Shahnaz Winer

Position: Psychology Instructor

Department: Psychology/Social Science

Faculty: Humanities and Social Sciences

Office: DL A3057 / NW N3426

Office Phone: (604) 777-6274

Email: winers@douglascollege.ca

Education and Credentials

  • Ph.D, Cognitive & Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Waterloo
  • M.A., Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Waterloo
  • B.Sc., Honours Psychology (Biology Minor), University of Waterloo

Academic and Professional Profile

Dr. Shahnaz Winer is an educator and researcher with a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Waterloo. With nearly a decade of experience teaching a variety of psychology courses, she is passionate about supporting students through the creation of engaging and inclusive learning environments. 

Dr. Winer is dedicated to advancing research that leverages technology to promote human health. She served as a Senior Researcher on a nationwide program in collaboration with the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging, utilizing a custom-designed smartphone app to support dementia prevention and care.

Beyond her research and teaching, Dr. Winer values contributing to her academic community. She has served on institutional committees, led professional development initiatives, and founded the Kurdistan Memory Organization to raise awareness of cognitive health issues. As the Inaugural Chair of the Psychology Careers & Professionals Section of the Canadian Psychological Association, she is working to develop mentorship programs and career development initiatives for students and professionals.

Dr. Winer is deeply committed to supporting students’ academic and personal growth and to advancing the understanding of how psychology applies to our everyday lives.

Courses

  • PSYC 1100
  • PSYC 2360
  • PSYC 3365
  • PSYC 3331

Research/Clinical Activities

Dr. Winer enjoys exploring the intersection of psychology and everyday life, with a particular curiosity about how technology and social contexts shape human experiences. Her research interests span Cognitive Neuroscience and Social Cognition, investigating how social contexts influence memory, how empathy shapes decision-making, the impact of social media on self-perception, and the role of culture in shaping thought. She is also deeply intrigued by the emerging potential of Artificial Intelligence to transform mental health care and enhance cognitive processing.

Open to Supervising Honours Students for 2024-25: YES

Professional Affiliations and Community Service

  • 2020 – present, Member, Canadian Psychological Association
  • 2020 – present, Chair, Psychology Careers and Professionals Section, CPA
  • 2021 – present, Adjudicator, Student Research Grant Funding, CPA
  • 2021 – present, Member, Scientific Affairs Committee, CPA
  • 2016 – present, Mentor, Prospective Psychology Graduate Students
  • 2013 – 2016, President and Founder, Kurdistan Memory Organization

Hobbies and Interests

Beyond her professional pursuits, Dr. Winer treasures family life with her husband and their 2.5-year-old son. She enjoys creating meaningful experiences for her little one while balancing her dedication to teaching and research. With roots in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Dr. Winer also values cultural connections and storytelling. When she’s not teaching, researching, or spending time with loved ones, she enjoys vegan baking, being outside in nature, experiencing different parts of the world, meeting new people and learning their stories, and eating shakshouka.

Selected Refereed Publications:

Feldman, H., Belleville, S., Nygaard, H. B., Montero-Odasso, M., Durant, J., Lupo, J.-L., Revta, C., Chan, S., Cuesta, M., Slack, P. J., Winer, S., Brewster, P. W. H., Hofer, S. M., Lim, A., Centen, A., Jacobs, D. M., Anderson, N. D., Walker, J. D., Speechley, M. R., Zou, G. Y., Chertkow, H. & Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA), CAN-THUMBS UP Study Group (2023). Protocol for the Brain Health Support Program study of the Canadian Therapeutic Platform Trial for Multidomain Interventions to Prevent Dementia (CAN-THUMBS UP): A prospective 12-Month intervention study. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2023.65

Koji, S. (2014). The Implementation of an educational and care system for those suffering from dementia in Kurdistan [abstract]. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK.

Koji, S. & Fernandes M.A. (2012). Examining the role of face familiarity in context effects on face memory [abstract]. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology.

Koji, S. & Fernandes, M.A. (2010). Does it matter where we meet?: The role of emotional context on evaluative first impressions. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 64(2), 107-116.

Fernandes, M.A., Koji, S., Dixon, M.J. & Aquino, J. (2011). Changing the focus of attention: The interacting effect of valence and arousal. Visual Cognition, 19(9), 1191-1211.

Koji, S., Fernandes, M.A., Dixon, M.J. & Aquino, J. (2009). Changing the spotlight of attention: The influence of emotion on visual attention [abstract]. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology.

Koji, S. & Fernandes, M.A. (2008). Memory for faces in emotional contexts [abstract]. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology.