Members
Principal Investigator
Xiaoqian Chai, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery
McGill University
Email: xiaoqian.chai [at] mcgill.ca (xiaoqian.chai@mcgill)xiaoqian.chai [at] mcgill.ca (.ca)
Graduate Students
Hilary Sweatman
Email: hilary.sweatman [at] mail.mcgill.ca
I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Toronto and am now pursuing a PhD in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience. My research interests include cognitive development, memory, and education. I am passionate about science outreach and hope to encourage active learning, curiosity, and enthusiasm about the brain with students young and old. In my free time, I enjoy baking, kayaking, and exploring Montreal!
Hongxiu Jiang
Email: hongxiu.jiang [at] mail.mcgill.ca
I am currently a first-year Ph.D. student in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience. I come from China and obtained my master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. It is a pretty precious opportunity for me to study at McGill University and join the Chai Lab. I’m very excited about the coming days in Montreal.
Jonah Kember
Email: jonah.kember [at] mail.mcgill.ca
I'm originally from Sarnia, Ontario, although I've recently moved to Montreal to pursue my PhD in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience. I obtained my Master's degree from Brock University, where I researched: how functional networks derived from EEG dynamically change during various cognitive processes (i.e., response inhibition, word reading), how these task-related changes develop in children, and how these changes are altered in neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, dyslexia). In Dr. Chai's lab, I plan on researching the dynamic interactions between neocortical areas and the hippocampus that support episodic memory encoding/retrieval using MEG. In my free time, I enjoy racing sailboats and spending time with my wife and puppy!
Simeng Li
Email: simeng.li [at] mail.mcgill.ca
I am a student in Dual Master’s degree program in BME (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China/UESTC) and Neuroscience (McGill, IPN). My research interests include working memory, attention, and distractor suppression. It's my great honor to join Chai's lab and get help from Dr. Chai. That's a wonderful and memorable experience.
Qin Ding
Email: qin.ding [at] mail.mcgill.ca
I am a student in Dual Master’s degree program in BME (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China/UESTC) and Neuroscience (McGill, IPN). My research interest is mainly about memory and sleep. In Dr. Chai's lab, I plan to explore specific brain activities about visuo-spatial memory consolidation during sleep, by the methods of fMRI, EEG and tACS. In my spare time, I like cooking and watching science fiction movies.
Undergraduate Students
Alan Yin
Email: haoran.yin [at] mail.mcgill.ca
I am a current undergraduate psychology major at McGill, aspiring cognitive/behavioral neuroscience as research for future graduate studies. I’m originally from China and moved to Canada in 2016. After that, I have lived in various places in Canada and explored different interests of mine. Luckily, I have finally found my calling after joining the Chai Lab. For my project in the Chai Lab specifically, I am investigating functional brain connectivity differences between monolingual and bilingual children and between early and late bilingual children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.
Isaac Bouhdana
Email: isaac.bouhdana [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Born and raised in Montreal, I completed my CEGEP studies in Arts and Sciences at Marianopolis College and am currently completing my Bachelor of Science at McGill University with a Major in Neuroscience and a Minor in Education. In the Chai Lab, I am using functional magnetic resonance imaging to better understand the networks that make theory of mind different in autistic and neurotypical individuals. Outside of the lab, you can find me participating in Model United Nations, supporting students as a Residence Advisor, or reading Greek mythology!
Alumni
Postdoc:
Zeus Gracia-Tabuenca (University of Zaragoza)
Master's student:
Romke Hannema
Pascale Patenaude
Lianne van Schaik
Undergraduate RA:
Shirley Zhang
Dominique Lumley
Kristen Chang
Shangyi Gao
Alejandra Martinez
Jessica Cheng
Melissa Eustache