Resume
at a glance
Research Experience
2016 - Present
FIBROMYALGIA
By far the most stigmatised chronic muskuloskeletal pain condition, fibromyalgia, remains unexplained and misunderstood. My research aims to bring attention to how mental health shapes the pain of fibromyalgia sufferers. No, not because it's "all in your head" but because in the absence of successful treatment, adjuvant pain management is needed.
2016 - Present
ANXIETY & PAIN
Studying the relationship between anxiety and pain perception, both through an experimental human model of anxiety, as well as through observations of sustained anxiety evoked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2014 - Present
NEUROMODULATION & NEUROIMAGING
Trained in multimodal neuroimaging and neurostimualtion methods, including EEG, f/MRI, tACS/tDCS, and rTMS.
Have confirmed the existence of my brain.
Professional experience
Professional skillset at a glance
Establishment of a new laboratory
(from safety assessments and ethics to equipment purchase, pilot testing and staff training.
Complex analysis (mixed-effects modelling, Bayesian inference)
Experiment design (MATLAB)
Programming (R, MATLAB)
Dissemination of findings (written & oral presentations)
Mixed research methods
(experiments, qualitative research, Delphi surveys)
Public engagement (patient support groups, university outreach)
Appointments
2021 - Present
Project Coordinator, Uppsala Universitet, Sweden
Research Fellow, EPIC, University of Plymouth, UK
Supervision
2019 - 2020
2014 - 2015
Kirralise Hansford, Lab RED Research Assistant
Imogen Payne, Lab RED Research Assistant
Joshua Ainslie, Placement Student
2015 - 2016
Thomas Burgess, Final Year Project
Abby Clarkson, Final Year Project
Star
students!
Languages
English (proficient)
Russian (native)
German (intermediate)
Bulgarian (native)
Education
2016- 2021
Ph.D. in Mental Health & Chronic Pain
Defended in March 2021! 🎉 I studied how experimental anxiety and anxiety, evoked by the COVID-19 pandemic, modulate pain perception of patients with fibromyalgia.
2016 - 2017
PGCert in Academic Practice
Master's level British teaching qualification at higher education. Completed with Distinction, part-time alongside of Ph.D. Awarded title Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
2012 - 2016
BSc (Hons) Psychology
Completed with First Class. Second year in Western University, Canada with focus on neuropsychology modules. Third year on professional placement in the University of Plymouth. Dissertation awarded the prize for best final year project in neuropsychology.