Alanna Shwed, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Alanna completed her PhD in Kinesiology at UBC Okanagan in 2025. Her research focuses on building institutional systems that support meaningful partnerships between researchers and people with lived experience in health research. As a Michael Smith Health Research BC Postdoctoral Fellow, she is developing and evaluating a Coproduction Learning System at the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) to help embed the Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) Guiding Principles into institutional structures and culture.
Her postdoctoral work builds on her PhD research, which explored how researchers adopt and implement the IKT Guiding Principles within the spinal cord injury research system. Together, her projects aim to advance the science and practice of research co-production through behaviour change, implementation science, and systems thinking.
When she’s not deep in research, Alanna’s probably swimming, testing out a new hobby, or scrolling TikTok for her next great idea.
Email: Alanna Shwed
Lauren Finlay
Masters Student (2nd year)
Lauren is a second-year Master’s student in Health and Exercise Sciences at UBC Okanagan. Her Master’s research focuses on mountain biking–related spinal cord injury in British Columbia, exploring injury circumstances, perceptions of risk, and behavioural and contextual factors to identify opportunities for injury prevention. Her work is grounded in integrated knowledge translation, bringing together researchers, clinicians, people with lived experience, and members of the mountain biking community to help ensure the research is relevant and meaningful. Lauren’s previous research has focused on integrated knowledge translation and the implementation of the IKT Guiding Principles, contributing to her broader interests in behaviour change, research partnerships, and knowledge translation. Outside the lab, Lauren enjoys running, travelling, spending time outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.
Email: Lauren Finlay
Mischa Taylor
Research Operations and Communications Coordinator
Mischa Taylor holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology and a Master’s degree in Community Engagement from the University of Alberta. Mischa has been involved in community-based projects exploring newcomers’ psychosocial adaptation, youth mental health, child migrant wellness, and more. With an interest and background in qualitative approaches, Mischa has been part of several labs as a research assistant and coordinator, supporting lab processes, project activities, partnerships, and trainee mentorship. Outside of work, Mischa loves reading, long runs, and all things outside and in the sunshine.
Email: mischa.taylor@ubc.ca
