Researcher Biography

Anna is a Ph.D. Candidate (Psychology) in the Child Development, Education and Care Group (Thorpe) at the Institute of Social Science Research. In 2017, Anna graduated from Webster University, Leiden, NL with a BSc in Psychology and a minor in Management, following which she completed an MSc in Health Psychology at University College London (UCL) in 2019. To investigate her main research interest, the mind-body connection, Anna wrote her Master's thesis on the bi-directional relationship between loneliness and physical pain. During her studies at UCL, Anna was also involved in research concerning infant feeding practices in British-Bangladeshi families at the Institute of Child Health (UCL), which sparked her interest in child development.

Following her MSc, Anna acquired a temporary position at Janssen (Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson), working in the Neuroscience department on the late development of Seltorexant, a selective orexin 2 receptor antagonist for the treatment of insomnia and major depressive disorder.

Present day, Anna continuously explores various areas of research and hopes to develop both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in her endeavor to produce high quality and impactful research.

PhD topic

Sleep Consolidation in Infancy and Consequent Psychosocial Development

Advisors

  • Professor Karen Thorpe (Principal)
  • Dr Sally Staton (Associate)

Research interests

  • Sleep research
  • Mind-body connection
  • Psychobiology of health  
  • Child development
  • Ageing and health
  • Health behaviour research