Dr. Sabrina Syan graduated with a PhD in Neuroscience from the Neuroscience Graduate Program at McMaster University in 2017 and subsequently began a second doctorate in Clinical Psychology through the Research Clinical Training Stream of the Psychology Graduate Program at McMaster University. Her previous research focused on the trait-based pathology of bipolar disorder and the influence of hormonal fluctuations associated with reproductive milestones on brain structure and function. Currently, she is pursuing her doctoral research under the supervision of Dr. James MacKillop at the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, investigating the neuroeconomics of addiction and treatment optimization to prevent relapse during addictions treatment.

During her training she has received the Steiner Young Investigator Award from the North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lillian Rose Stegne Fellowship from McMaster University, and awards from the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse and the Research Society for Alcoholism. In addition, Sabrina is also an Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University and involved in teaching with the Psychiatry Postgraduate Residency Program.