Like many other members of the lab, Tristan is interested in the neural underpinnings of memory. More specifically, he is interested in how neuroscience can inform the field of forensics. Completing his BSc in forensic psychology, he noticed a pervasive lack of neuroimaging in forensic research, and poor inter-disciplinary collaboration/communication. This is to say, he found that “forensic” researchers tend to relegate themselves to conventional forensic paradigms and cite past forensic researchers in their papers, while traditional psychology researchers tend to do the same with their own fields. This ultimately contributes to that lack of neuroscience in forensic research, and more broadly an often reduced or delayed introduction of fresh perspectives and findings. His research integrates one of the former and one of the latter. He is applying an “individual differences” approach to his eyewitness testimony paradigm, and is ultimately seeking to undercover the neural predictors of a person’s testimony’s reliability. He is also incorporating the theory of hippocampal long-axis specialization, which is one of many examples of an interesting and important psychological finding that has not made its way into forensic research yet. Ultimately, he hopes that his research will contribute to what is eventually a complete picture of what a “good eyewitness” is, and that his work will be used in cases in which pivotal eyewitness evidence, especially conflicting accounts, may decide whether a person is acquitted or convicted.
Tristan draws heavily on his BSc, a specialist degree in forensic psychology obtained at U of T, and will pursue a J.D. after his Master’s thesis is complete. He plans on ultimately working as a prosecutor in Toronto or Kingston. When he isn’t at the lab he enjoys going out with friends, riding his motorcycle, hitting the gym, playing video games, and wrestling for the Queen’s team.