MSc (Thesis) Students

	Milena Ljubicic Milena is a second-year master’s student in the thesis program at Lakehead University, supervised by Dr. Paolo Sanzo. Originally from Toronto, Ontario, she completed my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at Lakehead University while competing on the women’s volleyball team. Her research focuses on health and rehabilitation, with a particular interest in balance and dual-tasking in older adults; a topic closely tied to fall prevention and healthy aging. She chose Lakehead University not only for its supportive research environment and outstanding faculty, but also for the opportunity to integrate athletics and academics throughout her studies. Looking ahead, she plans to continue with clinical research at the doctoral level. Outside of my academic work, Milena enjoys exploring Thunder Bay’s local restaurants (Nortenos, Foundry, Swell, and St. Paul’s) and staying active through volleyball and fitness.
	Bailey Jadischke Bailey is a second-year Thesis-Based Master of Kinesiology student working under the supervision of Dr. Erin Pearson. Originally from London, Ontario, Bailey graduated from Western University with an Honours bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology. Through her academic experience and interest in health and physical activity, Bailey has developed a research interest in student wellbeing, health promotion, and mental health. Her current research is exploring how physical activity, and social experiences may contribute to student health and wellbeing. Outside of academics, Bailey enjoys travelling, staying active, and spending time with her friends and family.
	Peter-Paul Robinson Peter-Paul is a second-year thesis-based student working under the supervision of Dr. Eryk Pryzsucha. His research focuses on the impact of asymmetries on performance and injury risk in youth athletes, especially in Alpine Skiers. Peter-Paul attended Lakehead University as an undergraduate student, graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology degree in the spring of 2025. Outside of his studies, Peter-Paul is a competitive Alpine Ski Racer and certified coach and enjoys working with youth athletes to make them the best athlete and person they can be.
	Mackenzie Nelson Mackenzie is a second-year thesis-based master's student working under the supervision of Dr. Paolo Sanzo and Dr. Carlos Zerpa. She graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology program here at Lakehead. She completed research in her undergraduate degree under the supervision of Dr. Ravenelli looking into the effects of menthol on sweating during passive heat stress. In completing that research, she got the opportunity to attend the American Physiology Summit in California and was awarded an abstract of distinction award. This experience in her undergraduate degree unlocked her interest in research and motivated her to pursue her MSc here at Lakehead. Her current research is looking at post-operative recovery following a total hip arthroplasty. Outside of academics, Mackenzie is working as a Registered Kinesiologist at TBRHSC. Mackenzie enjoys running, weightlifting, and spending time with family and friends.
	Jessica Pettinger Jessica Pettinger is a second-year master’s student in the thesis program working under the supervision of Dr. Paolo Sanzo. She graduated from Lakehead's Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology program. Her current research is focused on persistent post-concussion symptoms and rehabilitation strategies within the community. Jessica is also a Registered Kinesiologist with the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario. She is currently using her knowledge in kinesiology and athletics to work as an Athletic Trainer for the Fort Frances Lakers Jr. ‘A’ hockey team. She hopes to continue her education to pursue a career as a sports physiotherapist. Outside of academics and working with athletes, Jessica enjoys playing hockey and soccer, training for half-marathons, and coaching hockey goalies year-round.
	Ryan Tremblett Ryan is a second-year thesis-based master’s student working under the supervision of Dr. John Gotwals. He graduated with his Bachelor of Kinesiology with a minor in psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2024. Ryan’s research will focus on sport psychology specifically the psychological trait of perfectionism within athletes. Outside of academia, you can generally find Ryan staying active through running, tennis or golf.
	Paniz Bashari Paniz is a second-year thesis-based Master of Science in Kinesiology student at Lakehead University, working under the supervision of Dr. Taryn Klarner. After having completed her Honours Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at Lakehead, Paniz wanted to continue her education in research. Her current research explores how kinesiology is represented within interprofessional healthcare practices, and how allied health professionals perceive the role and contributions of kinesiology within interprofessional care. Paniz is interested in understanding how different healthcare professions work together and how kinesiology can contribute to collaborative patient care. Outside of her academic studies, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, staying active, cooking new recipes, and baking.
	May Ho May is a second-year MSc Kinesiology thesis student supervised by Dr. Carlos Zerpa. She is originally from Vietnam, where she worked as a registered midwife for more than seven years. Before starting her graduate studies, she also worked in healthcare in Canada for almost five years. Her experience working in healthcare, particularly in maternal health, inspired her interest in pregnancy biomechanics.May’s thesis research focuses on the effects of maternity support belts on dynamic balance, gait symmetry, and movement during level walking and stair locomotion in pregnant women.
	Corrie Marin Corrie is a second-year thesis-based Master of Science in Kinesiology student at Lakehead University, working under the supervision of Dr. Erin Pearson. She graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology degree from Lakehead, where her positive undergraduate experience inspired her to pursue graduate research. Her research interests are within the field of health psychology and promotion, with her specific thesis topic currently under development. Outside of academia, she enjoys playing sports, painting, listening to live music, and spending time with friends and family.
	Noah Lebano Noah is a second-year thesis-based student working under the supervision of Dr. Paolo Sanzo. His research will focus on rehabilitation science, specifically exploring post-operative recovery following total hip arthroplasty, using a combination of patient-reported outcome measures and performance-based functional and clinical tests. In the past months, Noah has begun recruiting and collecting data. Originally from Ottawa, Noah attended Lakehead University as an undergraduate student, graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology degree in the spring of 2025. Outside of his studies, Noah is also a CSEP-certified personal trainer and enjoys helping others develop a healthy relationship with physical activity. In his free time, Noah enjoys playing and watching sports, fishing, working out, and camping.
	Avery Marshall Avery is a first-year master’s student in the thesis program working under the supervision of Dr. Eryk Przysucha. She graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology program at Lakehead University while competing on the varsity track and field team. Growing up as an athlete and dancer, Avery developed an interest in motor control. After her positive experience with her 4th year research projects, Avery decided to build on her strong interest in motor control and pursue the MSc Kinesiology Thesis program. Her research interests focus on force absorption, reactive strength, and ankle stiffness. Avery is looking forward to further developing her research skills and exploring these areas throughout her master’s degree.
	Owen Gilhula Owen is a first-year thesis-based master’s student working under the supervision of Dr. Kivi. He graduated with Honours in Kinesiology and Health Science from York University, where he also competed with the Varsity Men’s Hockey Team.His research focuses on high-performance training habits and their relationship with sport-specific performance outcomes. With a background in competitive sport and strength and conditioning, Owen is passionate about athlete development, performance training, and applying sport science to help athletes build effective training habits and achieve their goals.
	Vanessa Fratpietro Vanessa is a first-year master’s student in the thesis program at Lakehead University, supervised by Eryk Przysucha. She completed her four-year Honours Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at Lakehead and developed an interest in human movement, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal health. She also plays soccer for the Lakehead University soccer team and enjoys staying active through sports and fitness.