Skills

• Neuroimaging – Proficient in structural, functional and diffusion MRI neuroimaging analyses (SPM, CONN, CAT12, MRTrix)
• Programming – Fundamental knowledge of MATLAB, Python, R, Unix shell, computer clusters
• Communication – Experienced in manuscript writing and research presentations
• Statistics – Basic statistical knowledge, fluent with SPSS and R

Education

2023 – Present – PhD candidate with the Max Planck School of Cognition, Germany

2018 – 2022 – Bachelor of Science (with distinction), Behavioural Neuroscience, University of British Columbia

Graduated with distinction, and an A- average. Achieved placement on the Dean’s Honour list in 2021.

2018 – High School Diploma, Chestermere High School, Alberta

Continuous honour roll student, with an average of 90% or higher all three years, recipient of the Academic Effort award in grade 11 and 12 for exemplary work ethic.

Awards and Scholarships (6)

• Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship (2021) - $6000
• CHILD-BRIGHT Summer Studentship (2019, 2020 and 2022) - $6,000/year
• Jaydon Sommerfeld Memorial Bursary (2018) - $500
• Heritage Youth Research Summer (HYRS) studentship (2017) - $2,500

Research Experience and Achievements

2023-2024 – Lab rotations – Max Planck School of Cognition, Deutschland

Worked on three projects across three labs in Deutschland:

• Exploring the how cardiovascular health influences the eye-brain relationship using retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and grey matter volumes – Manuscript in preparation.
• Structural connectivity of the visual system following congenital cataract removal – In progress.
• Assessing predictive performance of four derivations of the SRC task network – In progress.

2022 - 2023 – Research Assistant – Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program, University of Calgary, Canada
Have built several large normative databases of neuroimaging biomarkers using the Human Connectome Project – Development sample, to populate a patient-centred dashboard for individualized brain health and development. Currently developing the GUI and back-end of this dashboard, and preparing the manuscript.

2019 - 2022 - Research Assistant - Center for Cognitive Development, University of British Columbia, Canada
Lead two projects on the psychology of cooperation, and how arousal affects the approximate number system.

2017 - 2022 - Summer Studentships - Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program, University of Calgary, Canada
Developed four different projects:

• Investigating alterations in cortical morphology following perinatal stroke – Scientific Reports (2023).
• Quantifying myelination patterns in perinatal stroke and comparing with the typically developing population using T1/T2 ratios – Currently in preparation.
• Exploring developmental alterations to basal ganglia volumes caused by perinatal stroke and relating them to motor function – Published in NeuroImage: Clinical (2022).
• Applying graph theory to characterize the development of whole brain functional connectivity in a pediatric typically developing population – Currently in progress, manuscript under review.

Extracurricular Activities

• Competitive hockey – Central Alberta Hockey League (13 years), team captain (3 years), two championships (2015, 2010) – Coaching (2 years, one championship (2017)).
• UBC intramurals (3 years) – Hockey, soccer, and various races - six championships.
• Golf.

Published peer-reviewed manuscripts and abstracts (4)

1. Hassett J, Craig BT, Hilderley AJ, Kinney-Lang E, Yeates KO, MacMaster FP, Miller J, Noel M, Brooks B, Barlow K, Lebel C, Kirton A & Carlson HL (2024). Development of the whole-brain functional connectome explored via graph theory analysis. Aperture Neuro, 4, https://doi.org/10.52294/001c.124565.
2. Shinde K, Craig BT, Hassett J, Dlamini N, Brooks BL, Kirton A & Carlson HL (2023). Alterations in cortical morphometry of the contralesional hemisphere in children, adolescents, and young adults with perinatal stroke. Scientific Reports, 13(1), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38185-8.
3. Hassett J, Carlson HL, Babwani A, Kirton A (2022). Bihemispheric developmental alterations in basal ganglia volumes following unilateral perinatal stroke. Neuroimage: Clinical, 35, 103143, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103143.
4. Shinde K, Craig BT, Hassett J, Kirton A, Carlson HL (2021). Bilateral developmental alterations in cortical morphology in children with perinatal stroke [abstract]. International Stroke Conference (virtual), March 17-19, 2021. Stroke, 52: A54, https://doi.org/10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.54.
5. Banyi N, Hassett, J. Paper straws: an investigation into surface modification and hydrophobization of cellulose. STEM Fellowship Journal, 6(1), https://doi.org/10.17975/sfj-2020-007.

Manuscripts under review and in preparation (4)

1. Ayyıldız N, Mueller K, Hardikar S, Beyer F, Girbardt J, Hassett J, Anwander A, Elze T, Wang M, Witte AV, Villringer A & Rauscher FG (in prep). The retina as a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk factor-associated differences in the brain.
2. Carlson HL, Hassett J, Craig BT, Hilderley AJ, Forkert N & Kirton A (in prep). Fingerprinting individual differences in lesion impact through imaging: The FIDELITI Dashboard, a patient-centered dashboard for brain health.
3. Hassett J, Craig BT, Kirton A & Carlson HL (in prep). T1T2 ratios and developmental myelination of the motor system in children with perinatal stroke.

Research Symposium Presentations

• Hassett JD, Craig BT, Hilderley AJ, Kinney-Lang E, Yeates KO, MacMaster FP, Miller J, Noel M, Brooks BL, Barlow K, Lebel C, Kirton A, Carlson HL (2024). Development of the whole-brain functional connectome explored via graph theory analysis. Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2024, June 25-29, Vienna, Austria; Hotchkiss Brain Institute Summer Student Symposium, 2022­ - won 3rd place.
• Hassett JD, Carlson HL, Babwani A, Kirton A (2021). Bihemispheric developmental alterations in basal ganglia volumes following unilateral perinatal stroke. Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM), 2022, Glasgow, Scotland; Hotchkiss Brain Institute Summer Student Symposium, 2021.
• Hassett JD, Carlson HL, Kirton A (2020). T1/T2 Ratios: Investigating Myelination in Perinatal Stroke Patients. Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM), 2020, virtual; Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Symposium, 2018, 2019; Hotchkiss Brain Institute Summer Student Symposium, 2018, 2019.
• Hilderley AJ, Craig BT, Hassett JD, Kirton A, Carlson HL (2019). Focal corticospinal tract abnormalities in children with perinatal stroke. Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM), 2019, Rome, Italy.
• Hassett JD, Carlson HL, Kirton A (2017). Structural sensorimotor cortex organization in children with perinatal stroke and hemiparetic cerebral palsy. Heritage Youth Researcher Summer Program Summer Research Day, 2017; Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Symposium, 2017.