The Luke Lab team consists of graduate students, research assistants, volunteers, and visitors. Typically, graduate students are with the lab for about two years while they complete their Masters degree at Brock.

Nicole Luke

Assistant Professor

Nicole is a behaviour analyst who specializes in the strategic science of instruction for both adult and child learners. She completed her doctoral degree in Education and Applied Behavior Analysis and her Master’s degree in Special Education at Columbia University. She has worked in both clinical and educational settings and consulted to a variety of organizations in North America, Europe, and Asia. Nicole is guided by a belief that scientific findings can improve the quality of educational systems and, through those systems, contribute to an improved quality of life for all the members of her communities–both large and small scale. She has published research articles and a book chapter, provided trainings for educators, parents and clinicians, and presented at many national and international conferences. Her research interests include organizational behaviour management, teaching and leadership from an operant perspective, instructional design, and verbal behaviour development. Nicole is currently exploring the use of virtual reality in her work as a strategic scientist of instruction.

Nicole can be reached via email: [email protected]

Ahmet Demirden

visiting research fellow

Ahmet is a behavioral psychologist currently investigating the behavioral mechanisms of rapport- building during investigating interviews. He competed his MADS degree at Brock University and doctoral degree in psychology at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University.

Ahmet is a professor in the Criminal Justice Program at Humber Polytechnic. He has drafted and delivered many in-service training programs in line with the broader topics of behavioral psychology for national and international law enforcement agencies, including Turkish National Police Service, CEPOL, INTERPA, CEPOL, and the UN. He has also served as an expert consultant for over six years. As a former police officer, Ahmet is a strong advocate of the integration of behavioral research findings in the refinement of soft skills in policing. He has published research articles, book chapters and presented at many international conferences. His research interest includes organizational behaviour management, leadership in value-based policing from an operant perspective. Currently, he is exploring the use of virtual reality in enhancing the effectiveness of investigative interview training.

Dr. Demirden can be reached via email at [email protected]

Joseph Yengnamenga

MA Student

I completed my undergrad studies at University of Education Winneba, Ghana. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Community Based Rehabilitation and Disability Studies. 

I am an advocate for persons with disability, especially persons who are deaf or hearing impaired. I have volunteered and worked with Wa School for the Deaf, in Ghana, for six years in various capacities as a resource teacher or a sign language interpreter. 

I have attended and presented at several conferences that seek to promote inclusion, integration, equal participation, empowerment, capacity building, fulfilling livelihood, general accessibility, and significant others that are integral to persons with disability.

I am passionate about understanding different patterns of behaviour and how they interact with the environment. This enthusiasm has motivated my pursuit of Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Brock University under the supervision of Dr. Nicole Luke.

Faezeh Yazdani Najafabadi

MA Student

I am a master’s student in Applied Disability Studies with specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Yazd University in Iran in 2019. I have experience implementing behavioural interventions in both educational and clinical settings to support children with disabilities.

My research interests focus on applying behaviour analytic principles to improve metabolic function and empower caregivers in promoting healthy eating behaviors in their children. I aim to expand the scope of behavior analysts’ competence to include dietary interventions in their practice when working with individuals with disabilities.

Currently, my MA thesis examines the effects of teaching lag schedules of reinforcement to therapists and caregivers in virtual reality. If you are interested in learning more about this study or participating, please contact me: [email protected].

Gifty Owusu

Research assistant

Gifty holds a Bachelor’s degree in Disability and Rehabilitation Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. She graduated with honours in 2017 and completed her Master of Arts in Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Brock University, Canada, in 2024. She worked under the supervision of Dr. Nicole Luke and hopes to contribute to the overall improvement of quality of life for persons with disabilities. Gifty has participated and presented at local conferences relating to disabilities and has an interest in working with persons with developmental disabilities. For her Masters thesis, she worked on training preservice behavior analyst intervention skills in a virtual reality environment. Gifty is interested in using innovative ways for intervention services.

If you are interested in reading about Gifty’s research read her article.

Gifty can be reached via email: [email protected]

Mehakpreet Mahey

Research Assistant

Mehak recently completed her Master of Arts in Applied Disability Studies here at Brock University. She completed her Master of Education in Developmental Psychology at the University of Toronto in 2020. Prior to her Masters, Mehak completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminology at the University of Toronto in 2019.  Mehak has experience working with children with developmental and intellectual disabilities in both recreational and clinical settings, in addition to experience working in pharmaceuticals. Her previous research has revolved around looking at the impact of burnout and compassion fatigue on individuals’ mental health. While at Brock University, Mehak has worked with Dr. Nicole Luke on the Canada Games research project. Her thesis explored the delivery of mental health services in virtual reality for therapists’ experiencing burnout and compassion fatigue using mindfulness strategies.

If you are interested in learning more about Therapist Mental Wellbeing research, please contact Mehak. Mehak can be reached via email: [email protected]

Tara Tehrani

Research Assistant

Tara completed her Master of Arts in Applied Disability Studies at Brock University in 2024. She previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2017 and a graduate certificate in Autism and Behavioural Science from George Brown College in 2018.

Tara has been working with children, youth, and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities since she was young, both through personal friendships, and in clinical settings. Her early leadership interests involved creating social groups that brought together individuals with and without disabilities to foster friendships through community events.

While at Brock University, Tara developed a strong interest in Dr. Nicole Luke’s research lab, where she is exploring how technology can support clients, caregivers, and staff. She is particularly passionate about finding innovative ways to support hospital-based clients who have exhausted other services and require a wraparound approach with a multidisciplinary team, including behavioural consultation.

Looking ahead, Tara is interested in pursuing further education, potentially a PhD, to explore how virtual reality can help mitigate risks for clients by modifying their environments and training caregivers in evidence-based strategies. Her goal is to study how VR-based training could alter reinforcement contingencies and reduce challenging behaviors, ultimately to improve client outcomes and well-being.

Leutrime Lahu

Research assistant

I recently completed my MA in Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis at Brock University, studying under the supervision of Dr. Nicole Luke and Dr. Kieva Hranchuk. My thesis, titled “An Evaluation of a Peer-Yoked Contingency Board Game on the Frequency of Conversational Units in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” focused on the “I Spy” phase of the social listener reinforcement protocol.

My research interests include verbal behavior, social communication, peer-mediated interventions, and the development of conditioned reinforcers. I have over five years of experience as an Instructor Therapist, during which I have conducted assessments, supported program development, implemented interventions, and trained mediators in both clinical and educational settings. Through my graduate work, I have gained additional experience in the logistics of research: recruiting participants, coordinating projects, ensuring fidelity, and analyzing data. Insights I will carry forward into both my academic and clinical practice.

Currently, I am accruing supervised hours towards my BCBA certification. I am passionate about bridging applied research with practice to promote meaningful social interactions and language development for children with developmental disabilities.

Joseph Bognar

MA Student

My name is Joey Bognar, and I recently completed my MA in the Applied Disability LDCC program. I have cerebral palsy and a non-verbal learning disability.

 For my MA thesis project in Applied Disability Studies, I researched whether video games could increase social interactions between both able and disabled people. I want to create an even playing field for people with disabilities so that they can share a common interest with able people. Video games led me to become accepted by my peers and I was also able to strengthen current relationships with my friends and family. I think that video games can support other people with disabilities in developing their social skills and provide a sense of confidence in spreading their wings.

Here’s an article about my research. 

Jingling (Eva) Wu

volunteer

Eva is an enthusiastic and resourceful Behavioural Therapist with a strong academic foundation, holding an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Ohio State University, and a Master of Education in Educational Psychology from Brock University. She combines her academic expertise with extensive hands-on experience supporting children with developmental disabilities. Her work is guided by patience, cultural awareness, and a deep commitment to helping each client reach their full potential. She joined Dr. Luke’s Lab in September 2024, and was interested in exploring the most updated research outcomes in the field of Applied Disabilities.

With a background in delivering individualized ABA programs, Eva tailors strategies to meet diverse needs. She collaborates closely with families and multidisciplinary teams to ensure consistent, effective interventions. Eva is dedicated to creating a positive and structured environment where clients can build confidence, independence, and essential life skills.

Abdelrahman Ahmed

volunteer

Abdelrahman Ahmed is a third-year Bachelor of Health Sciences student at Queen’s University with an interest in pursuing medicine. He is committed to community impact through research and service. At the Othman Lab, he contributes to hematology and cancer research, gaining extensive experience with systematic and scoping reviews on cancer biology – particularly thrombosis and metastasis mediated by endothelial pathways. He also actively supports marginalized groups in the community by volunteering at Providence Care Hospital and the Kingston Detox Centre.

Since September 2024, Abdelrahman has collaborated with Dr. Luke on a scoping review of public attitudes toward Blind and Deafblind communities in partnership with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). The project aims to synthesize current evidence and inform strategies to improve societal attitudes and inclusion. Abdelrahman joined the Luke Lab in October 2025 to further contribute to research in applied disability studies, education, and behavioural science.

Lael Alva

volunteer

Lael Alva is a third-year student in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at Queen’s University. His interests in health are rooted in a dual approach; through understanding the processes and structure that make up our body, and through human interactions that shape our lives. Through a scoping review for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Lael collaborated with Dr. Luke, and was introduced to her work. With renewed interest in the behavioural sciences through using technological tools to achieve positive community outcomes, Lael joined the Luke Lab in October 2025.

His interest in research began at the University of Saskatchewan, while working on a project looking at angiography contrast agents. Since then, he has expanded his research field with projects in Public Health, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing at partner institutions in Canada, India, Germany, and the United States. He is also passionate about mentorship and peer-to-peer support through his work with Queen’s Residences and the Student Experience Office. To relax, Lael enjoys trivia and exploring the outdoors.

Gabriel Batista

volunteer

Gabriel is a psychologist from Brazil recently graduated from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS). He currently volunteers at the Luke Lab, where he participates in meetings and supports ongoing research projects. His main research interests include behavior analysis, gamification, and well-being. Gabriel is particularly interested in how technology-based interventions can be used to promote behavioral change and develop new repertoires. In the future, he intends to pursue graduate studies in Behavior Analysis and build an academic career focused on research and international collaboration.