Who we are

Dr. Theresa Pauly

Assistant Professor

Dr. Theresa Pauly is an Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair, and the Lab Director for the Lifelong Health & Wellbeing Lab at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Pauly completed her PhD at the University of British Columbia in 2020. Her research program broadly assesses how psychosocial contexts get under our skin to influence health and well-being in old age.

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Dr. Victoria Michalowski 

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Victoria Michalowski is a Postdoctoral Fellow, working with the COPE Study at the Lifelong Health & Wellbeing Lab at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Michalowski earned her PhD in Health Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests broadly include determinants of positive aging, health behaviour change, and stress & coping. She has expertise in advanced quantitative data analysis and ambulatory assessment methods. Dr. Michalowski’s current research is focused on investigating everyday facilitators and barriers to coping with extreme heat events (e.g., heat waves, heat domes) among older adults.

Aryana Mohammed

MA student

Aryana Mohammed is a performing artist, and former high school drama teacher from Trinidad and Tobago. Aryana is currently pursuing her MA in Gerontology at SFU with a research focus on understanding how group storytelling can be used to promote psychological resilience and wellbeing among older individuals experiencing psychological trauma. Aryana holds a BSc Psychology (Special) degree from the University of the West Indies and a BFA in Performing Arts (Acting) degree from the University of Trinidad and Tobago. Her aim is to use her expertise in mental health and the performing arts to advocate for social prescribing among the older adults.

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Mayela González Vázquez

Research Manager / Research Assistant 

Mayela González Vázquez is a Research Project Manager and Research Assistant at the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Lab at Simon Fraser University, in the COPE and DASH studies. She holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of British Columbia. Mayela is passionate about aging research and understanding how psychosocial and environmental factors shape health outcomes later in life. Her academic and research interests are rooted in a commitment to social justice and improving the lives of marginalized populations.

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