Dr Vanessa Putz

Research summary

I conducted my doctoral research on the influences of early adverse experiences at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany under the supervision of Professor Kerstin Konrad. In particular I focused on exploring the impact of early caregiver separation on the emotional and neural development of children. In order to investigate this question I employed a variety of assessments including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), endocrine measures and psychological assessments. Specifically, I examined the neural correlates of social rejection in a sample of children that were separated from their birth parents with fMRI. I joined the DRRU in October 2013 and continue to pursue my interest in investigating how early adversity affects later emotional (dys)function and the putative mechanisms that may increase vulnerability for psychiatric disorders. A key aspect of our current research is to investigate which factors promote resilience in children who have experienced early adversity. My work continues to employ both neuroimaging (s/fMRI) and behavioural approaches with the longer-term aim of informing more effective ways to support and intervene with children exposed to early adversity. I also contribute to several strands of postdoctoral teaching in the department, and act as module lead for the Affective Neuroscience and Introduction to Neuromethods modules for the MSc in Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology.

Education

UCL

Other Postgraduate qualification (including professional), ATQ04 - HEA Senior Fellow | 2019

Other Postgraduate qualification (including professional), ATQ03 - Recognised by the HEA as a Fellow | 2017

Publications

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