Jade Stobbart

Psychology master's student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I just completed the first year in the developmental stream of the Experimental Psychology Master’s Program at SFU. I am supervised by Dr. Grace Iarocci in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Lab. My deep interest in psychology is a strong contributor to my inspiration. My fascination with psychology began in my first undergraduate psychology course. After this, I sought any opportunity to involve myself in psychological research. Over time, I have developed a keen interest in the interplay of human social behaviour and biological states. I am also very passionate about knowledge translation and making research more accessible to the public. This passion drives me to learn new and innovative dissemination practices through workshops, conferences, and collaboration with other researchers. I am eager to continue improving my research practice and incorporating new techniques to increase the accessibility of my findings.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I love living in BC, so the ability to remain local was a big incentive for me. I also hoped to gain experience conducting research with neurodivergent individuals, so the opportunity to work with my supervisor, Dr. Grace Iarocci, was one I could not pass up.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

I am in the Experimental Psychology Master’s Program, focusing primarily on research. For my thesis project, I am investigating what autistic and non-autistic children look at when they watch social interactions. I am also involved in several other projects that combine my interests in social behaviour and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism).

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Biological Correlates of Social Behaviour, and Social Attention

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

Working on research projects in my lab has really helped me to grow as a researcher. I have gained skills with new technology, such as eye trackers, and have learned about areas of psychology I might not have otherwise explored.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

I was awarded the CIHR CGS-M for the second year of my MA. I am encouraged by this as I believe it speaks to the importance of autism research.

What are some tips for balancing your academic and personal life?

In my opinion, it comes down to setting boundaries, which can be very intimidating to students just starting their graduate programs. It can be easy to take on too many tasks when you are focused on increasing your research output, pleasing your supervisor, and enhancing your CV. Remember that not every opportunity needs to be taken and that a sustainable workload allows you to perform at your best.

Contact Jade:jstobbar@sfu.ca