Meet The Team

Principal Investigator

David Benrimoh, MD.CM., MSc., MSc., FRCPC

David Benrimoh is a neuropsychiatrist who completed his psychiatry residency at McGill. He received an MSc. in Neuroscience from UCL, working with Karl Friston on computational models of auditory hallucinations. He received a second MSc. in Psychiatry from McGill, working with Simon Ducharme and Bratislav Misic on transdiagnostic imaging in psychosis. He is the founder and chief science officer at Aifred Health, a digital mental health company using artificial intelligence to create decision support tools for mental health clinicians; Aifred won the $1M USD second place prize in the global IBM-sponsored AI XPRIZE. He is the author of over 40 peer-reviewed publications. He completed his fellowship in Neuropsychiatry at Stanford University, where he conducted research on the mechanistic underpinnings of rapid acting rTMS. As an Assistant Professor at McGill, his research focuses on computational psychiatry approaches to understanding and predicting psychosis onset and using this knowledge to develop novel treatment paradigms. Clinically, he is working in psychotic disorders, with a focus on early psychosis, as well as neuropsychiatry.

Project Lead

Ashley Choucroun, MSc

I received my BSc in Psychology and Biology from the University of Waterloo and am currently a master’s student in McGill's Integrated Program in Neuroscience. My research focuses on neuromodulation therapies for schizophrenia, particularly investigating the efficacy of accelerated, neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treating negative symptoms. Outside the lab, I love baking (and sometimes bring cookies to share), playing piano and guitar, and traveling to see mountain views!

Project Lead

Tihare Zamorano, MSc

I'm a Master’s student in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience (IPN) at McGill University. I lead the DEEPDD project, which explores the feasibility of using digital phenotyping tools in mental health research. I also lead a systematic review funded by HBHL that focuses on integrating social determinants of health (SDOH) into digital phenotyping frameworks. I hold a BA in Psychology and have experience in harm reduction for substance use and social reintegration, including frontline work in an emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness. My research interests center on how different types of stressors and environmental adversity influence mental health outcomes, particularly individual variability in stress sensitivity, resilience, and the impact of social determinants of health. When I’m not in the lab, you’ll probably find me camping somewhere off the grid.

Project Lead

Mariza Markessinis

I am an undergraduate psychology student at McGill University, with a minor in Behavioural Science. I co-lead the DEEP-DD study, contributing to project coordination, participant engagement, and digital tool implementation. Alongside my research work, I am completing my clinical training at the Milestone Clinic, where I assist with psychoeducational assessments and clinical report writing. I have had the opportunity to work with children, adolescents, and adults across a range of clinical settings, including hospital and crisis support environments. I also serve as a mentor to undergraduate students and as a crisis responder for Kids Help Phone.

I plan to pursue graduate training in Clinical Psychology and remain deeply committed to providing evidence-based, developmentally informed, and emotionally attuned care to all populations.

Research Assistant

Dylan Hamitouche

Hello! I am Dylan Hamitouche, a medical student at McGill University with a passion for  neuroscience and technology. At the McPsyt Lab, my research focuses on leveraging actigraphy data to predict clinical trajectories in transdiagnostic populations. I also conducted secondary  analyses from the Brighten Study to identify indicators of adherence and retention in digital  health studies. In my free time, I enjoy working-out, reading, and listening to podcasts

Research Assistant

Parnia Akhavansaffar

Hi, my name's Parnia! I started working in the McPsyt Lab in the summer of 2024, and it’s been an enriching learning experience so far. I’d say my passion lies in two areas: neuroscience and mathematics. Outside of academics, I enjoy biking, especially along the beautiful St. Lawrence River during the summer.

Research Assistant

Ivy Guo

Hi! I’m Ivy (she/her), an undergraduate student studying Computer Science at McGill University. I’m a research assistant working on projects like Deep-DD and Affective-CH, where I build tools for report generation, phone sensor and actigraphy data visualization, and experimental task design. Right now, my research focuses on exploring the role of trauma during the psychosis prodrome. I’m especially interested in how we can use machine learning to better understand what drives psychiatric disorders—by uncovering patterns in complex behavioral and biological data, identifying early risk markers, and supporting more personalized and transdiagnostic approaches to prevention and care. I’m also passionate about mental health advocacy and serve as a youth advisor on projects at CAMH. Outside of research, I love creative writing, painting, and going on long runs. 

Data Analysis Assistant

Langfan Chen

I’m Langfan Chen, a recent graduate from McGill University. I hold a bachelor’s degree in quantitative biology, a field that blends biology with mathematical and statistical analysis to address complex biological questions. I currently work in the McPsyt Lab as a data analysis assistant, where I handle biophysiological data to support research in computational psychiatry. Outside of academics, I am passionate about sports, particularly badminton, and enjoy immersing myself in music. I also find joy in reading and watching movies, which allow me to explore new ideas and narratives.

Research Assistant

Eno Luo

Hi, I’m Eno! I’m a first-year Life Science student who’s recently started studying at McGill (major undeclared but greatly interested in neuroscience and physiology!) I love listening to music, especially R&B, reading, baking, playing the oboe, and travelling. Learning to speak French and crocheting have recently been at the top of my wish list. This lab will be my first research experience, and I’m incredibly excited to dive in and see where this journey takes me in the future.

Research Assistant

Aryamman Aiyaar

Hey there! I’m Ary, a second year psychology student at McGill, as well as a research assistant for Ashley’s rTMS project. I also enjoy volunteering with adolescents in the context of education, like with the YOP at McGill and at an elementary school. Besides my passion for psychiatry, I’m big into photography, cooking and baking, basketball and working out, and traveling!

Research Assistant

Marianne Pouliot

Hi, I’m Marianne, a third-year psychology student at McGill University and a research assistant on the DEEP DD project, where I help with participation tracking and interviews. I’ve spent the past 3 years working directly with people experiencing psychosis, which has made me even more interested in learning about this population through research. Outside of academics, I love anything that gets me away from my computer: climbing in the summer, cross-country skiing in the winter, and reading whenever I get the chance.