Ola Demkowicz

Dr. Ola Demkowicz is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology of Education at the Manchester Institute of Education (University of Manchester) and an Honorary Research Fellow at the UCL Evidence Based Practice Unit. Her research focuses on adolescent mental health, systemic inequalities (particularly gender-related), and school-based wellbeing interventions. She holds a PhD in Psychology and has a background in Early Years practice. Demkowicz leads/co-leads major initiatives like the University of Manchester’s Healthier Futures platform and the Children and Young People theme. Her work is funded by organizations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Key research interests include developmental psychopathology, emotional distress (low mood/anxiety), and social media’s impact on adolescents. She has pioneered projects such as the #BeeProud study on LGBTQIA+ wellbeing and the TELL Study on pandemic lockdown experiences. Demkowicz uses mixed methods (quantitative/qualitative) and emphasizes ethical engagement with young participants. She supervises PhD students in areas like adolescent girls’ mental health and school-based mental health provision.

Demkowicz has contributed to policy via NICE guidelines on school wellbeing and co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed articles. Her leadership roles include Co-Associate Director of Research Ethics in the School of Environment, Education, and Development, and convening research groups on Education & Psychology and Mental Health in Education. Recent projects include evaluating curriculum-based SEL programs and investigating drivers of youth mental health trends.

• Funded Projects:
  • HeadStart National Evaluation (£67.4M National Lottery Fund, 2016–2023)
  • #BeeProud (LGBTQIA+ wellbeing, 2022–2023)
  • Social Media Measure Project (UKRI, 2022–2025)
• Grants:
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • Education Endowment Foundation
  • Kavli Trust

Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals focused on health, education, and equality. Demkowicz collaborates nationally and internationally, with active networks in child mental health policy and academia.