Dr. Caroline F. Pukall
(she/her/elle)
Ph.D., C.Psych. [CV]
Lab Director
Dr. Caroline Pukall (she/her | elle) is a Professor of Psychology at Queen's University, Director of the Sex and Relationship Therapy Service, and Canada Research Chair in Sexual Health. Her research focuses on sexual health, including genitopelvic pain, persistent genital arousal disorder, and assessment development. Through the Sexual Health Research Laboratory, she leads an interdisciplinary team dedicated to conducting inclusive, clinically relevant research with meaningful impact for patients and the public. Dr. Pukall has published more than 175 journal articles, received several million dollars in research funding, and serves as an Associate Editor for Sexual Medicine Reviews.
Research Associate
M.A. (Gender studies), B.A.H. (psychology)
B.Sc. (life science)
Shannon Coyle (she/her) [CV]
Shannon is the research associate in the Sexual Health Research Lab.
She is also a professor at St. Lawrence College teaching human sexuality, psychology and sociology.
After completing two years as a Ph.D student in Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen's University she decided to shift her focus and follow her passion to teach and conduct research.
POST DOCTORAL Research Associate
PH.D. (psychology)
Microprogram on Evaluation of Social and Health Programs and Policies
B.Sc.H. (PSYCHOLOGY)
DR. Marilyn Ashley (she/her/elle) [CV]
Dr. Marilyn Ashley is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Sexual Health Research Lab at Queen’s University. She received her PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Ottawa in 2025, where she currently also works as a Part-Time Professor. Broadly, Dr. Ashley’s research examines under-recognized and poorly understood aspects of sexual health, with a particular focus on identifying factors that shape sexual functioning and well-being and developing more inclusive approaches to their assessment and study. Her current work with Dr. Caroline Pukall focuses on post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD), including characterizing its diverse symptom presentations and trajectories, improving its identification and measurement, and translating research findings into resources that can support clinical recognition and care.
PH.D. Student (clinical psychology)
m.sc. (social psychology)
b.a.h. (psychology)
Trinda L. Penniston (she/her) [CV]
Trinda is a fifth-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Candidate who uses multi- and mixed-methods approaches to studying the sexual health and well-being of racialized and other marginalized groups. Her Master’s thesis examined how race, racial attitudes, and identification with sexual stimuli impacts women’s sexual responses. Her PhD research uses Feminist and Intersectionality theories to examine Black women's and gender-diverse people's lived experiences of sexual pleasure and pain and how we measure those experiences with current measurement tools. Her clinical interests primarily focus on sexual and reproductive health, and the treatment of PTSD and other stress-related disorders.
PH.D. Student (Clinical Psychology)
M.Sc. (Clinical Psychology)
B.A.H (Psychology)
Sam Levang (she/her) [CV]
Sam is a fifth-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Candidate. Her Master's thesis focused on vulnerability and resilience processes associated with sexual distress and sexual satisfaction in the endometriosis population. Sam's Ph.D. program of research applies Crip, Feminist, and Intersectionality theories to critically examine the lived experiences of individuals with endometriosis and chronic overlapping pain conditions. Central to this work is an exploration of disability identity formation, the role of stigma in shaping pain experiences, and how structural inequities affect access to care and health outcomes. Sam's clinical interests primarily focus on health psychology, with an emphasis on supporting individuals in coping with chronic illness. She is particularly interested in the assessment and treatment of chronic pain and sexual dysfunction.
PH.D. Student (Clinical Psychology)
M.Sc. (Clinical Psychology)
B.Sc.H (Psychology)
Caitlin Barry [CV] (they/she)
Caitlin is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Psychology program. Their research interests include sexual health, mental health, and health care experiences among gender diverse individuals. Their Master’s thesis explored strength-based and health promoting behaviours among trans and non-binary individuals. Their PhD research will focus on how trans and non-binary folks navigate sexuality, sexual health, and health care environments.
PH.D. Student (Clinical Psychology)
M.Sc. (Clinical Psychology)
B.A.H (PSYCHOLOGY)
Megan Henkelman (she/her) [CV]
Megan is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Psychology program. Her research focuses primarily on sexual wellbeing, with additional experience in the areas of sexual arousal, cancer, sexual coercion, and sexual functioning in gender minority adults. Her Master’s thesis focused on developing a comprehensive measure of sexual wellbeing that is inclusive of both gender and sexual minority and majority populations. Her ongoing Ph.D. research is focused on refining and validating this measure. Clinically, Megan is interested in sex therapy and working with neurodiverse clients.
PH.D. STUDENT (CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY)
M.SC. (CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY)
B.Sc.H (Psychology)
Julianna Park (she/her) [CV]
Julianna is a second-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program. Her research and clinical interests encompass various aspects of sexual health, including genitopelvic pain, sexual desire, and sexual functioning. Her Master’s thesis investigated cognitive-affective factors and healthcare experiences among individuals with chronic clitoral pain, a line of inquiry she continues to pursue in her doctoral work. For her dissertation, Julianna is examining the role of cognitive-affective factors, such as pain catastrophizing, fear and avoidance of pain, and hypervigilance to pain, in the maintenance of chronic vulvar pain employing longitudinal and meta-analytic methodologies.
PH.D. STUDENT (CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY)
M.SC. (CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY)
B.A.H (PSYCHOLOGY)
Melody Garas (she/her) [CV]
Melody is a first-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program. Her primary research interests include sexual pain and dysfunction, with a specific focus on Vaginismus. She is also interested in the impact of culture on sexual pain, as well as female genital mutilation (FGM), and temporary abstinence (such as No Nut November). Her Masters’ thesis, investigated sexual pain in racialized individuals, specifically exploring the relationship between experiences of discrimination, healthcare barriers, and pain outcomes. For her PhD research, Melody plans to investigate Vaginismus, its associated experiences, and treatments. Melody is also the director of the Sexual Health Resource Centre (SHRC) on campus.
PH.D. Student (Cognitive Neuroscience)
M.Sc. (Biology)
B.Sc. (Biology)
Bibiana Kemerer
Bibi is a first year PhD student in the Cognitive Neuroscience program. Her goal is to use multi-methodological approaches to understand organic sexual dysfunction (sexual dysfunction with a physiological cause such as surgeries, injuries, cancer treatments). She has a background in sexual health and cancer; she completed her MSc in Reproductive Biology with a focus on psychological interventions in prostate cancer patients at the University of British Columbia. She also worked as a sexual health coach for cancer patients at Princess Margaret Cancer Hospital in Toronto.
M.SC. STUDENT (CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
B.Sc.H (Psychology)
Christen Potvin (she/her) [CV]
Christen is a second-year M.Sc. student in the Clinical Psychology program. Her research interests include sexual psychophysiology, sex research methodology, sexual concordance, persistent genital arousal, and SSRI-related sexual disturbances. For her Master’s thesis, Christen will be investigating how cisgender women with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genitopelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD) differ physiologically from control women. For her PhD, Christen plans to validate the use of a new tool for measuring sexual arousal in women.