Doris Chow

Doris Chow is an active Assistant Professor of Psychology at St. Thomas University (STU), where she has served on faculty since 2022. Her research laboratory focuses on multisensory perception and cognition, investigating how humans integrate sensory information across the lifespan through experimental studies with human participants. She teaches core psychology courses including Introduction to Psychology, Perception, and Visual Perception, while mentoring undergraduate researchers in experimental design and scientific communication.

Her educational background spans a Bachelor of Social Sciences and Master of Philosophy from the University of Hong Kong, followed by a Ph.D. in Developmental and Brain Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Boston and postdoctoral training at the University of British Columbia Vancouver. Dr. Chow's research examines the neural mechanisms of multisensory integration, with emphasis on how perceptual abilities evolve from infancy through adulthood and the consequences when these processes malfunction. Her work bridges experimental psychology, vision science, and developmental neuroscience through controlled laboratory experiments.

Current research trends in her publications reveal consistent focus on cross-modal interactions (particularly audio-visual and audio-tactile), developmental trajectories of perception, and the neural underpinnings of sensory integration. Recent work increasingly incorporates infant studies and computational approaches to understanding perceptual organization.

Scientific recognition includes:

• NSERC Discovery Grant (awarded summer 2024)
• Harrison McCain Foundation research funding

Dr. Chow maintains an active mentoring program where students develop research skills through honors theses and NSERC-funded projects. Her lab has produced multiple conference presentations at venues like Vision Sciences Society and Science Atlantic, with recent graduates accepted into competitive graduate programs including the Max Planck School of Cognition. She collaborates with community partners such as the Museum of Science in Boston (2014-2018) and continues this outreach approach at STU.

The Multisensory Perception and Cognition Laboratory involves undergraduate researchers in all stages of experimental work, from participant recruitment to data analysis. Current projects examine haptic exploration strategies, sound-shape correspondences, and optic flow perception, with strong emphasis on developing students' academic writing and technical skills for research careers.