee Members

2019-20
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

2016-17
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
2018-19
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

2015-16
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
2017-18
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

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