Alma Jeftic

Dr. Alma Jeftic is a PostDoc researcher at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen, and a Research Fellow at the Peace Research Institute, International Christian University in Tokyo. She serves as Co-chair of the Research Network on Transnational Memory and Identity in Europe (Council for European Studies at Columbia University), Student and Early Career Committee Director at the American Psychological Association Division 48 (Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence), and Associate Editor of the Peace Psychologist journal.

Dr. Jeftic completed her PhD in Social Psychology at the University of Belgrade in February 2022, with her dissertation focusing on 'Social and Cognitive Aspects of War Memories: Experiences of Sarajevo and East Sarajevo.' During her doctoral studies, she was a Visiting Senior Researcher at the University of Sussex and a Visiting Doctoral Researcher at the University of Graz.

Her research centers on memory studies, particularly collective and transgenerational memory, with a focus on trauma, peacebuilding, and peace education. Dr. Jeftic has made significant contributions to understanding how memories of war and violence are formed and how societies can reconcile these memories both individually and collectively. She is passionate about open science, replication studies, and large collaborative projects, prioritizing socially-engaged psychological science, equality, and inclusion in her work.

Dr. Jeftic's publications demonstrate a strong focus on the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly examining stress, social support, and resilience across different cultural contexts. Her work also connects historical trauma with contemporary crises, as seen in her research on Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she explores the intersection of war trauma reminders and pandemic-related stress.

• Borislav Lorenc Award from the University of Belgrade (2015)
• Go Styria Scholarship Award from the University of Graz and the Province of Styria (2017)
• Open Society Scholars Award from the Open Society Foundation (2018)

Dr. Jeftic co-founded ABRIR, the Consortium of psychological researchers from low-to-middle-income countries, in 2021, demonstrating her commitment to inclusive and globally representative psychological science. She has also served as an editor for Narrative Inquiry and contributed to large-scale collaborative research projects like the COVIDiSTRESS consortium. Her leadership in professional organizations positions her at the forefront of advancing psychological science with a focus on social impact and global collaboration.