BILGEHAN CAVDAROGLU

PhD Student

I completed my BA and MA in psychology at Koc University in Istanbul. During my MA, I studied optimal behavior in temporal and numerical decision making task with humans and mice under the supervision of Dr. Fuat Balci. I am currently investigating decision making under approach avoidance conflict using novel operant paradigms in Ito Lab. I am hoping to use the information gained from these novel paradigms for explaining problematic decision making processes in disorders such as drug addiction and anxiety and elucidate the brain pathways behind them. In my spare time I enjoy reading about history, politics, science fiction and spending time with friends.

SADIA RIAZ

PhD Student

I completed my B.Sc. (Neuroscience specialist) and MA (Psychology, with a specialization in behavioural neuroscience) at the University of Toronto, and am currently pursuing a PhD at the Ito Lab. I first joined lab as an undergraduate thesis student, interested in examining the role of the hippocampus in contextual memory processing. My undergraduate research experience helped me realize my passion for behavioural neuroscience research and paved the way for my graduate career at the Ito lab. Currently, I am investigating the role of the medial prefrontal cortex in contextual memory processing and, more broadly, I am interested in investigating and elucidating the neural circuitry underlying contextual versus cue memory processing. Besides research, I enjoy teaching, spending time with my cat, family and friends, watching movies, and being organized.

TANNER MCNAMARA

MSc Student

I rWhile attempting a double major in Russian and Psychology at Carleton College in beautiful Northfield, MN, I landed in Dr. Sarah Meerts’ lab studying female rat mating behaviour, and thus my interest in neuroscience was born. After working a couple lab tech jobs following completion of my degree, I am very happy to be with Dr. Ito at the University of Toronto, where I am excited to combine her interest in approach-avoidance conflict with my interest in providing alcohol to underage rats. Outside the lab, I can usually be found playing chess, frisbee, or soccer. Or cooking and eating. Inside the lab, I can usually be found alone early in the morning drinking lots of coffee while everyone else is still asleep. 

JEFFREY KATES

MSc Student

Hailing from Kelowna, B.C., I received my B.Sc. (Hons.) in Neuroscience from the University of Calgary and am currently working towards an M.Sc. in Cell & Systems Biology in Dr. Ito’s lab. I have a keen interest in the neural circuitry underlying motivated behaviour, with my research focused on using chemogenetics to explore the role of ventral hippocampal projections in approach-avoidance conflict. In the future, I hope to expand my research to include topics such as mental health/addiction, machine learning, and neuroeconomics. My interests outside of research include hockey (huge Canucks fan), reading, playing guitar, and astronomy.

PICTURES of LIFE in the LAB & OUTSIDE