The TMU Research Lab: Wellbeing@Work
Meet the Team
Our lab is made up of Masters and Doctoral students interested in understanding how to support well-being at work. Each person that joins our lab is deeply committed to exploring the light and dark side of well-being. Our research spans a wide variety of topics all with the shared purpose of enhancing psychological, physical, and relational well-being. We want to know how to help Robin be more confident, how humility might serve Batman, and what social ostracization has done to The Joker’s productivity. We are always happy to disseminate workshops summarizing our research with interested teams and organizations. Please reach out if you would like to learn more about any of these topics!
Steven Kavaratzis, PhD Candidate
Steven is a PhD candidate (year 3) that has completed over 1,000 hours of yoga and fitness training. At the age of 9, Steven developed hip Perthes, a rare degenerative disease where blood flow to the hip is disrupted. Treatment included years in crutches, limited physical activity and regular visits and treatments with medical specialists. Steven found positive psychological mechanisms such as gratitude and optimism, rehabilitation activities such as swimming and yoga, were vital in his early development, recovery and identity. Steven completed his MScM at the Ted Rogers School of Management in 2021 under the supervision of Dr. Ellen Choi and Dr. Mehdi Kargar. His MScM thesis explored research trends and future considerations in the design and implementation of workplace wellness interventions.
Professionally, Steven does corporate consulting and wellness interventions for organizations such as Lululemon, Sunnybrook Hospital, Sick Kids Hospital and Kainos. Steven has worked for multiple Universities in Admissions, Enrolment, Academic Advising and most recently data analytics at the Ted Rogers School - Office of the Dean. His research interests, under the supervision of Dr. Ellen Choi, include employee well-being, stress, positive psychology and workplace wellness interventions. As a PhD Candidate, Steven aims to bring his interests of wellness, meaning-making, social identity and burnout together through various research projects and initiatives, with the aim to better organizations and the quality of life for the employees within them.
Darby Roland, PhD Student
Darby is a second-year student in the PhD in Management program at Toronto Metropolitan University, specializing in Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour. She first earned her Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree in Finance from the University of Windsor and her Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. In 2017, Darby co-developed and operated a social enterprise in Canada focused on women empowering women. This enterprise provided consultation and transitional employment to survivors of human trafficking, addiction, abuse, and trauma. Clients manufactured reusable sanitary pads that were distributed to communities in need, including Ethiopia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and South Africa. This entrepreneurial experience impacted Darby, instilling a deep sense of purpose and a commitment to making a positive difference. It continues to be the driving force behind her research projects and initiatives, aiming to create sustainable and transformative change for communities.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Darby serves as a Board of Director and Chair of International Development for the non-profit Enacting Windsor. She is also a Recruitment, Governance, and Grant Program Committee Member of Libro Credit Union. In these roles, she actively works to implement impactful policies and programs that foster community development and individual empowerment. As a PhD student, Darby's research centers on employee well-being, recovery, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. She is dedicated to contributing meaningful insights to academic literature while supporting the design of equitable environments that enhance well-being and foster inclusive, supportive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Trisha Bugra, MSc Candidate
Trisha J. Bugra is a MSc Candidate, under the expert guidance of Dr. Ellen Choi, passionately completing her thesis research. Her qualitative study focuses on uncovering and understanding the health disparities faced by visible minorities in Canada. Through comprehensive exploration, Trisha aims to amplify patients' voices, bring more awareness to this issue, and contribute valuable insights to the field of public health, ultimately paving the way for more equitable healthcare solutions.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Trisha is deeply committed to a balanced wellness and spiritual lifestyle, believing it to be the key to maintaining a successful and fulfilling life. Her dedication to wellness not only fuels her personal growth but also enhances her professional endeavours, fostering a holistic approach to health and well-being.
Trisha’s long-term goal is to pursue a PhD and become a Professor, where she plans to incorporate her holistic approach into her teaching. She aims to inspire and educate future generations by integrating wellness and a balanced lifestyle into academic and professional development. Trisha’s additional research interests include understanding and preventing burnout, wellness in the workplace, mindfulness, mental health and resilience, and holistic health practices in professional settings.
Alexis Iles, PhD Student
Alexis is an incoming PhD student to Ted Roger’s School of Management’s PhD in Management program. Her research interests, under the guidance of Dr. Karen Peesker and Dr. Ellen Choi, focuses on leadership resilience and flourishing. She has been awarded the Toronto Metropolitan Graduate Fellowship (TMGF) and TRSM Dean Awards/Scholarships upon her acceptance to the program.
Alexis is also a recent graduate of the Master of Science in Management (MScM) program at TRSM, under the guidance of Dr. Mahdi Roghanizad, where she researched deception detection in computer-mediated communication. During her time in the MScM program, she was awarded an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and Ted Rogers Graduate Entrance Scholarship.
Alexis is currently working as a Research Assistant and Teacher’s Assistant at Toronto Metropolitan University. She has had submissions accepted for presentation at both the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada and Academy of Management conferences.
olivia Tworzyanski, MSc Student
Olivia is an incoming MSc student in TMU’s Masters of Science in Management program. Her research interests, under the guidance of Dr. Ellen Choi, include mindfulness, resilience, and leadership. She is looking forward to developing her thesis work.
Olivia is a recent graduate of the Kinesiology and Physical Education program at the University of Toronto, earning a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree with High Honours. Along with her degree she received certificates in Mental Health and Physical Activity, Physical Activity Instruction, and Social and Environmental Justice.
Outside of her academic studies, Olivia is an active member of the Canadian National Team representing Canada Internationally in the sport of Synchronized Skating. Her team won the 2023 Canadian National Skating Championships and during her time on the team she has competed at two World Senior Synchronized Skating Championships.