[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Bonyun_Marissa.jpg” caption=”Fourth-year health sciences student Marissa Bonyun is an undergraduate student research assistant in the Vision Development Lab. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]Face recognition is something that most adults take for granted, but some children struggle with recognizing faces from different angles, according to a study being conducted in the Vision Development Lab by PhD candidate Mayu Nishimura.

“This study is investigating whether intense training in judging whether faces shown at different viewpoints are the same or different can change or even improve the children's ability to recognize different faces,” said Marissa Bonyun, a fourth-year health sciences student and research assistant in the Vision Development Lab.

After receiving an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA), Bonyun began working as a research assistant in the Vision Development Lab in April of this year. Her supervisior, Daphne Maurer, a professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, encouraged her to apply for the USRA.

“I had taken an infant development course with Dr. Maurer during the winter semester, and intrigued by her research, I asked to work with one of her graduate students for an independent study project,” said Bonyun. “My summer NSERC scholarship granted me 16 weeks as a student researcher within the Vision Development Lab.”

The lab studies vision development of children with and without vision problems. As a research assistant, Bonyun conducts studies with the children and tests their vision with an eye chart. She is also responsible for recruiting participants for the studies.

Working in the lab gave Bonyun the opportunity to work with graduate students and pursue her research interests. After taking courses in cognitive and perceptual development, she was able to apply what she learned in the classroom by working in the lab this summer.

“Although I have always dreamed of pursuing a career in the health care field, I now recognize that it may not be the only option for me,” said Bonyun. “This experience has left me with many possible options to explore for future pathways after my undergraduate career is complete.”

For more information about the Vision Development Lab, or to participate in a study, please contact Bonyun at 905-525-9140, ext. 24761 or bonyunm@mcmaster.ca.