Bita Ghafari Farokhzad
Toronto
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Undergraduate Researcher
Rehan Molecular Ecology Lab, York University
05.2022 - 06.2024
PI: Dr. Sandra Rehan
Honors Thesis, 09/2023 – 06/2024
Committee Members: Dr. Gordon Fitch, Dr. Robert Tsushima
- Collected morphometric data (e.g., head width, intertegular width, wing wear) on over 5,000 bee specimens using microscopy
- Organized and analyzed large, multi-year datasets using Excel and RStudio
- Conducted literature reviews to support manuscript and report writing
- Collaborated with doctoral and post-doctoral researchers studying urban ecology and native bees
- Resulted in publication: Chau, K. D., Ghafarifarokhzad, B., Ayers, A. C., & Rehan, S. M. (2025). Annual variation across functional traits: The effects of precipitation and land use on four wild bee species. Ecological Entomology
Research Practicum | May 2023 – Sep 2023
Rehan Lab entomological collection curation
- Curated over 150 wild bee species, including labeling and organizing ~20,000 specimens for long-term conservation research
- Sorted specimens by family, genus, and species using dichotomous keys and Discover Life
- Created an online database of plant-pollinator interactions, including floral traits and visitation data
Research at York (RAY) | May 2022 – Sep 2022
Plant-pollinator interaction response to urbanization
- Collected bee and floral specimens using netting, pan traps, and blue vane traps across an urbanization gradient
- Identified flower and bee genera in the field using identification keys and iNaturalist
- Contributed to community outreach and promoted pollinator research awareness
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical Sciences
York University
Toronto, ON06-2024
Publications
- Parker, J. A., & Taylor, R. L. (2024). The impact of mindfulness-based therapy on reducing anxiety in college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 70(4), 543–558. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/yyyy
- Parker, J. K., & Carter, M. E. (2023). Exploring the relationship between self-compassion and resilience in individuals with depressive symptoms. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 78(9), 1243–1258. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/yyyy
- Parker, J., & Johnson, A. (2022). The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health. Journal of Applied Psychology, 45(3), 123-135.
- Parker, J., & Martinez, E. (2021). The Role of Emotion Regulation in the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Adult Psychopathology. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 25(1), 45-60.
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- Society for Neuroscience (SfN)
- Association for Psychological Science (APS)
Certifications
- Certified Behavioral Analyst (CBA)
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)
- Advanced Research Methods Certification
- Data Visualization in Psychology (Coursera)
Relevant Skills
- Expert in designing and conducting psychological research, with proficiency in quantitative and qualitative analysis using SPSS and NVivo.
- Skilled in applying evidence-based counseling techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing, to diverse populations.
- Strong ability to synthesize complex psychological theories and apply them to real-world case studies and clinical interventions.
- Experienced in academic writing and publication, with a proven track record of authoring peer-reviewed journal articles and presenting at national conferences.
Timeline
Undergraduate Researcher
Rehan Molecular Ecology Lab, York University
05.2022 - 06.2024
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical Sciences
York University