Current Students

Stuart Wilson, PhD

Email: stuart.wilson@queensu.ca

I am a Postdoctoral Fellow working with Dr. Jean Côté, Dr. Luc Martin, and the whole PLAYS Research Group. Originally from Ottawa, I earned a BSc Kin from McMaster University, a MSc from York University, and a PhD at the University of Ottawa. My research takes an ecological approach to examining performance improvement and participation experiences. In other words, my goal is to help people improve their performance and enjoy the process of doing so! For instance, my PhD work explored how elite endurance athletes define, implement, and manage their recovery between workouts to enhance their training. My work is informed by past experience coaching sprint canoeing as well as strength & conditioning.

Beth Barz (6th Year)

Email: beth.barz@queensu.ca

I am in the sixth year of my part-time PhD and a local high school teacher. I’m working with Dr. Jean Côté and Dr. Luc Martin while studying coach developers (or those coaches who coach coaches). Outside of work and academics, I’m a Facilitator and Mentor Coach for the Advanced Coaching Diploma program at the Canadian Sport Institutes in Ontario and Calgary, where I support high-performance coaches in values-based leadership and decision-making. I also facilitate and work with TC4S (Transformational Coaching for Sport) and for COACH+ in the areas of coach development, research, and content/resource development. This work is supported by many lessons learned while earning designations such as Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), NCCP Master Coach Developer in rugby and multisport, and World Rugby Trainer. I am in my 23rd season coaching university rugby in Kingston.

Alex Murata (6th Year)

Email: a.murata@queensu.ca

I am currently a sixth-year PhD student studying under Dr. Jean Côté with the PLAYS group at Queen’s University. I completed my MSc under Dr. Côté in 2019 and attended The University of British Columbia (B.A. Psychology) and the University of Ottawa (Hons. B.A. Communications) previous to my time at Queen’s. Broadly, my research interests lie in the examination of how adult stakeholder behaviour (i.e., sport parents, sport coaches, sport administrators) affects the athlete experience and athlete development in the context of youth sport. Outside of the lab, I coach youth ice hockey and try to sample as many sports as possible.

Kelsey Saizew (5th Year)

Email: kelsey.saizew@queensu.ca 

I am in my fifth year of my PhD under the supervision of Luc Martin. I am originally from Calgary, Alberta, where I completed my Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary (’13). I competed on the Dino’s track and field team throughout my undergraduate degree. My research interests include elite sport, group dynamics, leadership, team cohesion and subgroups/cliques. I completed my Master’s thesis in 2018, where I looked at the social processes within a sport composed of multiple subgroups. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, reading, and being active with my son.

Mitch Profeit (2nd Year)

Email: mcp3@queensu.ca 

I am a second-year PhD student supervised by Dr. Martin within the PLAYS Research Group. In my hometown of Prince George, B.C., I completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia and a Graduate Diploma in Psychosocial Rehabilitation from Douglas College in New Westminster, B.C. Before entering university, I enjoyed a rewarding junior ice hockey career as a goaltender and goaltending coach. Having the privilege to compete at a high level in a youth sport fostered an interest in sport psychology, specifically group dynamics. My current research interests lie in team functioning, with a specific interest in how groups can promote quality decision-making in limited-time environments. Outside of the PLAYS RG, I work with the Faculty of Health Sciences, where I contribute to the development of online education for both graduate and undergraduate-level programs. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy spending time at a movie theatre, rink, or cheering on the Canadiens.

Haley Smith (1st Year)

Email: haley.smith@queensu.ca

I am currently a first-year PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Côté in the PLAYS lab. I completed my BSc degree in Kinesiology at Queen’s University (’15) while also competing as a member of the Canadian National Mountain Bike Team. I took the years following my undergraduate degree to focus solely on the Olympics, which was a long and rewarding journey that took me around the world and, ultimately, to Tokyo. That decades-long pursuit, coupled with a personal history of mental illness, sparked my interest in the field of sport psychology. My academic interests are broad, and include the influence of the family in lifestyle sports (the likely focus of my thesis research), mental health in young athletes, and inclusion in outdoor adventure sports. Outside of the lab, I am still a professional off-road cyclist and spend as much time as possible pedalling around in the woods, watching Great British Bake Off, and spending time with my family. I am also involved in athlete governance, fulfilling the role of off-road representative for the TCA (The Cyclists’ Alliance), which is the international professional women’s cycling union.

Jared Chisari (3rd Year)

Email: 22xb9@queensu.ca

I am a 3rd year MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Luc Martin in the PLAYS lab. I am originally from Maine and decided to come to Queens after completing my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While at Umass I also competed in Division 1 FBS college football. Now I am currently on the Queen's football team, enjoying my time pursuing both my academic and athletic futures. Having been a part of multiple sports organizations during my athletic career, I am very fascinated in the different avenues that connect sports and psychology. One of my biggest interests lies in the role that playing time has in status and the psychological effects behind status with regards to group dynamics in sports. Outside of football and research I like spending time with friends, family, working out, and going on motorcycle rides.

Lauryn Bons (2nd Year)

Email: l.bons@queensu.ca

Maddy Schmidt (1st Year)

Email: schmidt.m@queensu.ca

I am a first-year MSc candidate supervised by Jean Côté in the PLAYS lab. I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, and completed my BSc in Kinesiology at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. My 20+ years of experience as a sprint kayak athlete, with 10 years on the national team and many international competitions, including the Tokyo Olympics, has given me the privilege of working with many coaches and coaching styles. This experience developed a deep curiosity for understanding what makes an effective coach an effective coach and how to develop true trust between coach and athlete. My goal is to develop an understanding and implement education and training for coaches to develop stronger relationships with their athletes. Although my goals of going to another Olympics have come to an end, you could find me engaging in anything type 2 fun like riding my bike, cross-country skiing, and running!