Bridget Callaghan

Bridget Callaghan, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she leads the Brain and Body Lab (BaBLab). Her research focuses on understanding how early life experiences shape both mental and physical health across the lifespan through investigating interactions between the brain, body, and microbiome.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology - University of New South Wales, Australia
• Master's degree in Clinical Psychology - University of New South Wales, Australia
• Ph.D. - University of New South Wales, Australia
• Postdoctoral training - Columbia University, New York (completed 2019)

Research Focus: Dr. Callaghan's research program examines how different early life experiences influence interactions between physical and mental health. Her work particularly emphasizes the role of early caregiving experiences in shaping emotional and physical health throughout life and across generations. The research takes a holistic approach by examining behavior, neural systems (using fMRI), gastrointestinal bacteria and health (microbiome), and physiology (gastric function, heart rate, skin conductance).

Labs and Teams: Dr. Callaghan directs the Brain and Body Lab (BaBLab) at UCLA, which employs an interdisciplinary toolbox including behavioral observation, human relationship studies, physiological reactivity assessment, brain structure and function measurement, and integration of multiple biological data sources.

Scientific Recognition:

• National Institutes of Mental Health funding
• Brain Behavior Research Foundation funding
• National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia funding

Collaborations and Funding: Dr. Callaghan's research has been generously funded through multiple prestigious organizations. She maintains active collaborations with researchers at New York University, the University of New South Wales, and Sydney Children's Hospital in Australia, demonstrating her commitment to international research partnerships.