Team
The Team
Principal Investigator
Eva Pila, PhD
Dr. Eva Pila is an Assistant Professor at Western University in the School of Kinesiology. Her academic background consists of a BSc in Kinesiology and Psychology at McMaster University, MSc in Exercise Science (Behavioural Stream) at McGill University/University of Toronto, PhD in Exercise Science (Behavioural Stream). She completed a joint postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Women’s College Hospital, and the University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Pila’s research program is currently funded by SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council). As a new investigator, she has been recognized with a national award (Franklin Henry Young Scientist Award, 2018) from the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology. She is also an Editorial Board Member for Body Image: An International Journal of Research, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, and Sex Roles.
Dr. Pila has had a longstanding interest in body image and women’s health. Specifically, she is interested in affective experiences (e.g., self-conscious emotions; self-compassion) as related to body image and health (behaviour). She has experience working with community populations across the lifespan (e.g., adult women, adolescents, athletes) and clinical populations (e.g., adolescent eating disorders, mood disorders, breast cancer).
Current Graduate Students
Kelsey Sick, MA (PhD Year 4)
Kelsey completed a BSc in Kinesiology at the University in Calgary and MA in Kinesiology at Western University. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Psychological Basis of Kinesiology with a research interest in the development of the ‘self’. In her theoretical-based research program, she will test an integrated model of physical self-evaluations and their relations to global self-concept during various time-scales of adolescence. Collectively, the forthcoming findings of this doctoral research will highlight the dynamic interplay between the temporal processes that drive relations among adolescent girls’ global self-concept and domain-specific physical self-evaluations.
SSHRC CGS-Doctoral Award (2021-2024)
Dr. Bert Carron Scholarship in Sport & Exercise Psychology (2021)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2020-2021)
Mitacs Accelerate-SSHRC Joint Initiative Fellowship (2020)
Earle F. Zeigler Scholarship (2020)
Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Conference Travel Award (2018; 2019; 2021; 2022)
Brown Commemorative Scholarship (2018)
Western Graduate Research Scholarship (2017-2022)
Zach Staffell, MSc (PhD Year 2)
Zach completed a Bachelor of Human Kinetics in 2021 and Master of Human Kinetics in 2023 from the University of Windsor. He is currently a second year PhD student in the Psychological Basis of Kinesiology with a research interest in body image and self-compassion in men. Outside of academia, Zach enjoys playing hockey and golf, spending time with friends and family, and playing with his kitten (Goose).
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2022-2023)
Samantha Adler, MS (PhD Year 1)
Sam is a first year PhD student in the Psychological Basis of Kinesiology program. Prior to Western, she received her BS in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota, and her MS in Sport & Exercise Psychology from Springfield College. Between programs, she spent time working as a researcher for the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics. With considerations for intersectionality and the influence of sociocultural contexts, her research focuses on increasing accessibility to sport and physical activity, enhancing physical self-perceptions (e.g., body image), and promoting enjoyment in movement among diverse youth. Outside of academia, Sam loves to walk and (leisurely) jog outside, watch sports, visit markets/fairs, and find new food spots!
Megan Sutton, BMSc (MA Year 1)
Megan is a first year MA candidate in the Psychological Basis of Kinesiology program. She recently completed a BMSc in Medical Sciences at Western University and has been a research assistant in the BIH lab for 2 years. Through an intersectional lens, Megan’s research interests include body image, societal ideals, and physical activity engagement in relation to one’s psychological, emotional, and mental health. Outside of academia, Megan enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Graduate Fellowship (2024)
Undergraduate Summer Research Internship (2023, 2024)
Research Assistants
Emily Dietrich, MSc
Undergraduate Research Volunteers
Elitza Parvanova
(Kinesiology, Year 4)
Volunteer 2019 – 2020
Julie Dunn
(Kinesiology, Year 4)
Volunteer 2019 – 2020
Maggie Lai
(Kinesiology, Year 4)
Volunteer 2019 – 2020
Michelle Lui
(Kinesiology, Year 4)
Volunteer 2019 – 2020
Olivia Kyriakopoulos
(Kinesiology, Year 4)
Volunteer 2021
Cindy Wen
(Medical Science, Year 3)
Volunteer 2021 – 2022
Emma Newman
(Kinesiology, Year 4)
Volunteer 2021
Balraj Gill
(Kinesiology, Year 4)
Volunteer 2021 – 2022
Alumni
Katarina Huellemann, PhD, MSc
Katarina obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Western in 2018 and a MSc in Social Psychology at Western in 2020, and she completed her PhD in the Department of Psychology, co-supervised by Drs. Rachel Calogero and Eva Pila. She is interested in how body image, gender, and self-perceptions interact to influence disordered eating and dysfunctional exercise behaviour. Additionally, she is interested in the role of self-conscious emotions and emotion-regulation processes (self-compassion, mindfulness) on body image, exercise, and mental health. Outside of the academic world, Katarina enjoys cooking, spending time with her dog (Bentley) and cat (Zeke), and yoga.
SSHRC CGS-Doctoral Fellowship (2022-2025)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2021-2022)
Leola E. Neil Award (2021)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2020-2021)
Western Graduate Research Grant (2020; 2021)
Ralph S. Devereux Award in Psychology (2020)
Graduate Travel Award (Society for Personality and Social Psychology Convention) (2019)
Sara Stanley, MA, BA
Sara Stanley completed her MA degree under the supervision of Dr. Eva Pila, and also completed her Honour’s Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology with a Major in Psychology from Western University in June 2022. Her primary research interests are sexual and gender minority body image. Additionally, she is interested in investigating the novel construct of ‘fitness culture norms’ within populations of women who either endorse or reject them. Outside of the lab, Sara enjoys sewing and painting her nails.
Undergraduate Student Research Internship (2022)
Jade Bailey, MA, BA
Jade completed a BA Honours Specialization in Kinesiology at Western University and a MA in the Psychological Basis of Kinesiology. Her research interests are on the intersections of body image, mental health, and physical activity in adult female and LGBTQ+ populations. She is particularly interested in and passionate about self-compassion and intuitive movement interventions. Outside of academia Jade is an avid triathlete, enjoys playing classical violin, loves to cook, and is a general extrovert who loves being around other people.
CIHR CGS-Master’s Scholarship (2022-2023)
Undergraduate Student Research Internship (2021)
Dean’s Honour List (2017, 2018, 2019)
Karen Leung, MA, BA
Karen completed a BA in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology at Western University, and a MA student in the Psychological Basis of Kinesiology with research interests in body image, exercise, and mental health. Specifically, her research focused on investigating biological effects and affective experiences, such as body-related guilt and shame of higher weight women and novice exercisers in social evaluative contexts. With additional interests in positive body image, she is interested in exploring how positive domains of body image can promote adaptive exercise, mental health, and well-being. The overall objective of her research was to identify evidence-based strategies to promote exercise and to attenuate the negative effects of weight stigma for higher weight women.
Kinesiology Graduate Conference Travel Award (2022)
Mitacs Accelerate Internship (2022)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2021-2022; 2022-2023)
Western Graduate Research Scholarship (2021-2023)
Undergraduate Student Research Internship (2021)
Dean’s Honour List (2020; 2021)
Vanessa Coulbeck, MA, BA
Vanessa graduated from the Honours BA in Kinesiology program at Western University, and completed her MA in the Psychological Basis of Kinesiology program. Vanessa’s research interests include body image and psycho-education practices related to involvement in sport and physical activity. She is also interested in emotion regulation processes (self-compassion & mindfulness) with intuitive physical activity promotion in adolescent females. She hopes to see this research be used in physical education contexts and sport federations/foundations to promote a positive uplifting environment, and improve sport and physical activity adherence throughout their lifespan, with a greater appreciation for being compassionate and mindful towards the self! Non-academic interests include hiking, yoga, sunset chasing, cottaging and adventuring around the earth!
SSHRC CGS-Master’s Scholarship (2022-2023)
Mitacs Accelerate Fellowship Award (2022)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2021-2022)
Western Graduate Research Scholarship (2021; 2022)
Undergraduate Student Research Internship (2020; 2021)
Dean’s Honour List (2019; 2020; 2021)
MacLean Press, MA, BA
MacLean Press completed an MA in the Psychological Basis of Kinesiology in 2022. Her research interest is in body image and women’s health. Specifically, her research focused on the effects of verbal cues on indices of self-objectification and exercise engagement among inactive young women. She hopes her research will be used to inform strategies to improve exercise adherence and enjoyment, and improve body image in women subjected to self-objectification.
SSHRC CGS Master’s Scholarship (2021-2022)
Western Undergraduate Student Research Internship (2020)
Dean’s Honor List (2019, 2020)
Sara Bozzo, BSc
Sara completed a BSc Honours Specialization in Kinesiology at Western University and partook in the Western USRI program in 2022 and worked as a research assistant for the Body Image & Health Lab. Her research interests included examining the influence of self-objectification on indices of body image and sexual health in adolescent girls and young women. She is also interested in exploring the relationship between practices of mindfulness and mental health & wellbeing in a physical activity context. Beyond academic pursuits, Sara loves playing basketball, travelling with friends and family, and reading.
Western Undergraduate Student Research Internship (2022)
Dean’s Honor List (2018; 2019; 2021; 2022)
Isabella Randall, MA
Isabella completed a M.A. in the Psychological Basis of Kinesiology in 2021. Her research focused on how weight-based discrimination influences the psychological stress response and exercise outcomes.
Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Conference Travel Award – 2019
Steffania Rizzardo, BA
Stefania completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree with an Honours Specialization in Kinesiology at Western University. She completed an honours thesis project in the BIH Lab examining the acute effects of a self-compassion writing task on exercise motivation. Stefania hopes to gather valuable experience and knowledge in the area of exercise psychology to better prepare for a career in public and global health.
Madeline Wood, BA
Madeline completed a NSERC USRA and a BA honours research thesis in the BIH lab in 2020-2021. She is passionate about health science, women’s health, and mental health. Madeline went on to complete a Master’s student in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Toronto.
NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (2021)
Dean’s Honour List (2018, 2019)
Transfer Student Scholarship (2017)
Anna Zheng, BA
Anna completed an Honours BA Kinesiology at Western University in 2020. Specifically, her senior research project was a scoping review that investigated the relationship between weight stigma and physical activity. In addition, she was granted a Summer Undergraduate Student Research Award from the Faculty of Health Sciences to research the effects of compassion-focused training on women with mood disorders who were attending a behavioural weight management program. Anna went on to pursue the MSc Physical Therapy program at the University of Toronto.
Faculty of Health Sciences Summer Undergraduate Student Research Award (2019)
Erika Gray, MA, BKin
Erika worked as a research assistant in the BIH lab while she was a MA student in Sport Management at Western University. Her research interests include gender equity and equality in sport, senior leadership, women and girls in sport, and physical literacy. Erika went on to pursue a PhD at the University of Ottawa.
Claire Adams, BMSc
Claire completed a Bachelor of Medical Sciences at Western University specializing in physiology and pharmacology. She is passionate about integrating science and the social, mental and physical aspects of health to enhance well-being. Claire’s research interests include mental wellness, psychological impacts of illness, chronic disease prevention and physical activity. In her spare time, Claire enjoys doing yoga, reading and dancing with friends.
Western Undergraduate Student Research Internship (2020)
MROO Scholarship Recipient for commitment to volunteer service and leadership (2019)
Dean’s Honor List (2019, 2020)
Western Scholarship of Excellence (2018)
Honorary Members
Cali
Bentley
Millie
River
Maya
Calvin
