Spotlight: Eleonra Iob

This month IEHC talks to Eleonora Iob, PhD Student within IEHC's Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health.

 

What is your role and what does it involve?

I am a second year PhD student in the Psychobiology research group within the Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health. My PhD is funded by the Soc-b Centre for Doctoral Training in Biosocial Research (ESRC-BBSRC). The aim of my project is to examine the interplay between adverse childhood experiences and genetic factors in the psychobiological mechanisms involved in stress-related psychopathologies such as depression and anxiety. My supervisors are Prof Andrew Steptoe and Dr Rebecca Lacey from the IEHC and Dr Karoline Kuchenbaecker from the UCL's Division of Psychiatry. 

This year I have been appointed as a Lead Departmental Student Rep for PhD students in the IEHC. My main duty is to seek out students' thoughts and opinions on their programme of study and their wider learning experience, and to raise issues of importance to students at the Staff-Student Consultative Committee and Institute Graduate Teaching Committee meetings. The role is formally recognised by the Student Union UCL, which offers training to support Student Reps in their function and awards a certificate upon completion of the role. The most exciting aspect of being a Student Rep is that I will have the opportunity to play an active role in the development and enhancement of my programme, promoting the value of students and staff working together to build a better education.

Besides this, I am working as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant on a number of Statistics and Data Analysis modules for undergraduate and Master's level courses at UCL. Here, I lead seminars and computer practical classes, provide support and feedback to students, mark assignments, and co-supervise dissertation projects. Moreover, I am delivering a series of academic sessions about Statistics and Problem Solving to groups of Year 9 and 10 students as part of the UCL's Widening Participation programme. As well as providing an additional source of income to support my studies, such teaching experience is proving to be very valuable for my intellectual development and grasp of the subjects.

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?

I have been at UCL for one year and my experience to date has confirmed I made the correct choice in pursuing a PhD here. Prior to arriving at UCL I completed a BSc in Psychology at the University of Manchester graduating with a first class in 2016. As a result of my excellent academic performance, I was then awarded a full-tuition scholarship for an MSc in Social Statistics and Research Methods at The University of Manchester, which I completed in 2017 achieving a Distinction. Throughout my studies, I also undertook part-time work conducive to my education at the time. For instance, during my BSc I worked as a support worker for a mental health charity helping people with psychological difficulties. Additionally, I completed an internship at the University focusing on research around student employability. During my MSc I worked as a Recruitment Resourcer in a recruitment consultancy.

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

Being awarded a studentship for my PhD studies at UCL has been one of my biggest achievements so far. I am also proud of my first publication of a paper in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. This work was based on a study about stress and social support in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) that I conducted during one of my rotation projects in the first year of my PhD under the supervision of Prof Andrew Steptoe.

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list?

My PhD project is at the top of my to-do list. I am currently working on a study about the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, stress, and depression in ELSA. Furthermore, I am finalising an article about genetic influences on substance abuse in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children resulting from my second rotation project with Dr Jean-Baptiste Pingault in the Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology.

What is your favourite album, film and novel?

My favourite film is Life is Beautiful directed by and starring Roberto Benigni. It is an Italian comedy-drama film where Benigni plays the role of a Jewish Italian bookshop owner who employs his fertile imagination to shield his son from the horrors of internment in a Nazi concentration camp. My favourite novel is Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar about the life and death of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. The book takes the form of a letter to Hadrian's cousin and eventual successor Marcus Aurelius where he meditates on military triumphs, music and poetry, philosophy, and his passion for his lover Antinous. In terms of music, I am very keen on melodic and deep techno, and one of my favourite DJ's is Stephan Bodzin.

Who would be your dream dinner guest?

My dream dinner guest would be Daniel Goleman, a famous psychologist and science journalist who worked for The New York Times and wrote the international bestseller Emotional Intelligence. I would love to entertain him with some nice Italian food and a glass of wine while he shares with me his views on emotional learning and mindfulness.

What is your favourite place?

My favourite place is the Halkidiki Peninsula of Northern Greece which is comprised of three small peninsulas known as the 'three fingers' of Halkidiki. This place is renewed for its spectacular sandy beaches, green pine forests, and traditional villages. It is a perfect destination for a quiet and relaxing holiday immersed in beautiful nature. 

---