Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology
Clinical, Edu & Hlth Psychology
Div of Psychology & Lang Sciences
Joined UCL
1st Jul 2006
Research summary
Together with Essi Viding I co-direct the Developmental Risk and Resilience Unit at UCL. Our research focuses on early adversity and behavioural problems in childhood. My researchuses brain imaging and psychological approaches to investigate the mechanisms associated with developmental adversity and resilience. I am particularly interested in the impact of trauma and maltreatment on children’s emotional development and their future mental health. Recently my work has sought to link neuro-cognitive and social mechanisms that may contribute to latent vulnerability to mental health problems.
Teaching summary
I am Director of the Child Mental Health Postgraduate Education Portfolio within the Faculty of Brain Sciences. This portfolio comprises nine postgraduate programmes and over 350 students, delivered at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families. I contribute to modules across a range of postgraduate modules within the Faculty of Brain Sciences.
Education
King's College London
Doctorate, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology | 2004
University College London
Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 2001
University of Cambridge
First Degree, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) | 1995
Biography
After reading Natural Sciences at Cambridge University I completed a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL supervised by Prof. Uta Frith and Prof. Cathy Price. I then completed a Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at King’s College London followed by several years working clinically with children and adolescents. Since joining UCL in 2006 I have built a collaborative MRes programme with Yale University where I hold an adjunct Professorial appointment. I have also since 2009 been part of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families Senior Leadership team and most recently, co-founded the UK Trauma Council. The UKTC brings together expert clinicians and practitioners from all four nations of the UK. It seeks to work collaboratively to transform the help and support that children who experience trauma receive. In 2020 I became Director of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) research programme in Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing. This programme aims to promote and support research innovation and translation in order to improve the lives of young people in the U.K.
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