Meet Our Researchers
Meet the team members that works in the Stroke and Cognition Research Group
Principal Investigator
The founder and head of our operations
Philip Barber
Dr. Philip A. Barber is an Associate Professor of Neurology in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary where he co-directs the Stroke Prevention Clinic and is a member of the Calgary Stroke Program. Dr. Barber’s major interests are dementia and infarct maturation.
As the Principal Investigator of the PREVENT study, Dr. Barber aims to detect dementia in subjects at risk of the condition many years before it develops. By taking this approach, we hope to be able to do something about it at the earliest opportunity.
Dr. Barber enjoys the outdoors with his family during his free time. He is usually so invested in his work that he forgets to switch on his office lights after sunset and works in the dark, using his laptop as the only source of light!
Research Assistants
Nicola Stuebing
Nicola is a graduate of the University of Calgary’s Psychology Honours program, where she completed her Honours thesis exploring cognition and adjustment in children and adolescents living with sickle cell disease. Her experience working with pediatric populations sparked her passion for research that connects psychology, health, and real-world patient experiences.
Now a member of the Stroke and Cognition Lab, Nicola enjoys the people-centered side of research just as much as the science. She loves meeting new people, hearing their stories, and learning from individuals from all walks of life—making her work with study participants one of her favourite parts of the job.
Looking ahead, Nicola hopes to continue building a career in healthcare and research, with a particular interest in working with aging populations. Outside of the lab, Nicola is the captain of two recreational soccer teams, where she enjoys putting her leadership skills to the test—and learning that organizing 20 people is somehow harder than organizing a research study.
Micaela Raffa
Micaela is a recent graduate of the Psychology program at the University of Calgary, where she earned her BA (Honours, First Class). During her undergraduate studies, she researched the relationship between hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle and spatial orientation, sparking a lasting interest in the connection between the body and mind. This research experience continues to shape her clinical interests and her commitment to evidence-based, person-centred care. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Counselling Psychology, with the goal of working as a therapist specializing in women's health, helping clients navigate the psychological dimensions of hormonal health, identity, and wellbeing across the lifespan. Outside the lab, she is a certified yoga instructor who loves to bake and read in her free time. Through her yoga practice, she has learned the art of letting go, though this is something she still hasn't managed to apply to her ever-growing to-be-read pile.