Dana Jarkas

Dana is a passionate student who is currently pursuing her PhD in Neuroscience at Carleton University under the supervision of Dr. Robyn McQuaid and Dr. Shahirose Premji (Queen's University). Her project is focused on understanding the effects of prenatal, maternal mental health challenges on both the mother's and infant's health and development, while also considering the effects of postnatal, psychosocial factors.

 

Dana received her Master of Science in Neuroscience at Carleton University under the supervision of Dr. Robyn McQuaid and Dr. Rébecca Robillard (Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre). During her master's, Dana distinguished PTSD subtypes at the biological level by studying immune and neuroendocrine biomarkers among a sample of Canadian Armed Forces members. She also received a Bachelor of Science Honours in Neuroscience and Mental Health at Carleton University. In her 4th year, she completed her Honours thesis with Dr. Robyn McQuaid and Dr. Kim Hellemans by investigating how loneliness and social connectedness affect mental health among 1st-year university students.

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Outside of school, Dana can be found exercising, traveling, and binge-watching reality TV.