Our Team
Principal Investigator
Dr. Daniel McGrath
Dr. McGrath, PhD., is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary and a Senior Research Fellow at the Alberta Gambling Research Institute (AGRI).
His research program is primarily focused on behavioural pharmacology, personality, addictions, and risk-taking behaviour. Another major research area is the role of cognitive biases in disordered gambling. Specifically, Dr. McGrath is interested in the influence of attention to visual stimuli captured with eye-gaze tracking on gambling outcomes and ultimately relapse among remitted gamblers. Lastly, Dr. McGrath has several other gambling-focused research interests, including disordered gambling subtypes, personality characteristics of gamblers, and the role of expectancies in gambling.
Research Staff
Cailynne Smith
Cailynne is a research assistant with Dr. McGrath and is deeply intrigued by the opportunity to delve deeper into the complexities of substance use and gambling behaviour. Cailynne is a recent graduate of the University of Calgary, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with First Class Honours and a minor in Sociology. Her previous honours research in Dr. Linda Carlson’s Psychosocial Oncology Lab explored the beneficial effects of mindfulness on the wellbeing of cancer caregivers. Cailynne is hoping to further her academic journey by pursuing graduate studies in counselling psychology.
Jamie Kaufhold
Jamie is pursuing graduate studies in Psychology. He graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours), majoring in psychology. Jamie is passionate about psychopathology and cognitive science. His previous research in the Peak Research Lab and the Partnering for Pain Lab has explored pediatric chronic pain, PTSD, and resilience factors. Jamie has also completed a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Technologies & Construction Management from VIA University College in Denmark and a diploma in Architectural Technologies from SAIT Polytechnic.
Graduate Students
Kyle Tuico
Kyle is a second-year master's student in the Psychology Graduate Program. He graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Science (Honours), majoring in psychology. Throughout his master's degree, Kyle will be conducting research on various modes of financial risk-taking such as gambling, stock trading, cryptocurrency investing, and sports betting.
Daniel Cunningham
Daniel is a second-year master's student in the Psychology Graduate Program. He is co-supervised by Dr. McGrath and Dr. Chris Sears from the Cognition and Emotion Lab. Daniel completed his Bachelor of Science (Honours) with a major in psychology at the University of Calgary. His research is focused on the relationship between attention and disordered gambling behaviour, and specifically on how stress can influence this relationship.
Diandra Leslie
Diandra is a second-year PhD student in the Psychology Graduate Program. She received her Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Toronto, where she completed a double major in psychology and human biology, and she received her Master's degree in psychology from the University of Calgary under the supervision of Dr. McGrath. Diandra's research interests include mental health and addictions among emerging and young adults. Her dissertation research will focus on factors that influence university students' substance use and gambling habits.
Honours Students
Olivia Nelson
Olivia is a fourth-year undergraduate student completing a Bachelor of Science with a major in Psychology. Dr. McGrath is supervising her honours thesis. Her research is centred on cryptocurrency.
Independent Studies Students and Volunteers
Eleni Moumos
Eleni is a fifth-year student in the Undergraduate Psychology program with a minor in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies. Dr. McGrath supervises her in a PSYC 504 independent study project. Her research is focused on how people interact with sports betting, some of the strategies they use to control their betting, and their ability to self-regulate their gambling behaviour.
Carter Bird
Carter is completing his second year of studies in the Psychology undergraduate program, with interests in gambling, sensation and perception, and personality. His end goal is to study law, with a specialization in business areas such as intellectual property, and securities. He is a former student of Dr. McGrath and current volunteer in his lab.
Alumni
Graduate Students
Braydon Slack, M.Sc., 2020-2022
Emma Ritchie, M.Sc., 2017-2019
Chelsea Fitzpatrick, M.Sc., 2017-2019
Christina Rash, M.Sc., 2016-2018
Research Staff
Daniel Andruchow, Research Assistant (2022-2023)
Kyle Tuico, Lab Coordinator (2021-2022)
Roshni Sohail, Research Assistant (2020-2022)
Sydney Seidel, Lab Coordinator (2020-2021)
Emma Ritchie, Lab Coordinator (2019-2020), Research Assistant (2016-2017)
Nicole Romanow, Lab Coordinator (2016-2019), Research Assistant (2015-2016)
Célina Boothby, Lab Coordinator (2015-2016), Research Assistant (2017)
Stefania Garlicka, Research Assistant (2017-2018)
Honours Students
Maria Tourani, B.A. (Hons), 2022-2023
Daniel Andruchow, B.A. (Hons), 2021-2022
Roshni Sohail, B.Sc. (Hons), 2021-2022
Stephanie Onoferychuk, B.A. (Hons), 2019-2020
Sydney Seidel, B.A. (Hons), 2019-2020
Aisha Taylor, B.A. (Hons), 2018-2019
Brett Rothery, B.Sc. (Hons), 2018-2019
Stephen Williams, B.A. (Hons), 2016-2017
Christina Rash, B.A. (Hons), M.Sc., 2015-2016
Emma Ritchie, B.A. (Hons), M.Sc., 2015-2016
Independent Studies Students and Volunteers
Jamie Kaufhold, Independent Studies Student (2023)
Denny Morrison, Independent Studies Student (2022)
Daniel Cunningham, Independent Studies Student (2020)
Tugce Bozalioglu (TJ), Volunteer (2019)
Kyla Franco, Independent Studies Student (2019)
Mallaz Naimi-Beauchamp, Independent Studies Student (2017-2018)
Emma Xie, Independent Studies Student (2017-2018)
Christine Novtizky, Independent Studies Student (2017)
Eva Fluckiger, Independent Studies Student (2017)
Brittany Horiachka, Independent Studies Student (2016-2017)
Amadeus Meitner, Independent Studies Student (2015-2016)