Serena is a first-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at McGill University. Her research interests are mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions for promoting health behavior change. Her current research focuses on developing and evaluating of a therapist-companion mobile application that clients can use to practice acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) techniques in between sessions to reduce emotional eating behaviours.
Serena Thapar
PhD Student
serena.thapar [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Education
2022-Present | Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
2018-2022 | Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) in Psychology and Health Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
Publications
Thapar, S., Mah, L. (2021). Mental health outcomes during COVID-19: A scoping review & recommendations for geriatrics research. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(4), S54–S58. [Abstract]
Conference Presentations & Oral Communications
Khan, B., Chu, C., Bolea-Alamañac, B., Carlyle-Leon, M., Nguyen, M., Thapar, S., Liu, R., Fanaieyan, R., Tadrous, M., Bhattacharyya, O., Kurdyak, P., O’Riordan, A., Keresteci, M. (2022, September 14). Changes in psychological symptoms of adults using internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pragmatic pre-post design. [Poster presentation]. The 10th European Conference on Mental Health, Lisbon, Portugal.
Thapar, S., Park, Y., MacDonald, G. (2022, April). Validating the Autonomous Motivations for Dating Scale (AMD-S). [Poster presentation]. The 2nd Annual Psychology Undergraduate Research Spotlight, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. (Virtual).
Thapar, S. (2021, July). Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy program evaluation. [Presentation]. The Women’s College Research Institute Summer Student Symposium. Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario. (Virtual).
Thapar, S., Mah, L. (2021, June). Mental health outcomes during COVID-19: A scoping review & recommendations for geriatrics research. [Snapshot presentation]. The 82nd Annual Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) National Convention. Adult Development and Aging. (Virtual).
Thapar, S., Mah, L. (2021, May). Mental health outcomes during COVID-19: A scoping review & recommendations for geriatrics research. [Poster presentation]. The Inaugural Canadian Stress Research Summit (CSRS), Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario. (Virtual).
Thapar, S., Mah, L. (2021, March). Mental health outcomes during COVID-19: A scoping review & recommendations for geriatrics research. [Poster presentation]. The 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP). (Virtual).
Thapar, S., Park, Y., MacDonald, G. (2021, March). Singles’ Motivation Predicts Their Ideal Partner and Relationship. [Poster presentation]. The Faculty of Arts and Science Research Opportunities Program (ROP) Online Poster Fair, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. (Virtual).
Thapar, S., Yeung, C. (2020, August). COVID-19: Risks to Mental Health in Seniors. [Presentation]. The Rotman Research Institute Summer Student Symposium. Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario. (Virtual).
Funding
2022 - 2023 | Graduate Excellence Award, McGill University - $15,000
2022 - 2023 | Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master's [Declined] - $17,500
2022 | Dr. James A. & Connie P. Dickson Scholarship in Science & Mathematics, University College, University of Toronto - $500
2022 | Harold Willett Stewart Memorial Scholarship, University College, University of Toronto - $900
2021 | George Mandler Research Fund - Department of Psychology, University of Toronto - $602
2021 | University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA) – Social Sciences and Humanities Research - $6,000
2021 | Dr. James A. & Connie P. Dickson Scholarship in Science & Mathematics, University College, University of Toronto - $500
2021 | University of Toronto Scholar - $1500
2020 | Dr. James A. & Connie P. Dickson Scholarship in Science & Mathematics, University College, University of Toronto - $500
2020 | University of Toronto Scholar - $1500
2019 | University College Alumni Scholarship and Bursary Fund, University of Toronto - $500
2018 | University College Special Admission Scholarship, University of Toronto - $1000
2018 | University of Toronto Scholars Program - $7,500