I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Montreal and am currently completing my doctorate in neuroscience at the same university. My research interests focus mainly on the impact of certain hormones (mainly cortisol, estrogen and progesterone) on cognitive processes and physiological stress. Specifically, one of my PhD projects focuses on the impact of exposure to an adverse environment during childhood (such as neglect or poverty) on cognitive processes and stress in adults. As such, I measure cognitive functions as well as stress hormones in the saliva of adults who report (or do not) to have experienced these types of events during childhood. Another one of my research projects focuses on the impact of taking hormonal contraceptives containing synthetic estrogen during adolescence or adulthood on the stress system, as well as on certain subtle cognitive processes such as attention and emotional regulation during adulthood. These research projects will allow for a better understanding of the mechanism in which chronic exposure to hormones can lead to the development of certain psychopathologies, such as depression and anxiety.
