PEOPLE

Principal Investigator:
Prof. Dr. Lauren Fink

I'm an asst. Professor in the Dept. of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, a member of the McMaster Insitute for Music & the Mind, and an affiliate of the School of Computational Science & Engineering. Prior to coming to McMaster and starting the BEAT Lab, I lived in Germany, California, England, and Ohio. My training as an orchestral percussionist with a focus on "experimental music" informs many of my research interests. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to work with incredible students and collaborators at McMaster and across the globe!

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PhD Student:
Shreshth Saxena

I'm interested in scalable methods of eye-tracking and their application to study audiovisual attention in dynamic real-world, music listening contexts. Prior to my Ph.D., I graduated with a Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science from University of Delhi, India, and gained valuable experience working as a Computer Vision developer in the industry. I'm always excited to discuss accessible technologies, mathematical/programming challenges, retro games and guitar riffs!

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PhD Student:
Maya Flannery

I am a first year PhD student interested in understanding how and why we like music through individual listening experiences. I have completed a BA and MSc in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University with a specialization in music cognition. Throughout my studies, I have developed a strong interest in Open Science issues and in creating an inclusive and accessible scientific community for everyone. Outside of academia, I am an amateur musician, enjoy being outdoors, and love sci-fi, fantasy and role-playing games.

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Masters Student:
Joshua Schlichting

Capstone Student:
Neil Lobo

I am a fifth year Computer Science undergraduate student at McMaster University currently working on developing the architecture needed to facilitate the real-time streaming and transformation of eye-tracking data at scale under the supervision of Dr. Lauren Fink and Shreshth Saxena. I enjoy solving the challenges that come with system design and am always eager to learn new tools & technologies to help me achieve that!

LinkedIn

Capstone Student:
Areez Visram

I am a fifth year Software Engineering undergraduate student at McMaster University currently working on developing the architecture needed to facilitate the real-time streaming and transformation of eye-tracking data at scale under the supervision of Dr. Lauren Fink and Shreshth Saxena. I have a keen interest in software design and learning how we can develop software systems to solve complex problems. In my personal life, I'm an avid sports (mainly soccer and hockey) fan and player, and I love reading!

LinkedIn

Thesis Student:
Mariyah Shaikh

Hi! I’m an undergraduate thesis student in the BEAT lab. I am obsessed with listening to music, which is why I want to better understand what cognitions underlie listening to auditory stimuli, like music. I am excited to learn about the research process and expand my knowledge base in psychology. For fun, I do enjoy baking, however, in my free time I’ll be watching tv :)

Independent Study Student:
Gloria Lui

Greetings! I’m Gloria, a third-year student in the PNB Mental Health program at McMaster University. I’m interested in exploring the connection between music and human cognition, and understanding how they contribute to fostering social cohesion. I’m excited to be part of the BEAT lab, where I delve into the intricate relationship between music and gaze movement. Beyond my academic pursuits, I find immense joy in expressing myself through music, whether it’s singing or playing various instruments. Exploring diverse cuisines and immersing myself in different cultures is another passion of mine.