Reconceptualizing Consciousness for Neuropsychiatric Conditions
Salah Aziz
Ph.D. Student at Carleton University
(He/Him)
2201 Dunton Tower
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6
salahreyes@gmail.com
RESEARCH PROFILE
Dedicated researcher specializing in the exploration of consciousness within the context of cognitive decline and the aging process. Committed to bridging philosophy and neuroscience to uncover the multidimensional aspects of altered states of consciousness. Currently engaged in projects that redefine these states as variations in the expression of global states, with a particular emphasis on Alzheimer's disease.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Consciousness; phenomenology; neurocognitive ageing; cognitive decline; statistical modeling; biomarkers
EDUCATION
2021 – Present Doctorate of Philosophy in Cognitive Science, Carleton University. In Progress, expected 2026. GPA: 11.25/12.0
Thesis: A Multidimensional Approach to Understand Consciousness in Cognitive Decline: Insights from Alzheimer's Disease, supervised by Dr. Myrto Mylopoulos
2019 – 2020 Master of Arts in Philosophy, University of Victoria. Received in September 2020. GPA: 7.17/9.0
Thesis: Why an Overcomittment to Natural Kinds Hinders Progress in Cognitive Science, Supervised by Dr. Eric Hochstein
2017 – 2019 Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, track in Social Sciences, University of Louisville. Received May 2019. GPA: 3.7/4.0
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
Travel Grant [funded through Research Assistantship], for Alzheimer's Association International Conference, awarded by CANAL Lab at Carleton University, 2025.
Graduate Award for Ontario Students for Research in Dementia. Fall 2023, Carleton University.
Graduate Award for Ontario Students for Research in Dementia. Fall 2022, Carleton University.
Graduate Fellowship. Fall 2021, Carleton University.
Graduate Fellowship. Fall 2019, University of Victoria.
Thomas S. Maloney Scholarship in Philosophy. Fall 2017, University of Louisville
Dean’s List. Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017, University of Louisville.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
September 2023 Instructor, Carleton University. First Year Seminar: Cognitive Science, Thinking and Knowing.
– Winter 2024
April 2023 Instructor, Carleton University. Cognitive Science: Mysteries of the Mind.
– June 2023
September 2021 Teaching Assistant, Carleton University. Cognitive Science: Mysteries of the Mind; Philosophy and Cognitive Science; Methods in Cognitive Science; Cognitive Neuroscience.
– April 2023
September 2019 Teaching Assistant, University of Victoria. Philosophy: Philosophy of Religion; Moral Problems in Contemporary Society; Critical Thinking; Introduction to Philosophy. Engineering: Technology and Society.
- Present
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2021 – Present Doctoral Candidate, Carleton University. Bold = Currently researching, **First-author
- Currently writing my dissertation work involving the current challenges faced in measuring consciousness in Alzheimer’s disease (AD); implementing a multidimensional framework of a global state of consciousness of AD, including content, cognition, function, sense of time, and sense of self.**
- Currently engaged in a pivotal role supporting the analysis and refinement of EEG (Electroencephalogram) data, specifically focusing on blink-related oscillations, within the context of cognitive decline prediction for individuals involved in flight tasks. Responsibilities include collaborating with National Research Council to implement data cleaning protocols, executing analytical procedures, and contributing insights to the interpretation of findings.
- Led a longitudinal study collecting 15 years’ worth of anatomical magnetic resonance imaging data of patients with mild-cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) processed in a novel computational modeller HippUnfold which can give unprecedented surface based metrics on the hippocampus and its subregions.**
- Conducted a study measuring how the felt emotional intensity varies across English and French bilinguals in Ottawa and Montreal using short-written scenarios.
- Developed an account of how emotional experience can occur in a theory of cognitive science without representations.
2019 – 2020 Graduate Student, University of Victoria.
- Wrote a major research project illustrating how implicit assumptions of natural kinds, or phenomena in nature affect empirical paradigms in cognitive science using emotion-based studies as a case example.
- Specialized in directed studies research involving (the philosophy of) scientific explanations and psychiatry.
PUBLICATIONS/IN REVIEW
Aziz, S., Penheiro, R., Morrison, C., Zhukovsky, P., Anderson, J.A.E. (2025). Longitudinal Surface-Based Morphometry Changes in the Hippocampus in Dementia. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Neurobiology of Aging.
CONFERENCES
Aziz, S., Law, A., Keillor, J., Ryzhard, E. (2025, November). [Conference Paper]. Blink Dynamics and Blink-Related Oscillations in EEG as a marker of Cognition** To be submitted to the International Neural Engineering Conference in San Diego, California, USA.
Aziz, S., Law, A., Keillor, J., Ryzhard, E. (2025, October). [Poster Abstract]. Blink Dynamics and Blink-Related Oscillations in EEG as a marker of Cognition** To be submitted to the Psychnomics Conference in Montreal, 2025.
Aziz, S. (2025, July). Dimensions of Consciousness in Alzheimer's Disease [Poster Abstract]. 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Aziz, S., Penheiro, R., Morrison, C., Zhukovsky, P., Anderson, J.A.E. (2025, July). Longitudinal Surface-Based Morphometry Changes in the Hippocampus in Dementia [Poster Abstract]. 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Aziz, S. (2025, April). Dimensions of Consciousness in Alzheimer's Disease [Poster Abstract]. 2025 Carleton Cognitive Science Spring Conference, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Aziz, S. (2024, June). Panelist/Commentator for Subjectivity vs. Phenomenal Character by Lee, A. Paper presented at the Canadian Philosophical Association, Canada.
Aziz, S., Penhiro, R., & Anderson, J.A.E. (2023, April). Morphological Changes of the Hippocampus from Depressive Symptoms and Dementia, Preliminary Findings. Poster presentation at the Carleton University Cognitive Science Conference, Canada. Note: Since the original presentation, this project has expanded to include Morrison, C., and Zhukovsky, P., as additional collaborators.
Aziz, S., Hamilton, A., Chiarelli, V., Russo, L., Al Assafin, S., & Borque, T. (2023, April). Emotional Intensity in L1 and L2 in English and French Elicited by Short Scenarios. Poster presentation at the Carleton Cognitive Science Spring Conference, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Aziz, S. (2022, May). Reconciling Emotional Consciousness in 4E Cognition. Poster presentation at the XIII Dubrovnik Conference on Cognitive Science, Croatia.
Aziz, S. (2019, December). A Clarificatory Account of Shared Emotions. Paper presented at the University of Victoria Annual Philosophy Colloquium, Canada.
ACADEMIC/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Present Contract Instructor Steward, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 4600.
2022 – Volunteer, Ottawa and Renfrew County Dementia Society
Present
2021 - 2023 President, Department of Cognitive Science Graduate Student Association.
2017 – 2019 President, Palestinian Child’s Relief Fund, Louisville Chapter.
2012 – 2015 Volunteer, Palestinian Child’s Relief Fund, San Diego Chapter.
LANGUAGES
English, fluent.
Arabic, fluent.
Moroccan Arabic, fluent.
Spanish, intermediate competency.
French, intermediate competency.