Christina Gjestvang is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. She earned her PhD in 2022 from the same institution, researching fitness clubs as public health venues. With 23 peer-reviewed publications and over 50 invited presentations, she received the institution's research communication award in 2020. She maintains 17+ years of practical experience as a fitness instructor and chairs the Norwegian Association of Exercise Physiologists. Her research focuses on: Fitness club industry dynamics and member behaviors Exercise initiation/adherence mechanisms Women's health including pregnancy exercise Body image and mental health in fitness contexts Public health interventions through physical activity Publication analysis reveals consistent themes in exercise psychology, public health implementation, and fitness industry studies. Recent work emphasizes digital health interventions, pregnancy physiology, and disordered eating in fitness environments. Awards: Norwegian School of Sport Sciences Research Communication Award (2020) As chairman of the Norwegian Association of Exercise Physiologists, she promotes professional standards for exercise-based health interventions. Her extensive industry experience informs both research and teaching in exercise prescription methodologies.
Dr. Clarissa Ong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. Her research focuses on process-based therapy (PBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (e.g., OCD, perfectionism, hoarding). She aims to develop personalized, accessible treatments that address mental health disparities. Dr. Ong’s work emphasizes understanding why treatments succeed or fail, particularly for minoritized populations. Education: 2022: Postdoctoral Associate, Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University 2021: Ph.D., Clinical/Counseling Psychology, Utah State University 2020: Predoctoral Internship, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School 2018: M.S., Clinical/Counseling Psychology, Utah State University Research Interests: Dr. Ong’s work integrates randomized controlled trials, process-of-change analyses, and single-subject designs to improve treatment efficacy. She investigates psychological flexibility, treatment personalization, and barriers to evidence-based interventions. Her research spans hoarding disorder, perfectionism-driven anxiety, and the role of sociodemographic factors in mental health outcomes. Labs/Teams: Dr. Ong directs the POIS Lab , which studies process-based interventions for OCD, hoarding, and related conditions. Undergraduate research assistant positions and graduate student applications are regularly available through the lab website. Advising & Grants: While specific grant details are not provided, her research has examined treatment outcomes in virtual partial hospital programs and telepsychotherapy for trichotillomania. She collaborates on projects addressing audiologists’ communication with parents of children with hearing loss.
Antonio Verdejo-Garcia is a Professor (Research) in the School of Psychological Sciences and the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University. He holds an NHMRC Leadership Fellowship and serves as Co-Chair of the Neuroscience Interest Group at the International Society of Addiction Medicine. He has an Adjunct Honorary Appointment at Turning Point (Eastern Health). His academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Granada (2006) and postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University, University of Cambridge, and Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mediques. Before joining Monash in 2012, he held roles as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Associate Professor at the University of Granada. Research interests center on cognitive and neural mechanisms of executive control, decision-making, and their implications for addiction, compulsive eating, and obesity. He has authored over 290 peer-reviewed articles, edited a book on Cognition & Addiction, and secured continuous national/international research funding. His work has garnered over 17,000 citations. He serves on editorial boards for journals like Addiction , PLoS One , and Current Addiction Reports . Key projects include the AAT-APP Trial for alcohol use disorder, decoding drivers of food choices for obesity management, and neurocircuitry studies in addiction. Recent articles (2023–2025) focus on impulsivity, telehealth interventions for eating disorders, and neuropharmacological comparisons between MDMA and methamphetamine users. Scientific achievements include NHMRC Leadership Fellowship and contributions to clinical translation of cognitive rehabilitation. He advises on grants and mentors students in addiction neuroscience. Current projects involve psilocybin treatment for anorexia nervosa and cortical control of feeding circuits.
Dr. Monica Popa Sarghie is an Associate Professor and Graduate Chair of the Master of Science in Management Program at the Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan. Her research focuses on consumer behavior, sustainable business practices, and social marketing, with a particular emphasis on compulsive behaviors, fair trade systems, and the interplay of emotions in decision-making. She teaches courses such as Consumer Behavior, Social Cause Marketing, and Marketing Theory at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her research bridges business studies with disciplines like psychiatry and psychology, exploring issues like shopping addiction, binge eating, and compulsive exercising. She has published in top journals including Journal of Marketing , Journal of Marketing Research , and Journal of Strategic Marketing . Her work addresses societal challenges through lenses of sustainability, health, and community wellbeing. Dr. Sarghie’s recent initiatives include studies on coping mechanisms in Northern Communities and the role of mutual helping behaviors in fostering social responsibility. Her interdisciplinary approach aims to improve individual and societal wellbeing through transformative consumer research and ethical business practices.
Martin Aigner is Associate Professor and Private Lecturer at the Karl Landsteiner Private University of Health Sciences, where he heads the Clinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine at Tulln University Hospital. He also teaches at the Medical University of Vienna and the University for Continuing Education Krems. A board member and president (2022–2025) of the Austrian Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics (ÖGPP), he is also involved in the Austrian Pain Society and Austrian Balint Society. His research interests center on the integration of biological, psychological, and social factors in psychiatry, with key areas including transitional psychiatry, obsessive-compulsive and mood disorders, the gut-brain axis, and the impact of environmental toxins like mycotoxins on mental health. He leads the PhD program in 'Mental Health and Neuroscience' and supervises doctoral research. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in interdisciplinary mental health research, combining clinical psychiatry with neuroscience, nutrition, and digital health. Themes include neurofeedback for addiction, microbiome influences on depression, and psychosomatic manifestations in chronic conditions. His work often involves neuroimaging and clinical trials. Three scientific prizes from the Austrian Pain Society Scientific prize from the Vienna Association for Neurology and Psychiatry Contributor to WFSBP guidelines on pharmacological treatment of eating disorders Co-author of guidelines for post-viral conditions He serves as principal investigator in multiple funded projects, including studies on depression and the microbiome, probiotics, and psychosis triggers. He is also co-investigator in follow-up care and community mental health initiatives. Aigner is editor-in-chief of psychopraxis. neuropraxis and advocates for digital health literacy and sustainable mental health structures, particularly in youth care. He leads the Research Center for Transitions Psychiatry, emphasizing early intervention, resilience, and patient empowerment through recovery companions. His team includes habilitated senior physicians, fostering innovation in clinical and research settings.
Dr. Ann F. Haynos is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology department at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she conducts research on restrictive eating disorders and mechanisms of goal pursuit leading to harmful health outcomes. Her work integrates neuroscience and clinical science through a bench-to-bedside approach. Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno (2015) Her research focuses on decision-making mechanisms (e.g., reward processing, cognitive control) in eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa, and explores interventions to disrupt rigid goal pursuit patterns. She employs neuroimaging, ecological momentary assessment, and computational modeling to achieve mechanistic insights. Recent publications highlight trends in neuroimaging applications, emotion regulation frameworks, and virtual interventions for eating disorders. Her work spans neurocognitive heterogeneity, reward responsivity, and sociocultural influences on body dissatisfaction. 2019 Finalist, Informing Prevention Article of the Year 2018 Mentor, Best Paper by an Early Career Scholar 2018-2022 Loan Repayment Program, National Institute of Mental Health
Laurence Claes is a Professor and Head of Clinical Psychology at KU Leuven's Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. His academic career spans multiple research domains with a focus on psychopathology, particularly eating disorders and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), examined through the lens of identity formation processes. He maintains strong affiliations with the LC&Y - KU Leuven Institute for Child and Youth and serves on several important committees including the Faculty Doctoral Committee for Psychology and Educational Sciences as ombudswoman for KU Leuven staff. Professor Claes' research primarily investigates the complex relationship between identity development and various forms of psychopathology, with special attention to adolescents and emerging adults. His work consistently demonstrates how identity processes serve as both risk and protective factors across multiple clinical presentations. He employs diverse methodologies including longitudinal studies, ecological momentary assessment, and both community and clinical samples to examine these relationships. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent thematic patterns across his work. His research shows strong connections between identity functioning and eating disorders, non-suicidal self-injury, body image concerns, and personality pathology. He frequently examines how identity processes mediate relationships between other psychological constructs and clinical outcomes. His work spans multiple contexts including cancer survivorship, athletic performance, and digital environments. Professor Claes actively supervises numerous doctoral candidates and collaborates extensively with researchers both within KU Leuven (particularly with Koen Luyckx) and internationally. His work appears in high-impact journals across psychology, psychiatry, and related fields, demonstrating the transdisciplinary nature of his research. His teaching responsibilities include courses on clinical diagnostics for adults and the elderly (P0V88A, P0X60A), psychological interventions (P0W42A, P0N41B), single-case research (P0X93A), and clinical psychology practicum (P0Y05A, P0W57A, P0Y08A), indicating his commitment to both research and clinical training.
Roz Shafran is a Professor at the University of Reading, specializing in clinical psychology with a focus on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), eating disorders, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Her research explores the origins of mental contamination, perfectionism, and the development of evidence-based treatments for anxiety and OCD. She has contributed to international standards for CBT in OCD and published extensively on contamination-related behaviors and morphing fear. Shafran has co-authored influential books like Overcoming Perfectionism and led randomized controlled trials evaluating therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents. Her work bridges clinical practice and research, emphasizing translational approaches to mental health. Key Areas: Clinical Psychology, CBT, OCD, Eating Disorders, Anxiety Disorders Notable Contributions: Development of the Morphing Fear Questionnaire (MFQ), advocacy for CBT standards in OCD treatment, and translational research on contamination processes. Shafran's research often involves collaborations with institutions globally, addressing both theoretical and applied aspects of psychological disorders. She has contributed to policy initiatives such as the IAPT program evaluation and has pioneered methods to assess thought-shape fusion in eating disorders.
Carlo O Veltri is a Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Psychology Department at St. Olaf College. His research focuses on personality assessment, psychopathology, and clinical evaluation methodologies. He teaches courses in Menacing Minds, Psychology of Personality, Psychopathology, Clinical Counseling, and Forensic Psychology. His work emphasizes the development and validation of psychological assessment tools, particularly the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and instruments related to disordered eating behaviors. Veltri’s research trends include psychometric validation of clinical instruments, analysis of self-reporting biases in eating disorders, and forensic applications of personality assessment. His publications span over 18 years and demonstrate expertise in MMPI variants, forensic psychology, and DSM-5 related personality trait analysis. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided materials. While no specific advising or grant information is provided, his role as department chair suggests leadership in academic and curricular development. No lab affiliations or collaborative teams are mentioned in the text.
Dr. Panayiota Alevizou is a Lecturer in Marketing at the Sheffield University Management School , University of Sheffield. Her career spans academic research, industry consultancy, and international collaboration with organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Research Focus Alevizou specializes in sustainability marketing, eco-labelling, and consumer behavior within the fashion, beauty, and food industries. Her work examines how consumers decode sustainability claims, evaluates on-pack labelling effectiveness, and explores ethical consumption practices. She collaborates with organizations like Compassion in World Farming to address labelling clarity in food sectors. Scientific Contributions Emerald Awards of Excellence (2017) for the paper "What is sustainable fashion?" Co-authored the Palgrave Handbook of Sustainability in Fashion (2024) Investigated sustainability claims in luxury beauty and slow-fashion micro-organizations Teaching and Leadership As Programme Director for the MSc in Strategic Marketing and Branding, she integrates research and practice into courses like Retail and Services Marketing. She holds a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and has guest-lectured at multiple universities. Professional Engagement Review Editor for Frontiers in Sustainability Guest Editor for Journal of Marketing Management and Sustainability special issues External Examiner at Northumbria University Co-Chair for SIG Sustainability at the Academy of Marketing Grants and Projects British Academy Small Grant (2020): £9,516 for mobile apps promoting healthy eating STFC Food Network+ Sandpit (2019): £10,000 for "Virtual Food Labels" STFC 21st Century Challenge Fund (2019): £25,000 for abattoir standards research
Monika Bąk-Sosnowska is a Researcher at WSB University , where she serves as Director of the Center for Psychosomatics and Health Prevention (CPPZ) . Her work bridges medical sciences with a focus on obesity , body image , self-esteem , and health behaviors , particularly in chronic disease management and perinatal psychology. Email: monika.baksosnowska@wsb.edu.pl Research Interests: Obesity, Public Health, Body Image, Coping Strategies, Patient Adherence, Behavioral Nutrition Her recent publications explore topics like compulsive sexual behavior , mental health during pandemic restrictions , and psychological factors influencing treatment adherence . Despite having no listed awards or students, her work demonstrates a strong commitment to psychosomatic and preventive medicine, with 212 total publications, an h-index of 9 (Scopus), and a ministerial score of 3,326.
Laura Prescott is a Professor in the Clinical Psychology Department at The Chicago School's College of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles campus. With over a decade of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 23954, California), she specializes in human sexuality, clinical supervision, teaching methodologies, and mental health disorders including eating disorders, OCD, and geropsychology. Her career spans roles as a therapist, supervisor, practicum training director, instructor, and former Director of Clinical Training across diverse settings like college counseling centers and psychiatric facilities. Education: B.A. from University of San Diego (2003), Psy.D. from Loma Linda University (2008) Dr. Prescott's research interests intersect clinical training, therapeutic pedagogy, and the application of psychological principles to creativity and human sexuality. She actively contributes to professional organizations including the American Psychological Association (APA) and its divisions focused on teaching psychology and aesthetics/creativity. Her expertise extends to anxiety disorders, psychopathology, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ mental health through clinical practice and academic leadership. Podcast: Host of 'Let's Talk About Sex'
Ulrich Cuntz serves as Head of Clinical Sub-Unit within the Research Program of Psychotherapy Evaluation in Complex Therapy Settings at Schoen Kliniken. Holding the academic title of Professor, his clinical and research work focuses on severe eating disorders with particular emphasis on anorexia nervosa pathophysiology and treatment protocols. His research interests center on the intersection of nutritional status, gastrointestinal microbiota, and mental health outcomes. Key areas include longitudinal analysis of body mass index correlations, liver function in malnutrition states, and microbiome-gut-brain axis interactions in eating disorders. His work frequently examines how rapid renutrition protocols impact physiological recovery and psychological symptoms. Notable scientific contributions include: Bester freier Habilitationsvortrag from TU München (2009) Christina Barz Forschungspreis (2007) DCCV-Forschungspreis for inflammatory bowel disease research (2000) His editorial activities include serving as Associate Editor for Obesity Facts: The European Journal of Obesity since 2008 and organizing the 2015 conference "Essstörungen - state of the art". His research output shows consistent productivity with 51 publications including original articles, reviews, and book chapters focused on eating disorder management and complications.
Valentina Sabino is an Associate Professor at Boston University, specializing in the neurobiology of addiction and stress-related disorders . She co-directs the Graduate Program for Neuroscience and teaches a graduate-level course in neuropsychopharmacology . Ph.D. from the University of Palermo, Italy Research Focus: Dr. Sabino’s work explores the neurochemical systems underlying alcohol abuse , anxiety , and depression . Her lab employs interdisciplinary methods , including behavioral neuroscience, neuropharmacology, and molecular biology, to study animal models of excessive drinking and compulsive eating. Key Trends: Her publications reveal expertise in addiction neurobiology , anxiety mechanisms , neurochemical receptors (Sigma, CB1, CRF), and therapeutic development for alcohol and eating disorders. Laboratory: Co-directs the Lab of Addictive Disorders , utilizing animal models to identify compounds for clinical applications in alcohol and food addiction.
Professor Thalia Eley is Professor of Developmental Behavioural Genetics at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. She serves as Head of the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre and leads the Emotional Development, Intervention and Treatment (EDIT) Lab. Professor Eley is also Director of the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS), the largest longitudinal twin birth cohort in the UK, and co-leads the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study. Professor Eley's educational background includes: Bachelor of Arts in Social and Political Sciences with a focus on psychology from Trinity College Cambridge PhD in the role of genetic and environmental influences on depression and anxiety in young people from the Institute of Child Health, University College London Professor Eley's research focuses on understanding the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in the development and treatment of anxiety and depression, particularly in youth. She is transforming efforts toward personalized medicine through 'therapygenetics,' studying genetic effects on psychological treatment response. Her work creatively combines longitudinal, genetic, experimental, and clinical approaches to explore mechanisms underlying mental health disorders. A key aspect of her research examines why anxiety and depression tend to run in families and whether this is due to shared environments or genetic factors. Professor Eley's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on integrating genetic approaches with clinical psychology to understand mental health conditions. Her work spans anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and neurodevelopmental conditions, with particular emphasis on how genetic factors influence treatment response. She has been instrumental in large-scale studies like the GLAD Study, which is the largest single study of anxiety and depression ever undertaken, and TEDS, which has followed twins from birth into early adulthood. Professor Eley has received numerous prestigious awards for her contributions to the field: Fellow of the British Academy (2025) Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2021) James Shields Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Twin Studies (2017) King's Graduate School IoPPN Supervisory Excellence Award (2017) King's University Research Project of the year for the GLAD Study (2019) Lilly-Molecular Psychiatry Award (2004) Spearman Medal from the British Psychological Society (2002) Professor Eley is passionate about mentoring early career researchers and has chaired the Research and Innovation Committee for over five years, developing initiatives to support this group. Her research has been supported by substantial grants including MRC funding for TEDS, Wellcome Trust funding for anxiety treatment prediction research, and MRC/ESRC funding for the UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration. She actively promotes diversity in scientific research both in terms of researchers and study participants. Professor Eley leads the Emotional Development, Intervention and Treatment (EDIT) Lab, which consists of postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and undergraduate and master's students. The lab is based at the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre at King's College London. She also co-leads the GLAD Study, which recruits participants through media and social media, and has developed digital tools like the FLARe (Fear Learning and Anxiety Response) app for remote fear conditioning experiments.
