Ariana E. Giuliano, PhD

 
Professional Summary

Experienced learning and memory scientist and educator with a strong foundation in research, science communication, writing, and knowledge translation. Adept at conveying complex science and medical concepts to diverse audiences. Passionate, highly organized, self-motivated, and detail-oriented with proven leadership and project management skills.

ariana + michael

Relevant Skills & Characteristics

  • Scientific Writing
  • Editing & Proofreading
  • Science Communication
  • Knowledge Translation
  • Infographic and Presentation Design
  • PsychoPy (with python customization)
  • R
  • Office 365 Suite
  • Collaborative and Communicative
  • Highly Organized
  • Adaptable
  • Strong Analytical Skills

Education

2019-2025        PhD Psychology, University of Toronto & Rotman Research Institute
                      Co-Supervisors: Drs. Asaf Gilboa & Morris Moscovitch

2018-2019        MA Psychology, University of Toronto & Rotman Research Institute
                      Co-Supervisors: Drs. Asaf Gilboa & Morris Moscovitch

2014-2018        BA Psychology, McGill University
                      Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Jeffrey Mogil

Selected Experience

2024-present     Science and Academic Writing Tutor

  • Providing individualized tutoring and learning materials in psychology, neuroscience, and general academic skills to undergraduates, high school students, and adult learners worldwide

2018-2025        Graduate Researcher, University of Toronto & Rotman Research Institute

  • Spearheaded nine research projects investigating learning, memory, and aging, producing peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations.
  • Translated current research into grant applications, successfully procuring research and personal funding from both national (e.g., NSERC) and institutional funding bodies (e.g., Rotman Research Institute).

2021-2024        Graduate Supervisor & Mentor, Rotman Research Institute

  • Supervised and coached eight students through independent research projects, focusing on furthering the development of scientific reasoning, data interpretation, and research communication skills
  • Provided detailed editing and feedback on students’ scientific writing, and supported the development of conference presentations, posters, and honours theses

2019-2023        Peer Reviewer, Academic Journals

  • Reviewed and critiqued six manuscripts for high-impact journals (e.g., Nature Communications, Scientific Reports, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, and others)
  • Ensured all content aligned with discipline standards and maintained editorial precision and journal guidelines

2023                 Course Instructor, University of Toronto (PSY372: Human Memory)

  • Designed and delivered all course components for PSY372: Human Memory, including syllabus, lectures, assessments, and educational content based on current memory research
  • Selected and synthesized peer-reviewed literature, educational media, and real-world applications to improve student understanding of complex topics
  • Applied expertise in human learning and memory to optimize knowledge retention and communication clarity
  • Based on student feedback, my teaching abilities were consistently rated higher compared to departmental averages

2018-2022        Teaching Assistant, University of Toronto

  • Supported instruction and assessment in psychology courses including “PSY201: Statistics I” and “PSY343: Theories of Psychotherapy and Psychopathology”
  • Graded and provided feedback on written assignments and exams, led tutorials and guest lectures, and met individually with students to clarify dense academic content

2021                 Workshop Instructor, Rotman Research Institute

  • Designed and delivered community and academic workshops on science literacy and grant writing
  • Tailored content for different audiences (e.g., older adults in the community vs. graduate students) to ensure information was presented with the appropriate level of detail

Peer-Reviewed Publications and Presentations

Publications

Giuliano, A., Bonasia, K., Ghosh, V.E., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. (2021) Differential Influence of Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Lesions on Neural Representations of Schema and Semantic Category Knowledge. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01746

Presentations

Giuliano, A., Heikurinen, T., Joseph, K., Gilboa, A. Flexible Object-Label Associations Following Rapid Perceptual Learning in Patients with Hippocampal Damage. Poster Presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting. 2024, April 15th; Toronto, Ontario.

Giuliano, A., Balshin Rosenberg, F., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Sticking to the Script: How Deficits in Script Knowledge Impact the Nature of Autobiographical Narratives. Poster Presented at the Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention. 2023, May 26th; Washington, DC.

Giuliano, A., Balshin Rosenberg, F., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Comparing script knowledge deficits between patients with ventromedial-prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and medial temporal lobe (MTL) damage. Poster Presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting. 2023, March 27th; San Francisco, CA.

Giuliano, A., Balshin Rosenberg, F., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Sticking to the Script: How Deficits in Script Knowledge Impact the Nature of Autobiographical Narratives. 2023, February 9th; Niagara, Ontario.

Giuliano, A., Hardin, V., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Comparing the Impact of Different Kinds of Prior Knowledge on Memory. Talk given at Toronto Area Memory Group Annual Meeting. 2022, May 19th; Toronto, Ontario.

Giuliano, A., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Differential Effects of Schema and Category-Mediated Encoding on Memory. Poster Presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society Virtual Meeting. 2021, March 13-16; Remotely from Toronto, Ontario.

Giuliano, A., Bonasia, K., Ghosh, V., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Differential Influence of Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Lesions on Schema and Category Knowledge. Poster Presented at the Society for Neuroscience Virtual Global Connectome. 2021, Jan 11-13; Remotely from Toronto, Ontario.

Giuliano, A., Bonasia, K., Ghosh, V., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Differential Influence of Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Lesions on Schema and Category Knowledge. Poster Presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting. 2020, May 2-5; Remotely from Toronto, Ontario.

Giuliano, A., Bonasia, K., Ghosh, V., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Differential Influence of Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Lesions on Schema and Category Knowledge. Poster Presented at the Rotman Research Institute Conference on Aging & Brain Health. 2020,   March 8-11; Remotely from Toronto, Ontario.     

Giuliano, A., Bonasia, K., Ghosh, V., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Oscillatory Dynamics of Prior Knowledge Processing. Talk given at University of Toronto Graduate Recruitment Data Blitz. 2020 January 30; Toronto, Ontario.                                        

Giuliano, A., Bonasia, K., Ghosh, V., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Mechanisms of Prior Knowledge Processing. Talk given at the Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences. 2019 November 11; Toronto, Ontario.                                             

Giuliano, A., Bonasia, K., Dhamija, P., Moscovitch, M., Gilboa, A. Synchronous and Desynchronous Oscillatory Activity Underlying Schema Instantiation. Talk given at Toronto Area Memory Group Annual Meeting. 2019 May 14; Toronto, Ontario.

Tansley S., Wu N., Cordeiro E., Santella C., Giuliano A., Samo A., and Mogil J. S. Do People and Mice Approach or Avoid Others in Pain?. Poster Presented at Canadian Pain Society 39th Annual Scientific Meeting. 2018 May 22-25; Montréal, QC

Awards & Scholarships

2024-2025       Finkler Graduate Student Fellowship, Rotman Research Institute ($3,300.00)

2024               Jack & Rita Catherall Fund, Rotman Research Institute ($400.00)

2023-2024       Finkler Graduate Student Fellowship, Rotman Research Institute ($2,900.00)

2023               Doctoral Completion Award, University of Toronto, Department of Psychology ($2,000.00)

2021-2024       NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship – Doctoral, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada ($63,000.00)

2023               School of Graduate Studies Conference Grant, University of Toronto ($900.00)

2022-2023       Soupcoff Family Research Grant, Rotman Research Institute ($3,500.00)

2022-2023       Finkler Graduate Student Fellowship, Rotman Research Institute ($2,365.00)

2021-2022       Max & Ruth Wiseman Graduate Student Fellowship, Rotman Research Institute ($2,107.00)

2020-2021       Finkler Graduate Student Fellowship, Rotman Research Institute ($3,000.00)

2020-2021       Jack & Rita Catherall Fund, Rotman Research Institute ($400.00)

2019-2020       Finkler Graduate Student Fellowship, Rotman Research Institute ($1,000.00)

2019-2020       School of Graduate Studies Conference Grant, University of Toronto ($750.00)

2019-2020       Jack & Rita Catherall Fund, Rotman Research Institute ($500.00)

Language Skills

  • English (fluent, level 5)
  • French (professional working proficiency, level 3-4)