MEET OUR TEAM
Dr. Zahra Clayborne
(she/her)
LAB DIRECTOR
Dr. Zahra Clayborne is a psychiatric epidemiologist and Assistant Professor of Community Health Sciences and Pediatrics at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine. She completed a Canadian Institutes of Health Research postdoctoral fellowship in 2024 at the University of Calgary, where she worked with Drs. Suzanne Tough and Sheila McDonald with the All Our Families research team to understand flourishing from a developmental perspective. Dr. Clayborne completed a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Ottawa in 2022 under the supervision of Dr. Ian Colman. Concurrent with her doctoral studies, Dr. Clayborne worked as an epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency of Canada in positive mental health surveillance, where she developed a keen interest in better understanding how to cultivate positive health trajectories for Canadians from all walks of life. She is a co-Investigator of the All Our Families study, and a full member of the Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, the O'Brien Institute for Public Health, and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. Outside of academia, Dr. Clayborne enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her rescue cats Aria and Tenny; running Calgary's beautiful trails and pathways; knitting and reading.
As the director of the Flourishing and Inclusive Health Research (FAIR) Lab, Dr. Clayborne's program of research is centred on investigating optimal well-being and mental health outcomes throughout the life course via an intersectional lens, with a particular focus on the development of mental health, flourishing, and resiliency among children and youth. Prospective undergraduate and graduate students interested in population mental health and well-being research are encouraged to review the training and values sections of our website, and email Dr. Clayborne a brief statement of interest and updated CV. For more information, you can refer to Dr. Clayborne’s UCalgary profile page here
STAFF
Angie Uy (she/her)
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Angie Uy joined the Flourishing and Inclusive Health Research (FAIR) Lab in 2025 to continue her work with Dr. Zahra Clayborne on a scoping review that explores the concept of flourishing in both adult and adolescent populations. She began this work in 2023 with the All Our Families team, where she also completed her senior practicum project on the relationship between physical activity and chronic pain in neurodivergent children. Angie graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, with a minor in Health and Society. Angie began her Master of Public Health degree at the University of Saskatchewan in Fall 2025.
Over the past year, she has been based in Sudbury, Ontario, where she is working with Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada's Eye Van program, providing ophthalmic care to underserved rural communities in Northern Ontario. She has also been contributing to a project about homelessness and emergency room use with Health Sciences North. Angie hopes to carry these interests forward into her graduate studies, with a particular focus on pediatric myopia and health resource allocation within rural or remote contexts. In her spare time, she enjoys long walks, going to raves, and getting boba.
Zoha Asif (she/her)
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Zoha Asif is a second-year medical student at the University of Calgary researching the concept of ‘flourishing’ in children and adolescents with the FAIR Lab. Her academic and clinical interests lie at the intersection of pediatrics and psychiatry, with a particular focus on understanding the full spectrum of pediatric development. Prior to medical school, Zoha obtained her BSc in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology, where she also completed an undergraduate thesis examining how a high-fat diet may influence the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Outside of academics, she likes to spend her spare time travelling, going to concerts, and spending time outdoors!
Rida Mahmood (she/her)
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Rida Mahmood is a medical student at the University of Calgary working with the FAIR Lab to examine the concept of flourishing in children and adolescents. Her academic and clinical interests lie in psychiatry and child and adolescent mental health, with a focus on understanding how well-being and resilience can be supported across development. Prior to medical school, Rida completed a Master’s in Biomedical Technology, which fostered an interest towards using digital health tools to improve health care delivery for trainees and patients alike. Outside of academics, she enjoys trying new foods, baking for friends, and spending time with her cat, Kaju!
TRAINEES
Luis Martinez Hoyos (he/him)
MSC STUDENT
Luis is a Master’s student in Community Health Sciences, specializing in Epidemiology at the University of Calgary. Through his volunteer work with pediatric populations, Luis’ research interests have come to focus on child and adolescent mental health and well-being amid adversity. Prior to beginning his graduate studies, Luis earned a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Calgary and became involved in thrombosis research. Outside of academics, Luis loves trying out new restaurants, spending time with his younger sister, and watching telenovelas.
Luis is currently supported by a recruitment award from the Department of Community Health Sciences and an Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship.
Naaija Aden (she/her)
HONOURS STUDENT
Naaija Aden is a fourth-year student in Health Sciences, majoring in Health and Society with a concentration in Psychology at the University of Calgary. Naaija's interests lie in maternal and adolescent health with a focus on understanding the social and structural factors that shape flourishing and resilience. She is particularly interested in engaging with meaningful equity-oriented research that can support the health and well-being of Black and racialized communities. Outside of academics, she likes to design and create clothing, explore the city with her younger brothers, and spend time with her cat, Noona.
LAB ALUMNI
Sophia Schermer (2026), University of Calgary
Undergraduate summer student
Josh Borja (2025), University of Calgary
Undergraduate summer student and researcher
Rowan Chetner (2024), Tufts University
Undergraduate summer student