Huma is a fourth year Ph.D. candidate at in the clinical psychology program. Her research interests include studying the application of mindfulness-based practices to increasing wellbeing by bridging the gap between the western utilization of mindfulness and the Buddhist roots from which it originated. Within this realm, she is interested in exploring the conceptualization of the “self” (or one’s identity) by integrating knowledge from psychology, neuroscience, and contemplative practice. Her goal is to apply this nuanced understanding of the conceptualization of one’s self to the reduction of stress and clinical disorders and in increasing wellbeing and happiness. To enrich and inform her research and clinical work, she diligently maintains her own personal daily mindfulness practice and regularly engages with meditation teachers in the field.
Syeda Huma Shireen
PhD Student
huma.shireen [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Education
2019-Present | Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
2017-2020 | Master of Arts in Clinical and Counseling Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2013-2017 | Master of Psychology in Counselling Psychology, Adler Graduate Professional School, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2012-2013 | Diploma in Dance Preparation Studies, George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2007-2013 Bachelor of Science with Honors in Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Publications
Shireen, H., Castelli, S., Milad, J., Legault, M., Dor-Ziderman, Y., & Knäuper, B. (2022). Phenomenological support for escape theory: A qualitative study using explicitation interviews with emotional eaters. [Revised and resubmitted to the Journal of Eating Disorders]
Shireen, H., Milad, J., Dor-Ziderman, Y., & Knäuper, B. (2022). A body scan meditation reduces negative affect and food cravings in emotional eaters: A randomized controlled study of the effects, mediators, and moderators. [Invited to revise and resubmit to Mindfulness]
Shireen, H., Khanyari, S., Vance, A., Johannesson, H., Preissner, C., Dor-Ziderman, Y., Khoury, B., & Knäuper, B. (2022). Paying attention to the self: A systematic review of the study of the self in the mindfulness literature. Mindfulness, 1-14.
Shireen, H., Siemers, N., Dor-Ziderman, Y., Knäuper, B., & Moodley, R. (2022). Treating others as you treat yourself: A qualitative study of the influence of psychotherapists’ mindfulness meditation practice on their psychotherapeutic work. Current Psychology, 1-15.
Carrière, K., Shireen, H., Siemers, N., Preissner, C., Starr, J., Falk, C., & Knäuper, B. (2022). Development and validation of the Four Facet Mindful Eating Scale (FFaMES), Appetite, 168(1), 105689.
Knäuper, B., Shireen, H., Carrière, K., Frayn, M., Ivanova, E., Zhen, X., …, & McGill CHIP Healthy Weight Program Investigators. (2020) The effect of if-then plans on weight loss: Results of the 24- month follow-up of the McGill CHIP Healthy Weight Program randomized controlled trial. Trials, 21(1), 40-47.
Shireen, H. (2020). The business of being comfortably uncomfortable: A qualitative study of the conceptualization and use of mindfulness meditation by psychotherapists (Master's thesis). https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/100900.
Moodley, R., & Shireen, H. (2019). Traditional holistic healing practices from around the world. In P. Dunn (Ed.), Holistic Healing: A Progressive Overview. (pp. 63-82). Canadian Scholars Press Inc.
Herman, Y., Shireen, H., Bromley, S., Yiu, N., & Granholm, E. (2016). Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training in first episode psychosis clients: A feasibility study. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 12, 863-868.
Conference Presentations
Shireen, H., Milad, J., Dor-Ziderman, Y., & Knäuper, B. (2022, November). A body scan meditation reduces negative affect and food cravings in emotional eaters: A randomized controlled study of the effects, mediators, and moderators. (Virtual) oral presentation at the International Conference on Mindfulness, Melbourne, Australia.
Carrière, K., Preissner, C., Siemers, N., Shireen, H., & Knäuper, B. (2020, June). When paying attention is not enough: The development of a multifaceted mindful eating scale. (Virtual) oral presentation at the International Conference on Mindfulness, Aarhus, Denmark.
Carrière, K., Shireen, H., Preissner, C., Siemers, N., & Knäuper, B. (2020, May). Developing and validating a new mindful eating questionnaire (FFaMES). A Mindful Society: Our Present Future, Toronto, ON (event cancelled due to COVID-19).
Carrière, K., Shireen, H., Preissner, C., Siemers, N., & Knäuper, B. (2020, May). Developing and validating a new mindful eating questionnaire. A Mindful Society Conference, Toronto, Canada.
Shireen, H., Moodley, R., & Toneatto, T. (2019, May). The business of being comfortably uncomfortable: A qualitative study of clinicians’ understanding of the components of mindfulness. 80th Annual Canadian Psychological Association Annual Convention, Halifax, Canada.
Agid, O., Shireen, H., & Remington, G. (2016, December). Early parental loss and family history of mental illness in relation to schizophrenia: A case-control study. American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), Florida, United States.
Agid, O., Fervaha, G., Zipursky, R., Foussias, G., Takeuchi, H., Siu, C., Shireen, H., & Remington, G. (2016, June). Antipsychotic treatment algorithm for first episode schizophrenia – a guide for clinicians. Harvey Stancer Research Day, University of Toronto. Toronto, Canada.
Agid, O., Fervaha, G., Zipursky, R., Siu, C., Takeuchi, H., Foussias, G., Shireen, H., & Remington, G. (2016, May). Antipsychotic treatment algorithm for first episode schizophrenia – a guide for clinicians. Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS) Conference, Florence, Italy. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. October 2016, 10 (1), 240-240.
Shireen, H., & Federman, M. (2015, May). The effect of family ties on resilience in homeless youth: A qualitative study. National Health Care for the Homeless Conference and Policy Symposium, Washington, United States.
Funding
2021 | McGill GPS Doctoral Internship Grant - $3000
2021| McGill Internal Social Sciences and Humanities Development Grant - $3000
2021 | McGill Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel Award - $166
2021 | McGill Graduate Excellence Award - $2500
2020 | MITACS Research Training Award - $6000
2020 | Mind and Life Summer Research Institute Scholarship - USD 720
2019 | Donald O’Hebb Fellowship - $7466
2019 | Ontario Student Grant - $2138
2019 | McGill University Mutual Aid Fund - $1000
2019 | SGS Conference Grant- Social Sciences and Humanities - $600
2019 | Applied Psychology and Human Development Travel Grant - $337
2019 | University of Toronto Graduate Student Association Conference Fund - $250
2019 | McGill University Academic Excellence Award - $3000
2019 | A Mindful Society Conference Scholarship - $500
2018-2019 | Canada Graduate Scholarship- Master’s Program, Social Science and Humanities Research Council - $17,500
2016 | A Mindful Society Conference Scholarship - $500
2017-2018 | University of Toronto Fellowship- Master’s Program - $12,900
2011-2012 | University of Toronto Grant - $1,300
2008-2009 | University of Toronto Grant - $1,600