Rishika Selvakumar is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia whose research focuses on youth mental health access and health system resource allocation in British Columbia. She is passionate about evidence-informed policy, health economics, and the evaluation of early intervention programs. Excited to bridge the gap between youth and research, Rishika is committed to supporting this thriving vision to expand across Canada. In her free time, she can often be found baking or hiking.

Sania Julian is a recent graduate of the BSc in Integrated Sciences program with interests in research and knowledge translation. She is passionate about using evidence to inform meaningful change in youth mental health and wellbeing. In her spare time, Sania enjoys reading and spending time in the outdoors.

Hello! I’m Michael Kamaszewski, a first-year science student at UBC. I’m interested in all things science, but an area I love most is health science. Learning about living systems, how they interact, and the endless complexities of the human body really fascinates me. It is one of many areas of research I’m really excited to share with others through this program! Outside of school, I’m huge into music; I produce music on my own time and am also a piano teacher. Otherwise, you can find me rock climbing or hiking, on a rare Vancouver sunny day!

My name is Phoebe Maierhofer, and I am a second-year Biology undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia, originally from Boulder, Colorado. I am pursuing the pre-medical track and am passionate about bridging the gap between research and youth engagement to create meaningful impact within youth communities. I am excited to contribute to collaborative initiatives within the IYER Canadian Coalition and to work alongside individuals from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, including researchers, graduate students, and fellow youth leaders.

Hello! My name is Zainab Bazara, and I’m a 3rd year Food, Nutrition and Health student at the University of British Columbia. I’m originally from Yemen, but I spent a good part of my life in Malaysia, where I completed high school. I’m passionate about making research more accessible, and therefore more impactful, especially in a world where misinformation spreads so easily. My goal is to use what I’ve learned during my undergrad to strengthen research practices and accessibility in developing countries, particularly in Western Asia. In my free time, I love volunteering in my community, baking, and reading!

Hello! My name is Fiona Lim and I am a 2nd-year Psychology major at the University of British Columbia with a strong interest in neuropsychology and youth engagement research. I am passionate about understanding how psychological and neural processes shape well-being, learning, and motivation in young people. Through volunteering and community involvement, I strive to make mental health education and research more accessible and empowering for youth. I enjoy collaborating on projects that bridge science and outreach, helping create spaces where young people feel heard and supported. Outside academics, I love reading, mentoring, and exploring creative ways to connect research with real world impact.

Emiko Wijeysundera (she/her) is a dual degree student at the University of British Columbia, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Human Geography and a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Engineering Physics. She is passionate about sharing science with communities, storytelling, and the Arctic. In her free time, she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, hiking, and working on community-building musical projects!

Hello! I’m Jaya Singh, a third-year undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia pursuing a degree in English Literature and Human Geography to later teach at the high school level. I am passionate about engaging with youth to foster meaningful growth and contribute to inclusive, interactive learning environments through team-based activities. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and binge-watching a good TV show – I’m always open to recommendations! I am very excited to collaborate with the IYER Canadian Coalition to support youth with the tools they need to succeed and leave a lasting impact.

Diantha Tan is a second-year Psychology major at the University of British Columbia who cares deeply about youth wellbeing and mental health. She is passionate about community engagement and enjoys working as part of a team to support meaningful, high-impact projects. In her free time, she often reads or writes fiction. She is excited to support IYER's initiative and contribute to its impact.

Lauryn graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2022. Since her graduation, she has worked within the Social Services sector with diverse youth. She is passionate about creating programs to address trends amongst youth, inclusive of social health and cognitive overload from digital spaces, from a research-based approach. In 2023, she created a social program at Foundry Richmond to nurture social health. Currently, she is designing an educational space to address youth’s concerns about cognitive overload. In the future, she hopes to pursue an avenue that supports education and information development.

Hello! My name is Lynn Tymrick, and I'm a third-year psychology student at the University of British Columbia. Mental health and youth engagement are very important topics to me, as with further engagement, young people could make use of so many resources and be involved in community/world affairs. Therefore, I'm very excited to be involved with IYER, and contribute to the well-being and lives of youth. Outside of my studies, I love watching movies, listening to music, and baking!