Principal Investigator
Dr. Katrina Bouchard
Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Registered Psychologist, BC Centre for Vulvar Health
She/Her
About Dr. Bouchard:
Dr. Bouchard is an Assistant Professor in the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the director of the Psychology, Health, and Sexuality (Phase) Laboratory. She holds an Investigator Award from the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and research funds from CIHR, SSHRC, ISSWSH, and WHRI. The overarching goal of Dr. Bouchard’s research program is to enhance the assessment and treatment of sexual health concerns, with a focus on women and couples. Dr. Bouchard is a registered psychologist and her clinical practice at the BC Centre for Vulvar Health (BCCVH) focuses on helping individuals and their partners manage sexual and emotional distress related to living with chronic vulvar health concerns (e.g., vulvar pain). She does not currently accept referrals from outside the BCCVH.
Graduate Students
Kiarah O’Kane
MA Student, Clinical psychology
She/They
About Kiarah:
Kiarah is a second-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.
Kate Hunker
MSc Student, Women+ health sciences
She/Her
About Kate:
Kate is a first-year MSc student in the UBC Women+ and Children’s Health Sciences Program. Her research interests center on sexual and vulvar health concerns, and how these concerns are addressed in the healthcare system. Kate uses mixed methods to better understand sexual health concerns in the context of chronic health conditions (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, lichen sclerosus). The goal of Kate’s research is to develop resources and trainings for patients and healthcare providers that positively impact patients’ sexual well-being and healthcare satisfaction.
Research Assistants
Moha Chaturvedi
Work Learn Student
She/Her
About Moha:
Moha completed her BA in psychology at UBC in 2023. In the lab, she is primarily working on the VLS Couples Study. Her research interests focus on enhancing sexual outcomes in dyadic relationships.
Stephanie Chen
Volunteer Research Assistant
She/Her
About Stephanie:
Stephanie is a fourth-year honours thesis student in psychology at UBC. Her research interests focus on sexual well-being, sexual health, and mental health. In the future, she intends to pursue graduate school and work as a clinician-scientist.
Jinny Choi
Research Assistant
She/Her
About Jinny:
Jinny completed her BSc in microbiology and immunology at UBC in 2023. She is working on vulvar health data registries and is very interested in topics such as sexual well-being, mental health, and public health literacy. Her future plans include a career in medicine and further clinical research.
Cindy Zhang
Work Learn Student
She/Her
About Cindy:
Cindy is a fourth-year undergraduate psychology student at UBC. Her research interests include public health literacy, improving patient experience in healthcare, and patient-oriented research. She intends to pursue graduate studies and a career in psychology research.
Jennifer Zhang
Volunteer Research Assistant
She/Her
About Jennifer:
Jennifer is a second-year medical student at UBC and a recent BKIN grad. Her research and clinical practice interests predominantly center around reproductive health, substance use, and rural health.
Lab Alumni
Simone Goldberg
Work Learn Student
She/Her
About Simone:
Simone is a second-year MA student in the Clinical Psychology Program at UBC. She was a Work Learn student in the Phase Lab in 2022-2023. Simone’s research focuses on modifiable factors (e.g., mindfulness) that can promote sexual well-being in healthy individuals.
Greta Jang
Staff Research Assistant
She/Her
About Greta:
Greta completed her BA in psychology from UBC in 2021 and worked as a staff research assistant in the Phase Lab in 2022-2023. Her research interests broadly include emotion regulation and coping, interpersonal function and relationship dynamics, and self-injurious thoughts and behaviours.
Reet Kaur
Honours Student
She/Her
About Reet:
Reet completed her third-year psychology honours thesis in the Phase Lab in 2022-2023. Her research interests lie in studying the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social aspects of sexual and reproductive health. Her long-term goal is to help debunk the myths surrounding sexual practices and to help people foster sexual health as part of overall health.
Simran Singh
Work Learn Student
She/Her
About Simran:
Simran graduated from UBC with BA in psychology and family studies. She was a Work Learn student in the Phase Lab in 2022-2023. Simran’s research interests include substance abuse and group identity interventions and examining the impact of sexual trauma on pleasure in long-term relationships. Simran is hoping to pursue her MA in clinical psychology with a focus on sexual well-being.