Lab Director: Enda Tan (he/him)
I am interested in the “how” and “why” questions of the human mind. My research aims to uncover how basic mental processes give rise to the complex thoughts, emotions, and behaviours we see in everyday life.
I am committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive research environment and to mentoring students from all backgrounds.
When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, biking, playing guitars with flatwound or nylon strings, and dancing Lindy Hop.
Lab Coordinator: Alice Zaric (she/her)
Hi, my name is Alice and I am the TAN Lab Coordinator for the 2026-27 year. I am a fifth year BSc honours psychology student, and I completed my honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Jim Tanaka last year. I have many different research interests, but broadly, my interests surround cognition and learning, neurodevelopmental disabilities, and translating psychological science into practice. After this year, I hope to pursue graduate school in either clinical or cognitive psychology.
In the TAN Lab, I will be helping to coordinate the different ongoing research projects as we navigate the first year of being a lab. I am particularly excited to be helping on a project about prediction error, surprise, and learning in infants & children.
Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, arts and crafts, watching copious amounts of reality TV, and practicing yoga.
Honours Student: Ivey Patrick (she/her)
Hi! My name is Ivey, and I am the current honours student in the TAN Lab at the University of Victoria. At the TAN Lab I am working on research about ensemble emotion perception in kids.
Outside of lab I work at the Victoria SPCA as a senior camp counsellor, combining my love of working with kids and animals! If I’m not at work or in the lab, I spend most of my time with my pets, in nature, or with a good book!
Research Assistant: Afia Zafarullah (she/her)
Hi, my name is Afia and I am a research assistant in the TAN Lab at the University of Victoria!
I am a third year psychology student and my research interests include social psychology, developmental psychology, and neuroscience. I hope to pursue a career in healthcare or research.
Outside of academics, I enjoy hiking & cooking.
Research Assistant: Cassandra Chan (she/her)
Hi! I’m Cassandra, a research assistant at the TAN Lab at the University of Victoria. I’m a third-year Biopsychology student, with a specificity in Neurobiology and a minor in Professional Communications. I’m currently working towards becoming an honours student, and I plan on pursuing further research in endocrinology.
At the TAN lab, I’m working on organization and participant recruitment. Outside of the lab, I like to read fantasy-sci-fi novels, go rock climbing with friends, and watch Jetlag: The Game on YouTube.
Research Assistant: Gillian Clark (she/her)
Hi! My name is Gillian and I am a fourth year psychology student working towards my bachelor of science at UVic.
I am particularly interested in the lifespan and development stream of psychology, and have always had a passion for working with kids, particularly in environments such as summer camps where I can be a part of the playing, learning and interacting that occurs. Post graduation I am hoping to pursue a master’s degree in counselling psychology.
Outside of school, my interests include cooking, baking, ocean dips and nature.
Research Assistant: Lizzie Slogotski (she/her)
Lizzie is entering her fifth year at UVic. She is taking one extra semester to complete an independent study and grad school prerequisites. She is on track to earn a BA in Psychology with Distinction and plans for graduate school next year.
Lizzie is currently helping TAN Lab with the early stages of a study based around intention attribution, and is interested in research involving child emotion perception.
Outside of school, Lizzie loves working at her job as a behavioural interventionist and spends her free time singing, nerding out over comic books and musical theatre, doing creative writing, and snuggling with her five cats.
Research Assistant: Paige Jung (she/her)
Hi! My name is Paige, and I’m currently entering my 5th year at UVic with a major in psychology.
I have always enjoyed working with kids and getting to be part of their learning, growth, and everyday fun. I hope to pursue a master’s in counselling or clinical psychology.
In my free time, I love photography, going to the beach, and spending time with friends and family.
Research Assistant: Reice McCulloch (he/him)
I am a multidisciplinary student with a combined BSc in mathematics and computer science, as well as a background in philosophy and statistics. My primary research interest is developmental psychology, and I am pursuing a graduate degree in the field. Outside the lab, I work as a community support worker, train for marathons, and tend to my garden.
Research Assistant: Seoyoung Shin (she/her)
I am a Research Assistant at the TAN Lab with 14 years of professional experience in early childhood education, including 6 dedicated years working locally in Victoria, British Columbia and I currently serve as an Education Assistant (EA) with School District 62. Originally from South Korea, I bring a rich global perspective that includes working at an international school in Tianjin, China, for two years, alongside my proficiency in both Mandarin and Korean. I hold British Columbia certifications as an ECE, ITE, and SNE.
Central to my research profile is my 18-year journey of parenting and my first-hand experience as an immigrant. This unique background allows me to build deep, authentic rapport with diverse families, making me a vital asset in participant recruitment and family engagement for developmental studies. Having recently completed specialized EEG training, I seamlessly bridge neuroimaging techniques with empathetic, field-tested communication. Currently preparing for my Master’s and PhD trajectory, my goal is to leverage this blend of multicultural fieldwork and neurodevelopmental research to advance inclusive early intervention practices.
Special Research Associate: Púca (they/them)
I am a Cadboro Bay–based researcher who attends lab meetings exclusively via Zoom.
My research examines interactions between human children and researchers, with a particular focus on the children’s highly effective methods of keeping scientists humble. I spend much of my time hanging out with kids in the waiting room and collecting data on how thoroughly they roast the researchers. My findings consistently suggest that the researchers deserve it.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy sliding down muddy hills, juggling rocks, and challenging anyone brave enough to a game of water tag.