Title:
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Principal Investigator, SWell Lab
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
About: Dr. Samantha Dawson is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of British Columbia. Since 2009, her research program has focused on identifying mechanisms contributing to sexual function in individuals and couples, with the goal of using these mechanisms to develop targeted interventions for sexual dysfunction. Her clinical interests include evidence-based interventions for sexual dysfunction. Dr. Dawson is in the process of registration with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia.
Title: Post-Doctoral Fellow
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
About: Originally from Portugal, Dr. Inês Tavares joined the SWell Lab as a postdoctoral fellow following completion of her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Porto. Her research integrates laboratory and survey-based methodologies, as well as individual and dyadic approaches to examine biopsychosocial predictors of sexual well-being in clinical and community populations. She is the recipient of a SSHRC Banting Postdoctoral fellowship to work with Dr. Samantha Dawson and Dr. Natalie Rosen (Dalhousie University). During her postdoctoral program, Inês will be developing and testing an online and evidence-based program focused on the prevention of sexual difficulties in couples transitioning to parenthood. Ultimately, her research interests serve the goal of informing the development of better treatment options for the sexual health and well-being of individuals and couples.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Title: MA Student
About: Originally from Nova Scotia, Erin graduated with an Honours degree in Psychology from Dalhousie University in 2020. She is now an MA student in the Clinical Psychology program at UBC. Her research in the SWell Lab currently focuses on discovering novel methods for improving sexual and relationship well-being in at-risk populations (e.g., couples transitioning to parenthood) and promoting evidence-based sexual education. Outside of the lab, Erin’s interests include cooking, cycling, playing chess and making music!
Title: MA Student
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
About: Marta is a first-year MA student in the Clinical Psychology program at UBC. Her research interests centre around understanding individual and relational processes that contribute to sexual dysfunction, genito-pelvic pain, and genito-pelvic dysesthesias. She is particularly interested in using dyadic data analytic techniques to better understand the role of interpersonal factors in shaping sexual function for individuals and couples.
Title: MA Student
Pronouns: She/They
About: Kiarah is a first-year MA student in the UBC Clinical Psychology Program. Their research interests are twofold: First, to examine the modifiable factors impacting the sexual well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. Second, to use psychophysiological and eye tracking methods to explore gender and sexual orientation differences in sexual response patterns. These research interests serve the overarching goal of developing accessible interventions for bolstering the sexual well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals and couples.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Title: MA Student
About: Simone is a first-year MA student in the Clinical Psychology program at UBC. Outside of the SWell lab, her research primarily focuses on examining the relationship between suicide, non-suicidal self-injury and eating pathology. In the SWell lab, Simone’s research focuses on examining risk (e.g., poor genital self-image), protective (e.g., emotional competence) and modifiable factors (e.g., mindfulness) that can promote sexual well-being in healthy individuals.
