Jacob A. Burack

Dr. Jacob A. Burack is a Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University, affiliated with the Faculty of Education. He serves as Director of the McGill Youth Study Team (MYST) and Co-Director of the Institute for Human Development and Well-Being (IHDW). His research focuses on developmental psychology, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disabilities, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous youth well-being and cultural continuity. He leads national networks like the Autism Research Training Program (ART) and the National Network on Aboriginal Mental Health (NAMHR), funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Dr. Burack also holds academic roles in graduate supervision for Human Development and School/Applied Child Psychology programs.

Education: PhD, M.Phil., and M.Sc. from Yale University; B.A. from Columbia University. His work bridges developmental science with applied contexts, particularly examining how cultural identity and ancestral connections influence emotional, social, and academic outcomes among Indigenous populations. He collaborates extensively with Indigenous communities to address mental health, substance use, and educational equity.

Research interests include attention and cognition in neurodevelopmental conditions, resilience in marginalized youth, and the impact of cultural identity on psychological well-being. His recent articles explore topics such as attentional frameworks in autism, pandemic impacts on healthcare services, and Indigenous youth self-continuity. Dr. Burack is a founding member of several research initiatives and contributes to policy through organizations like the Kids Brain Health Network.

Grants and Awards: Multiple CIHR-funded networks; long-term involvement with Indigenous mental health initiatives. Supervision: Actively mentors graduate students in human development and applied child psychology. Labs/Teams: MYST and IHDW serve as hubs for interdisciplinary research on youth development and well-being.