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Dr. Marie-Hélène Pennestri

Title: 
Associate Professor
Academic title(s): 

Associate Dean of Research & Graduate Studies |ÌýFRQS Research Scholar Junior 2 Scientist |ÌýWilliam Dawson Scholar

Dr. Marie-Hélène Pennestri
Contact Information
Email address: 
marie-helene.pennestri [at] mcgill.ca
Phone: 
514-398-8079
Address: 

Education Building
3700 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y2
Canada

Group: 
Associate Dean
Department: 
Educational and Counselling Psychology (ECP)
Professional activities: 
  • Regular Researcher, Hôpital en santé mentale Rivière-des-Prairies (CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'ÃŽle-de-Montréal)
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal
Area(s): 
Mental Health, Intervention & Psychopathology
Areas of expertise: 
  • Development and consolidation of the sleep-wake cycle in infants and children
  • Mental health
  • Parental expectations
  • Families
  • Sleep disorders (children and adults)Ìý
  • Child developmentÌý
  • Attachment
  • Polysomnography
  • Autonomic nervous system
  • Heart rate variabilityÌý
  • Premature birth
Biography: 

Dr. Pennestri investigates the development of the sleep-wake cycle in infancy, in relation with physical and mental health, family functioning, and parental expectations. Her research program also focuses on more vulnerable populations, such as social pediatric, foster children and premature birth. Dr. Pennestri completed a Ph.D. in Psychology at the Université de Montréal and was trained at the Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, where she specialized in sleep, sleep disorders and cardiovascular function. She pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, where she worked on several developmental psychology projects. In addition, Dr. Pennestri is a clinical psychologist working with children, adolescents, and adults (clinical license: Ordre des Psychologues du Québec; Hôpital en santé mentale Rivières-des-Prairies). She has a multidisciplinary approach and her projects integrate physiological and psychological measures. Her research program is funded by SSHRC, CIHR, FRQS, and FRQSC. She is a FRQS Research Scholar Junior 1 Scientist and she received the Bourse Yvon Gauthier Award from the Association Québécoise pour la Santé Mentale du Nourrisson and the Wayne Hening Young Investigator Award from the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group.

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Degree(s): 
  • Postdoctorate Fellowship, Douglas Research Centre / ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ
  • Ph.D., Université de Montréal: Research/Clinical Psychology
  • M.Ps., Université de Montréal: Clinical Psychology
Awards, honours, and fellowships: 
  • (2021-2026) The associations between infant sleep, parental sleep and the quality of the parent-infant relationship: a longitudinal study in mothers and fathers;ÌýPrincipal investigator;ÌýSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) -Ìý($258,561)
  • (2021-2024) Sommeil après une commotion cérébrale : Impact sur le bien-être et leÌýfonctionnement familial; Co-investigator;ÌýSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) - ($221,587)
  • (2020-2021)ÌýOnline cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia and anxiety in older adults:Ìýa feasibility study using e-SPACE, a multidomain web platform for health promotion;ÌýCo-investigator;ÌýCentre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Programme d’appui à des projets de recherche stratégiques et structurants -Ìý($10,000)
  • (2019-2022)ÌýAméliorer le sommeil de son enfant: une intervention innovante etÌýbénéfique pour les familles vivant en contexte de vulnérabilité; Co-investigator;ÌýSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) - ($173,150)
  • (2018-2023) Transition to parenthood: realistic sleep-related expectations as a protective factor for mothers' and fathers' mental health;ÌýPrincipal investigator; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR, Project Grant) -Ìý($353,203)
  • (2018-2022)ÌýMieux comprendre les liens entre le sommeil du nourrisson, les interactions mère-enfant, la santé mentale des parents, et la santé mentale et physique des enfants: une perspective familiale;ÌýPrincipal investigator; Salary Award - Fonds de recherche du Québec-Santé Grant (FRQS) - ($80,000)
  • (2017-2022)ÌýRépondre aux besoins développementaux des enfants qui vivent en situation deÌývulnérabilité psychosociale et de négligence – Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN);ÌýCo-investigator;ÌýFonds québécois de recherche société et culture (FRQSC) -Ìý($592,000)
  • (2016-2019) -ÌýQuality of infant and maternal sleep as predictors of the mother-infantÌýrelationship: the moderating influence of maternal perceptions and expectations;ÌýPrincipal investigator;ÌýSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) -Ìý($63,819)
  • (2017-2019) -ÌýDéveloppement du sommeil du nourrisson, dans le contexte de la transition à laÌýparentalité: qu’en pensent maman et papa?;ÌýPrincipal investigator;ÌýAssociation québécoise pour la santé mentale des nourrissons -Ìý($2,500)
  • (2018-2019) - Increasing the dissemination of best practices in psychology: Practice guidelines,Ìýpractice-research networks, clinical tools, progress tracking, and evidence basedÌýpractice;ÌýCo-investigator;ÌýSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC, Connection Grant) -Ìý($45,761)
Program: 

Counselling Psychology

Graduate supervision: 

Accepting students for 2023-24

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