The Group
Worried about polarization?
Us too.
So we started Freestyle Labs to understand what we could do about it. Specifically, we study how games and social norms can create better conversations.
Research interests include:
- Affective Polarization
- Science Curiosity
- Critical Thinking
- Threat and Challenge Psychological Models
- Identity Protective Cognition
For further information about Freestyle labs please click here (external link, opens in new window) .
Hometown: Brampton, ON, Canada
BSc: Ryerson University (2017)
MSc: Ryerson University (2020)
Reeda is working on developing new conductive surfaces for novel DSSC architectures.
Hometown: North Saanich, BC, Canada
BSc: University of Victoria (2022)
Emma is working on synthesizing novel organic materials for photovoltaic applications.
Hometown: Toronto, ON Canada
BSc: McMaster University (2010)
MSc: Laurentian University (2014)
PhD Candidate: Ryerson University (2023)
Anthony's PhD thesis is to better appreciate how critical thinking can be strengthened using constructed environments & how this will lead to more impactful science communication. Anthony is co-supervised with Dr. Jessica Mudry (opens in new window)
Hometown: Mississauga, ON, Canada
BASc: Dubai Women’s College (2006)
MEng: Ryerson University (2019)
Haifa is working on developing a novel technology for extracting and limiting absorption of hydrophobic fluids.
Group Alumni
| Alumni | Completion Year | Level(s) | Current Status/Employment |
| Vanessa Bairos | 2019 | MSc* | MSc, Ryerson University |
| Tasnim Abukar | 2019 | MSc* | MSc, Ryerson University |
| Camila Londono | 2019 | Postdoc* | Postdoc, Ryerson University |
| Connor Taylor | 2019 | BSc Thesis | ?? |
| Saba Azizi-Soldouz | 2019 | BSc Thesis | Research Associate - Koivisto Materials Consulting |
| Tavneet Singh | 2019 | BSc Thesis | MSc, Ryerson University |
| Zainab Shakeel | 2018 | BSc Thesis | MSc, Ryerson University |
| Leticia Dupont | 2018 | BSc - ICE exchange | MSc, Concordia University |
| Lara Al-Nubani | 2018 | NSERC USRA | BSc, Ryerson University |
| Francis Buguis | 2018 | BSc | BSc, Western University |
| Olga Sarycheva | 2018 | MSc | Russia |
| Donnie Stangroom | 2017 | BSc | Undergraduate, Ryerson University |
| Malek El-Aooiti | 2016 | BSc | PhD, Ryerson University |
| Muntaser Farooque | 2017 | BSc Thesis | Catalent Pharma Solutions, Strathroy |
| Ben Fisher | 2017 | BSc, MSc | Univeristy of Calgary |
| Mark Zaidi | 2017 | BSc | BSc, Ryerson University |
| Selvyn Simoes | 2017 | BSc Thesis | PhD York University |
| Jordan Bentley | 2017 | BSc Thesis | PhD, York University |
| Kar-Wing Lo | 2017 | BSc Thesis | ?? |
| Jennifer Huyhn | 2017 | MSc | Toronto Research Chemicals |
| Leslie Capobianco | 2017 | BSc | OCAD |
| Laurie-Ann Whelan | 2017 | BSc Thesis | MASc, Ryerson University |
| Kiron Gonidis | 2016 | NSERC USRA, BSc | MSc, Western University |
| Burhan Hussein | 2016 | BSc, MSc | PhD, Durham University, UK |
| Muhammad Yousaf | 2016 | PhD | Contract lecturer, Ryerson University |
| Jeanette Adjei | 2016 | BSc | MSc, Western University |
| Hardeep Devgan | 2015 | BSc Thesis | Toronto Research Chemicals |
| Mohammad Choudhry | 2015 | BSc | PhD, University of British Columbia |
| Omar Abdi | 2015 | BSc, MSc | PhD, McGill University |
| Paloma Prieto | 2015 | NSERC USRA | Berlinguette Group, Univeristy of British Columbia |
| Sara Abuadas | 2015 | BSc Thesis | Heliatech, Velocity, Waterloo |
| Jelena Madzarevic | 2015 | BSc | MASc, Ryerson University |
| Chris Barran | 2014 | NSERC USRA | Law, University of Victoria |
| Andrew Harris | 2014 | BSc | PhD, Western University |
| Christopher Lombardi | 2014 | BSc Thesis | MSc, York University |
| Devin Machin | 2014 | BSc, MSc | PhD, Western University |
| Alison Lee | 2014 | BSc | Nymi, Inc., Associate Product Manager |
| Maryam Abdinejad | 2014 | MSc | PhD, University of Toronto, Scarborough |
| Ellie Arnold | 2013 | NSERC USRA | PhD, University of Toronto, |
| Amy (Trinh) Pham | 2013 | BSc Thesis | Pharmacy, University of Waterloo |
| Carolyn Khalil | 2012 | BSc Thesis | Toronto Research Chemicals, Sales Representative |
| Catherine Bonnier | 2012 | KPMG, SR&ED tax associate | |
Dr. Bryan D. Koivisto, Associate Professor Ryerson University, Ontario, Canada
Hometown: Sault Ste Marie, ON (more specifically RR#2 Desbarats)
After finishing his BSc at the University of Waterloo (2000), and PhD at the University of Victoria (2006), Dr. Koivisto held an NSERC PDF position at the University of Edinburgh investigating the utility of molecular machines for light harvesting (2006-2008). Dr. Koivisto then joined the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy at the University of Calgary (2008-2011). There he continued to focus his research interests by investigating the conversion of light energy into solar fuels. In 2012, Dr. Koivisto joined the Department of Chemistry and Biology at Ryerson University. As an associate member of Ryerson’s Centre for Urban Energy, Dr. Koivisto’s work investigates the design of bio-inspired light-harvesting dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Since 2012, Bryan has established a vigorous research program to better appreciate the utility of organic dyes light-harvesting. After receiving promotion to Associate Professor in 2014, Dr. Koivisto has continued to embrace mentorship and innovation in scientific discovery, and has developed a number of programs designed to promote evidence-based experiential learning. As such, he was appointed the founding Director of the Science Discovery Zone (May 2016); a non-traditional STEM startup incubation ecosystem hosted at Ryerson University.
