Research Group

Trainees

Kaitlyn Kauffeldt, PhD

Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Tomasone

PhD: Queen’s University, Health Promotion (2023)
PhD Dissertation: The black box of large-scale dissemination: Building an evidence base documenting the complexity of national movement behaviour guideline dissemination to inform research, practice, and policy
MSc: Queen’s University, Health Promotion (2018)
MSc Thesis: “It has to be more than exercise”: Exploring optimal physical activity program delivery for breast cancer survivors across multiple stakeholder groups
Undergraduate: University of Waterloo, Kinesiology (2014)

Current Research:

Kaitlyn is a postdoctoral fellow under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Tomasone with a passion for understanding how systems contribute to knowledge mobilization outcomes, and subsequently, shape our health experiences. Her research draws on participatory methods to explore the influence of context and complexity on the integration of evidence into practice. Broadly, her work includes collaborating with municipalities to explore the implementation of sustainable transportation initiatives in urban environments across Canada, engaging organizations and researchers to understand the complexity of national movement behaviour guideline knowledge mobilization, and co-designing and delivering a community-based exercise program for persons with breast cancer.

Contact:
Email: kaitlyn.kauffeldt@queensu.ca

Alyssa Grimes, MSc

Supervisor: Dr. Amy Latimer-Cheung & Dr. Carolyn Emery

Year: Third Year

MSc: Queen’s University, Health Promotion (2022)
MSc Thesis: Development of Evidence-Informed Recommendations for Training Disability Sport Event Volunteers
Undergraduate: Dalhousie University, BScH Kinesiology (2019)
Undergraduate Thesis: Examining Differences in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Literacy in Children Attending Public and Private Schools in Nova Scotia
Awards: 2023 Joseph-Armand Bombardier Doctoral Scholarship (SSHRC); 2024 Sport Participation Research Initiative (SPRI)

Current Research: Alyssa is a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Amy Latimer-Cheung. Broadly, Alyssa’s research aims to enhance quality sport experiences for youth and adults living with disabilities through effective volunteer/staff training and injury prevention. Specifically, her doctoral research involves utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the incidence, severity and mechanisms of concussion, as well as the experiences and perceptions of concussion diagnosis and management among Parasport athletes. Alyssa spent the 2023 winter semester at the University of Melbourne as a visiting scholar with the Royal Children’s Hospital and Healthy Trajectories Hub. She is currently spending the year at the University of Calgary in the Sport Injury Prevention Research Center under the co-supervision of Dr. Carolyn Emery.  

Contact:
Email: alyssa.grimes@queensu.ca
LinkedIn: Alyssa Grimes

Marley Mullan, MSc

 

Supervisors: Dr. Jennifer Tomasone & Dr. Amy Latimer-Cheung

Year: Second Year

MSc: Queen’s University, Health Promotion (2025)
MSc Thesis: Exploring the Movement Behaviours of Students Experiencing Disabilities While Attending Post-Secondary Institutions Across Canada
Undergraduate: Queen’s University, BScH Specialization in Kinesiology (2022)

Current Research: Marley Mullan is a second year PhD student under the supervision of both Dr. Jennifer Tomasone and Dr. Amy Latimer-Cheung. Her SSHRC funded Master’s work involved exploring the movement behaviours of students experiencing disabilities while attending post-secondary institutions across Canada. She is also involved in a collaborative project between Queen’s University and McGill University, investigating the behaviour change techniques used by persons with disabilities for physical activity. Currently, her research is focused on the enhancement of quality participation in Special Olympics programming for athletes experiencing intellectual disabilities. Outside of the lab, Marley loves to coach soccer and rowing with Special Olympics!

Contact:
Email: 17mars@queensu.ca
LinkedIn: Marley Mullan

Headshot of Luxshmi Nageswaran
Luxshmi Nageswaran, MSc
 
Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Tomasone
Year: First Year MD/PhD
 
MSc: Western University, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (2025)
MSc Thesis: Cardiometabolic Disease in Primary Care & Specialized Neurological Rehabilitation: Current Strategies, Perspectives, & Lived Experiences
Undergraduate: Western University, BHSc Specialization in Rehabilitation Sciences (2024)
 
Current Research: Luxshmi is a first-year MD/PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Tomasone. Her Master’s work focused on capturing strategies and perspectives related to cardiometabolic disease across specialized neurological rehabilitation and primary care services. Broadly, her PhD research will explore disability representation within Ontario medical education. Her research interests include health promotion, chronic disease management, and quality improvement in the context of care for persons with disabilities. 
 
Contact:
Photo of Owen Juan

Owen Juan, BAH

Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Tomasone
Year: First Year

Undergraduate: Queen’s University, BAH Health Studies (2025)

Current Research: Owen is a first-year MSc student that first joined the lab as a research intern in his third year. For his undergraduate thesis, Owen conducted a scoping review that investigated strategies for implementing an intersectional lens in disability physical activity research. For his Master’s thesis, Owen aims to expand on the findings of his scoping review by interviewing researchers and authors that have published in the disability physical activity space.
Owen is also currently a trainee under the SMART Training Platform where he is focused on investigating healthy cities initiatives such as accessible cycling infrastructure and speed management interventions.

Contact:
Email: owen.juan@queensu.ca