Post-Doctorate Fellows
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.
PhD Students
Beth Barz
Email: beth.barz@queensu.ca
I am a part-time PhD candidate 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
Email: a.murata@queensu.ca
I am currently a PhD candidate 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
Email: kelsey.saizew@queensu.ca
I am completing 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
Email: mcp3@queensu.ca
I am a PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Martin within the PLAYS Research Group. I completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia in my hometown of Prince George, B.C., a Graduate Diploma in Psychosocial Rehabilitation from Douglas College in New Westminster, B.C., and an MSc right here at Queen's University. My current research focuses on how teams think, synchronize, and perform in sport. Specifically, my research focuses on how video-based strategies can be used to build team cognition, including the development of shared mental models, promote quality decision-making in limited-time environments, and enable effective near and far transfer. Outside of the PLAYS RG, I work with Queen's 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, watching live sport, cheering on the Canadiens, and continually trying (and failing) to make the perfect cup of coffee.
Haley Smith
Email: haley.smith@queensu.ca
I am currently a 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.
MSc Students
Maddy Schmidt
Email: schmidt.m@queensu.ca
I am a 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!
Kaitlin Fortier
Email: kaitlin.fortier@queensu.ca
I am a MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Luc Martin in the PLAYS lab. Originally from Newmarket, I completed my undergraduate degree at Queen’s University, earning a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Kinesiology. My research interests lie broadly in the area of group dynamics, with a particular focus on how athletes navigate the unique psychosocial demands of injury. Growing up, I danced competitively and ran cross country/track and field. Outside of the lab, you can find me running, doing Pilates, going to the gym, or spending time with friends and family!
Morgan Leeder
Email: 24vp64@queensu.ca
I am currently an MSc student working under the co-supervision of Dr. Luc Martin in the PLAYS lab and Dr. Jordan Sutcliffe at RMC. I grew up in Kemptville, just south of Ottawa, and ventured to Laurentian University in Sudbury to complete my BA in Sport Psychology (‘25). At Laurentian, I was able to expand my passion for sport and its psychological aspects not only through my engaging classes and internships, but also as co-chair of the Laurentian University Women in Sport Committee, through various positions on the Laurentian University Kinesiology and Health Sciences Student Association, and by participating in/working at intramurals of all kinds. My academic interests lie in the area of Group Dynamics, but are broad overall, as I am a firm believer in lifelong learning. Outside of the lab, you will find me exercising (ARC, spin classes, and more), at a coffee shop with friends, or cheering on our Gaels!
Kiyara Letlow
Email: kiyara.letlow@queensu.ca
Bio to follow.
Olivia Christendat
Email: olivia.christendat@queensu.ca
I am an MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Jean Côté in the PLAYS lab. Growing up in Toronto, I completed my Bachelor of Kinesiology with a Certificate in Physical Activity Instruction at the University of Toronto. My research interests relate to the area of coach-athlete dynamics and youth participating in sport from a psychosocial perspective. My goal is to help make sport environments more positive through education and training for sport participants (coaches, athletes, and parents). Outside of the lab, you can find me working with children, playing dodgeball, reading a book, or checking out coffee shops and farmers markets with friends.
4th Year Thesis Students
Adam Doyle
3rd Year Internship Students