Research Staff

Rida Chan, BBA (IS)

Email: rida.chan@albertahealthservices.ca

Rida is originally from Calgary and decided to complete her high school and university studies in California. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Information Systems. She resided near Silicon Valley, where she gained valuable work and volunteer experiences at a local private school, and a non-profit organization. Back in Calgary, she also worked for the University of Calgary - Student Award Office. Currently, she works as a Research Administrative Coordinator for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department. She also handles the financials for the Dukelow Neuro Robot Lab. Rida loves to travel, volunteer, and explore the nature of our mother earth. 

Mark Piitz, BSc

Email: Mark.Piitz@albertahealthservices.ca

Mark is a graduate from the University of Calgary. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Natural Science in 2012. Mark has worked previously as a physiotherapist aide, and has worked as a researcher for the PRIMP project for Alberta Health Services. Currently he works as the lab manager for the Dukelow Neuro Robot Lab.  Mark's roles in the lab include assisting in robotic assessments, recruitment for our studies, and database management. Mark has an interest in traveling and regularly plays hockey and soccer. 

Alexandra McKinnon, BSc

Email: alexandra.mckinnon@ucalgary.ca 

Alex was born in Calgary and completed her BSc in Biological Psychology and Applied Ethics at the University of Victoria. Throughout her degree, she had a keen interest in exploring the relationship between neuroanatomy, genetics, and psychological well-being. While working with community organizations such as the Victoria Brain Injury Society, NEED2: Suicide Prevention, Education & Support, and with the local Health Authority, Alex was able to pursue these interests and develop a passion for understanding brain development. Outside of the lab, Alex can be found in a ballet studio or travelling. 

Rachel Stone, BA

Email: rnstone@ucalgary.ca

Rachel received a BA majoring in Sociology with a minor in Psychology in 2014 from the University of Calgary. She is passionate about the human condition and learning about how people think, emote, interact and move. She is very excited to be part of research that combines the brain and body connection. She has worked in Psychology research on mood disorders including anxiety and depression disorders. Then she moved on to work in the Psychiatry department at the University of Calgary on a number of projects on Depression and Bipolar disorders. Now she is working on the RELEARN study with Drs. Dukelow and Cluff, which examines the way that people adapt and learn movement of the upper limbs. RELEARN will specifically examine how this adaptation differs in those who have suffered a stroke recently and how this changes over time as they recover during stroke rehabilitation. 

In her free time Rachel can be found dancing in a dance studio, teaching aerial yoga, learning new aerial tricks or taking a yoga class herself. She is also very passionate about travelling and exploring what this world has to offer. She loves learning about new cultures and places.

Kelly Larkin-Kaiser, PhD

Email: kkaiser@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Kelly Larkin-Kaiser is currently a Research Scientist and the RESTORE Network Research Manager. She holds a PhD from the University of Florida in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology and completed her Postdoctoral training at the University of Calgary in the Faculty of Kinesiology. Her training focused on investigating the functional and phenotypic neuromuscular adaptations that occur in response to injury, aging, and disease in both pre-clinical and clinical models. Dr. Larkin-Kaiser continues to be passionate about research endeavors centred around studying and implementing novel neurorehabilitation technology that ultimately improves patient care.