Who’s on our team?

Dr. Paul Van Donkelaar

Dr. Paul van Donkelaar (he/him) is co-founder and principal investigator for SOAR. He is also a professor in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences and Associate Vice Principal, Research at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna, B.C., Canada. His research focusses on the basic mechanisms of sensorimotor control and the cerebrovascular, neurocognitive, and sensorimotor aspects of brain dysfunction resulting from traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Since 2016, he has focused much of his research on better understanding brain dysfunction in women who have experienced intimate partner violence-related BI through the SOAR project.

Karen Mason
Karen Mason (she/her) is Karen Mason, co-founder and director of community practice for SOAR. SOAR is a multi-disciplinary research collaboration that explores the incidence and effects of brain injury from intimate partner violence, and works to develop and disseminate education and training for those who work with survivors, along with support and interventions for survivors themselves. A seasoned and passionate non-profit leader, communicator, and community collaborator, Karen is also executive director of Third Space Charity, and former executive director of Kelowna Women’ Shelter in Kelowna. She brings 30+ years of career experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors to her work advocating for survivors of intimate partner violence and other marginalized populations.

Shambhu P. Adhikari (he/him)
Postdoctoral Research & Teaching Fellow

Kelsey Helm (he/him)
Research Project Manager

Kathryn Kriitmaa (she/her)
Research Coordinator

Carrie McLennan (she/her)  Research Coordinator