Meet our 2025 Marleen Biggs Memorial Award recipient, Mina Pichtikova!
A huge congratulations goes out to Mina Pichtikova, who was named our 2025 Marleen Biggs Memorial Award recipient.
The Marleen Biggs Memorial Award is awarded to an outstanding doctoral student on the basis of academic merit and financial need who is enrolled in the Counselling and Clinical Psychology PHD program in the Applied Psychology and Human Development Department. Preference will be given to candidates whose particular area of study is in the area of Sexual Assault. Candidates are nominated internally for this award.
We sat down with Mina to learn more about her graduate school journey, her current research, and her future goals.
Congratulations, Mina. Can you describe your winning research proposal?
My research program is centered on understanding and improving the lives of survivors of intimate partner violence, including sexual assault. My doctoral dissertation, supervised by Dr. Charles Chen, examines how intimate partner violence shapes women’s career trajectories, with the aim of developing specialized career-counselling interventions that address the unique vocational consequences of trauma. Complementing this work, I have collaborated with Dr. Ellen Gutowski on a qualitative study exploring survivors’ experiences in psychotherapy to inform trauma-informed treatment guidelines; this manuscript has recently been submitted for publication. In addition, under the supervision of Dr. Margaret McKinnon, I coordinate multi-phase clinical trials evaluating novel PTSD interventions, many of which include survivors of sexual violence. Across these projects, I have engaged with hundreds of survivors, reflecting my commitment to advancing trauma-informed research and clinical practice in this population.
That sounds pretty innovative. Can you describe the educational experiences that prepared you to do that type of research?
I completed my Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour at McMaster University, where I worked across multiple research laboratories and discovered my passion for clinical psychology and trauma-focused research. Following my undergraduate training, I volunteered and later worked as a clinical research assistant at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, supporting research with individuals experiencing trauma, concurrent disorders, and borderline personality disorder. I then joined McMaster University as a Clinical Research Coordinator under the supervision of Dr. Margaret McKinnon, focusing on PTSD and trauma interventions. I subsequently pursued my MA and PhD in Applied Psychology and Human Development at the University of Toronto. My MA thesis examined minority stress, trauma, and dissociation, and my doctoral dissertation focuses on intimate partner violence and career counselling. Collectively, my academic training, clinical experience, and research roles have consistently centered on improving outcomes for trauma survivors.
Why did you choose to do your graduate work in APHD at the University of Toronto?
Having grown up in the Greater Toronto Area, Toronto has always been home to me. The opportunity to remain closely connected to my community, combined with the exceptional clinical and research training offered by the APHD program, strongly influenced my decision. APHD provided rigorous, integrative training aligned with my interests in trauma-focused clinical research, while also allowing me to build a strong professional network within the city where I hope to continue practicing and contributing. The program’s emphasis on both scholarship and applied clinical work made it an ideal fit for my long-term goals.
Can you share one strategy you use to succeed in academia?
One key strategy I use is intentionally pursuing balanced development across research, clinical training, and academic scholarship. I strive to embody the clinician-scientist model by ensuring that each domain informs and strengthens the others. Equally important has been cultivating strong mentoring relationships and maintaining a solutions-oriented approach when challenges arise. Seeking guidance, remaining adaptable, and approaching obstacles as opportunities for learning have been central to my academic success.
Can you share one thing that brings joy, balance, and good health to your busy life?
