Akansha Mahesh Naraindas is a Research Fellow at Queen's University Belfast's School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, actively contributing to psychological research with a focus on body image and eating disorders. Her ORCID profile (0000-0002-8673-2426) documents her scholarly activities and publications. Her research interests center on psychological aspects of body image disturbances, with particular emphasis on interoceptive sensibility, self-objectification, and eating disorders including anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Her work explores gender differences in body dissatisfaction and employs network analysis to understand complex relationships between psychological factors. She has conducted systematic reviews of experimental studies on mental and motor imagery disturbances in eating disorders. Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent focus on clinical psychology with strong methodological approaches including pre-registered studies and systematic reviews. Her research spans both theoretical exploration of body schema and practical applications for understanding eating disorders across female adulthood. Dr. Naraindas demonstrates active engagement in academic community building through her organization of the 'Our Data, Our Research, Our Future' workshop series scheduled throughout 2025, indicating leadership in research methodology and data practices within her field.
Dr. Rachel Calogero is a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology at Western University and Affiliate Professor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Her research focuses on the intersection of social identities, stigma, and embodiment, with a particular emphasis on self-objectification theory, body image, and eating disorders. She founded the Stigma, Bodies, Objectification, and Resistance (SOBR) Lab, which investigates how social environments influence psychological well-being through qualitative and quantitative methods. She holds editorial leadership roles, including Editor-in-Chief of Sex Roles , and has contributed to prestigious journals like Body Image and Journal of Experimental Social Psychology . A Fellow of key psychological associations, she advocates for weight-inclusive health approaches and challenges systemic biases through feminist frameworks. Her work bridges clinical and applied psychology, with practical applications in eating disorder treatment and public health. Recent projects examine self-compassion’s role in physical activity motivation and the validation of fat microaggressions. She supervises graduate students like Alana Graham (MSc) and Katarina Huellemann (PhD), advancing research on intersectional mental health and social justice. Dr. Calogero’s lab emphasizes community impact, collaborating with clinical settings and advocating for inclusive wellness policies. Her research consistently highlights the need for culturally responsive interventions to address stigma and promote resilience.
Dr. Sarah Cooney is an Assistant Professor at University College Dublin's School of Psychology and Director of the UCD Body Lab. She holds a PhD from University College Dublin and has postdoctoral experience at Trinity College Dublin. Her research focuses on body image, interoception, perceptual cognition, and eating disorders, with a particular interest in how these factors interact across diverse populations. She has secured grants including the Ad Astra Start-Up and the HRB-funded BodyWise project. Dr. Cooney actively contributes to public engagement, including events on body image and mental health, and serves on committees such as the EDIP (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Psychology). She teaches courses like 'Brain & Behaviour' and coordinates advanced research methods modules. Her work bridges experimental psychology with educational technology, exemplified by her development of the Cartesian-Garden VR tool for teaching mathematics. PhD: University College Dublin Postdoctoral Fellowships: Trinity College Dublin (2017–2019) and UCD (2018–2019) Her research interests include: Body representation and sensorimotor integration Interoceptive awareness and its clinical implications Developmental spatial-numerical cognition Multisensory learning in immersive environments Dr. Cooney's articles explore topics ranging from body image disturbances in adulthood to the influence of sports/music experience on motor imagery. She has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and actively participates in academic conferences, including the Psychonomic Society and Spatial Cognition events.
Dr. Sonya Deschenes is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor and Ad Astra Fellow in the UCD School of Psychology at University College Dublin. She holds a PhD from Concordia University and completed postdoctoral research at McGill University. Her research focuses on the intersection of mental and physical health comorbidity, particularly examining biopsychosocial mechanisms linking mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety) with chronic illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. She directs the UCD PATH Lab, exploring psychosocial approaches to health. Key grants include the Wellcome Trust-funded REENWEE project and Ad Astra Fellowships. She coordinates modules on Health Psychology, Identity/Sexuality, and Psych & Health: Population. Her work emphasizes longitudinal epidemiological methods and precision mental health integration in diabetes care. Education: PhD in Psychology, Concordia University (Canada) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health Epidemiology, McGill University Research Interests: Comorbidity between mental/physical health, psychosocial determinants of health, adverse childhood experiences, digital phenotyping, and diabetes stigma. Her grants include studies on diabetes stigma real-time impacts, psychosocial needs in high-risk cancer patients, and longitudinal data analysis methods. Publications: Over 150 peer-reviewed articles, including work on diabetes stigma, childhood maltreatment's metabolic consequences, and social media's mental health impacts. Recent focus on network analysis to map symptom interactions in diabetes and depression. Grants & Awards: Wellcome Trust funding, Ad Astra Fellowships, and leadership in international collaborations like the PSAD Study Group. Awards include recognition for research on diabetes stigma and precision medicine integration. Labs & Teams: Director of UCD PATH Lab (ucdpathlab.com), collaborating on transdisciplinary projects linking mental health and chronic disease prevention.
Deborah Schooler is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Gallaudet University, part of the Human Services and Sciences school. She holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan (2004) and has been at Gallaudet since 2011. Her research focuses on acculturation stress among Deaf communities, media influence on body image, and barriers faced by Deaf/HoH students in academia. She teaches courses including PSY-720 (Teaching of Psychology), PSY-733 (Lifespan Developmental Psychology), and undergraduate psychology core courses. Key research themes include the intersection of deafness and cultural identity, media's role in shaping body perception, and mental health among marginalized groups. Notable work includes development of the SAFE-D acculturation stress measure and studies on Deaf women's body image. She has received the 2024 McCay Vernon Award for outstanding journal article. Her service includes leadership roles in Gallaudet's Council on Undergraduate Education and faculty senate. Her recent publications (2021-2024) emphasize digital media usage among Deaf adults, barriers to clinical training for Deaf professionals, and acculturation processes. She actively contributes to inclusive education initiatives and mental health equity for deaf communities.
Ryon McDermott, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Professional Studies at the University of South Alabama's College of Education and Professional Studies. His research focuses on intersections of culture, individual differences, and masculinity, particularly in college student populations. He teaches courses like Multicultural Counseling and Advanced Quantitative Methods, and leads the Culture & Individual Differences Research Lab. Dr. McDermott holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston and has collaborated with institutions nationwide on projects addressing mental health, masculinity ideologies, and spiritual struggles. He currently oversees research for the Clinical Mental Health program and is involved in university-wide initiatives like Jag Success to improve student retention and well-being. Education: B.A., Psychology (University of Kansas), M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (University of Houston) Key Research Areas: Masculinity studies, positive psychology, college student mental health, and religious/spiritual factors in psychotherapy Professional Roles: Associate Director of Clinical Training, Faculty in Clinical/Counseling Psychology PhD program, Affiliate in Clinical Mental Health His teaching emphasizes creating supportive environments for doctoral students to develop clinical and research skills. Ongoing projects include developing assessments for prosocial masculinity and studying correlations between traditional masculinity and political extremism, gun violence, and health behaviors. Collaborative outreach includes longitudinal studies on academic persistence, mental health needs assessments for universities, and partnerships with the University Counseling Center. His work frequently uses advanced statistical methods to address complex social-psychological questions.
Sheila Garos, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Counseling Program Director at Texas Tech University's Department of Psychological Sciences. Her work bridges clinical psychology, sexual behavior research, and counseling education. Education: Ph.D. (1998) from Arizona State University. Dr. Garos specializes in disorders of sexual frequency and control, notably developing the Garos Sexual Behavior Index (GSBI) to assess problematic sexual behaviors. Her research explores: Clinical distinctions between sexual addiction and compulsive behaviors. Temptation bias in sexual decision-making. Sexist attitudes toward gendered sexual behaviors. Infertility and "wishful thinking" in psychological contexts. Partner adjustment effects on medical recovery outcomes (e.g., prostate cancer, hysterectomy). She actively engages in validity studies of the GSBI, including its relationship with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III. Her lab (S3x Lab) employs innovative methods like eye-tracking technology to study attentional biases. Teaching contributions include graduate courses in ethics, psychopharmacology, and group counseling, alongside undergraduate courses on drug use and interviewing techniques. She maintains a private clinical practice focused on substance abuse, paraphilias, and sexual/marital therapy.
Kimberly Kay Lamm is Associate Professor in the Program of Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies and Associate Professor of Art, Art History, and Visual Studies at Duke University's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. She has held these positions since 2017 and 2024 respectively, contributing significantly to interdisciplinary scholarship that bridges literary studies, visual culture, and feminist theory. Dr. Lamm earned her Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 2007. Her academic journey includes a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Women's Studies at Duke University (2009), a Junior Fellowship at the University of Iowa's Center of Ethnic Studies and the Arts (2008), and various research fellowships that have supported her scholarship. Lamm's research brings together Anglophone literature, contemporary art, visual culture, and feminist theory with particular interest in feminist engagement with psychoanalysis, the role of language in feminism, and aesthetic practices like fashion that challenge femininity's devaluation. Her work centers on how women, particularly African American women, use sartorial self-fashioning as a language to address historical trauma and assert visibility. She explores how clothing functions as a 'second skin' that challenges essentialist notions of race and gender. Her publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining feminist aesthetics across multiple media forms. Lamm's scholarship demonstrates how visual and textual representations of clothing, particularly in African American women's writing, serve as crucial sites for challenging racism and sexism. Her work spans experimental film, art criticism, literary analysis, and fashion studies, creating a distinctive interdisciplinary approach to feminist scholarship that connects historical contexts with contemporary concerns. Among her notable honors are the Trinity Research Leave Award (2025), Society for the Humanities Research Fellowship from Cornell University (2020), and the Robert B. Cox Teaching Award from Duke University (2017). She has also received fellowships from Yale University's Beinecke Library and the Mellon-Frankin Humanities Institute. Lamm is currently working on 'Fabricating Truths: Sartorial Self-Fashioning and the Legacies of Enslavement,' which examines how African American women writers from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century used portrayals of clothing to attest to the psychic impact of slavery's violence. This project, supported by a Cornell University research grant, explores how aesthetic representations of clothing challenge beliefs that race and gender can be located in the body's visible features.
Jamie Lynn Goldenberg is a Professor and Area Director in the Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social (CNS) Program within the Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from George Washington University (1997) and is an active researcher and educator in existential and social psychology. Ph.D. in Social Psychology, George Washington University, 1997 Her research centers on terror management theory, examining how awareness of death shapes human motivation, particularly in relation to the body, gender, and objectification. She investigates how societal focus on women’s appearance functions as a symbolic denial of mortality and animality, impacting both perception and self-concept. This work extends into health outcomes through the terror management health model, which has received over 10 years of continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health. Recently, she has explored the effects of social media on women’s psychological well-being. While no specific publications are listed, her scholarly work is extensive in academic journals. She has also bridged academic and public discourse by authoring the novel Finding Jolie , which explores themes of mortality and identity, and she is recognized as an artist. Professor, Department of Psychology, University of South Florida Area Director, Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social Program Research funding from the National Institutes of Health (10+ years) She has not been described as advising specific students, nor are any awards or honors mentioned in the provided materials. There is no indication that she is part-time, retired, or deceased—she remains an active faculty member.
Kathleen Richardson is Professor of Ethics and Culture of Robots and AI at De Montfort University, affiliated with the School of Computer Science and Informatics and the Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility (CCSR). She is also involved in the Europe-wide DREAM project focused on robot-enhanced therapy for children with autism. Her academic background spans social anthropology, digital culture, and critical technology studies. Educational Background: PhD in Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge (2008) MPhil in Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge (2001) MSc in Development, Planning and Administration, University College London (1999) BA (Hons) in Anthropology and Linguistics, University College London (1998) Her research is grounded in humanistic anthropology and centers on the ontological distinction between persons and machines. She challenges perspectives that decenter human subjectivity (e.g., ANT, cyborg theory) and instead emphasizes power structures, relationality, and ethics. Her work critically examines therapeutic robots for autism and the rise of sex robots, linking them to broader societal issues of objectification, gender inequality, and abolitionist feminism. She founded the Campaign Against Sex Robots in 2015 to advocate for non-coercive, freedom-based technologies. The recent scholarly articles reflect a consistent focus on human-robot boundaries, sociality, and ethical implications across diverse contexts—from autism therapy to digital identity. Themes include the critique of machine personhood, the ethics of robotic intermediaries, and the anthropological study of technological fantasies and design practices. Scientific and Public Engagement: Member, Advisory Board, AI and Society Journal (2015–) Member, Scientific Committee, Machine Ethics and Machine Law (2016) Keynote speaker at Robophilosophy 2016, Trieste Next, and TEDxULB Featured expert on BBC Newsnight, Sky News, CBC, and BBC World Service Contributor to The Independent , Times Higher Education , New Scientist , and The Guardian Richardson has supervised various academic and public seminars and is deeply involved in advising on ethical frameworks for AI and robotics. She has participated in numerous international conferences and public debates on robot ethics, autonomy, and the future of human intimacy. Her work is supported by affiliations with interdisciplinary research groups like CCSR and the DREAM project, where she contributes to shaping ethical guidelines for robotic applications in sensitive domains. She leads initiatives that bridge academic research with public policy and ethical campaigning, particularly through her leadership in the Campaign Against Sex Robots. Her vision promotes a compassionate, non-violent technological future rooted in human dignity and relational ethics.
Jennifer F. Chmielewski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University. She earned her PhD in Critical Social/Personality Psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center in 2023 and holds an M.A. and Ed.M. in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. She previously served as a Teaching Fellow at The City College of New York from 2017 to 2023, where she taught courses in social psychology, qualitative methods, and research. Her research is grounded in feminist, intersectional, and critical psychological frameworks, focusing on young people’s embodiment, identity, desire, and sexuality. She employs diverse methodologies—including narrative analysis, interviews, focus groups, and participatory action research—to examine how structural inequalities shape intimate experiences and how desire can serve as a site of resistance. Her current lab projects include the Dimensions of Desire Study, the Sexual Imaginations Study, and a new multi-site initiative on Sexual Subjectivities Post-Roe, all of which center marginalized youth, particularly those at the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality. Her recent publications and presentations reflect a strong trend in qualitative, feminist scholarship on female desire, sexual agency, embodiment, and media representations of adolescent sexuality. She has published in top journals such as Qualitative Psychology , Psychology of Women Quarterly , and Feminist Media Studies , and frequently presents at major conferences including the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the Association for Women in Psychology. Scientific Awards and Honors: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Award, Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (2022) Janet Hyde Graduate Student Research Award Honorable Mention, APA Division 35 (2022) Annual Student Prize for Psychological Research on Women and Gender, Association for Women in Psychology (2021) Lesbian Psychologies Unpublished Manuscript Award (2018) Featured Feminist Science Symposia Series Award (2018) Graduate Teaching Fellowship, The City College of New York (2017–2023) Dr. Chmielewski has secured competitive research grants as Principal or Co-Investigator from organizations such as the Society for Qualitative Inquiry, PSC-CUNY, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Her work emphasizes community engagement, social justice, and translational research, often collaborating with advocacy groups and policymakers. She mentors students in qualitative research and advises on projects related to sexual subjectivity and resistance. She leads an active research lab focused on critical inquiries into youth sexuality and is developing a national survey to assess the impact of abortion policy on young people’s sexual lives. Her teaching includes courses such as Social Bases of Behavior, Qualitative Methods in Clinical Psychology, and Directed Individual Research, reflecting her commitment to training the next generation of socially conscious psychologists.
Danielle Lindner is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Stetson University, where she teaches courses like Abnormal Psychology and Clinical & Counseling Psychology. She leads an active undergraduate research lab focused on body image studies. PhD in Clinical Psychology (2014), University of Central Florida MS in Clinical Psychology (2011), University of Central Florida BA in Psychology (2008), Nazareth College Her research centers on body image disturbance through objectification and social comparison theories, examining sociocultural influences on disordered eating behaviors. She has developed psychometric tools like the Self-Objectification Beliefs and Behaviors Scale, with her work published in journals such as Psychology of Popular Media and Psychology of Women Quarterly. Lindner's publications span topics including media impacts on self-objectification, measurement development, and clinical interventions. Her studies integrate theoretical frameworks to address body image and mental health. Recognized by Obesity and Eating Disorders Special Interest Group of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Dr. Lindner volunteers with COPE (Community Outreach for the Prevention of Eating Disorders) and is a licensed psychologist in Florida. Her research lab emphasizes mentorship of undergraduate students in clinical and theoretical psychology.
Dr. Leah Phillips is a Lecturer in the School of Information at San José State University and holds visiting academic positions at the University of Worcester and University College London. She specializes in Young Adult (YA) studies, with a focus on children's and YA literatures, particularly the representation of female adolescence in fantasy fiction. She earned her PhD in English and Comparative Literary Studies from the University of Warwick (2016), an MA in Children's Literature from the University of Reading (2010), and a BA in Humanities with an emphasis in Literature from The Open University (2008). Her research interests include feminist literary criticism, mythopoeic YA literature, adolescent identity formation, and female heroism in fantasy. She is the founder and current President of the YA Studies Association, an international scholarly organization dedicated to advancing research and pedagogy in YA studies. The trends in her publications reflect a sustained scholarly engagement with the empowerment of adolescent girls through literature, the reinterpretation of mythic structures, and the cultural significance of YA narratives. Her work bridges literary analysis, feminist theory, and youth culture studies. She has been recognized for her contributions to the field through her editorial and leadership roles, including her presidency of the YA Studies Association and her active publication record in journals such as The International Journal of Young Adult Literature and Girlhood Studies . Dr. Phillips teaches courses such as INFO 267 – Seminar in Services to Children and Young Adults, where she integrates her research into pedagogy. She has previously served as a Senior Sessional Lecturer and Sessional Lecturer at the University of Warwick and as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire. Visiting Lecturer, University of Worcester, Creative Writing (2021–present) Visiting Instructor, University College London, Information Studies (2021–present) Visiting Lecturer, University of Bedfordshire, School of Education (2019–2021) Senior Sessional Lecturer, University of Warwick (2018–2020) Sessional Lecturer, University of Warwick (2013–2018) Tutor, The Brilliant Club, Scholars Programme (2013) She is currently revising her monograph Female Heroes in Young Adult Fantasy Fiction: Reframing Myths of Adolescent Girlhood , forthcoming with Bloomsbury, which will contribute significantly to the academic discourse on gender and genre in YA literature.
Kati Porrino is a Lecturer in Business and Marketing at the Business School of Edge Hill University . Her academic journey includes a PhD in Business, awarded in 2025, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education. Doctoral Thesis : Lived Consumer Bodies: An exploration of the role and impact of Social Media on identity construction (2025) MBA in Business (2020) BA in Criminology with Law (2011) Research Interests : Kati investigates the intersection of social media, identity construction, and consumer behavior, with a focus on self-objectification, gender dynamics, and digital innovation in SMEs. Her work bridges discourse theory with practical insights into technology adoption. Recent Research Trends : Her publications emphasize knowledge-intensive innovation (2025), social media's impact on identity (2024), and intra-female hostility in digital spaces (2022). Themes include strategic innovation, proactive digital transformation, and critical marketing theory.
Tobias Greitemeyer is a Professor of Social Psychology and Deputy Head of the Institute of Psychology at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. His research is conducted within the Institute of Psychology located at Universitätsstraße 5-7 (Grauer Bär), with consultation hours by appointment and contact via email and phone. His research spans core areas of social psychology including aggression mechanisms, media effects (particularly violent video games), moral psychology, personality traits (Dark Triad/Light Triad), environmental behavior, and prosocial conduct. He investigates how situational factors, personality, and media exposure influence everyday social interactions, with notable focus on methodological rigor through naturalistic observations, longitudinal designs, and replication studies. Recent work examines virtual reality applications, remote work impacts, far-right movements, and AI-related academic cheating. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals interdisciplinary integration of technology (VR, AI) with traditional social psychology frameworks. Key trends include aggression contagion pathways, moral disengagement in health crises, ecological validity in behavioral measurement, and the interplay between personality traits and social contexts. His work consistently emphasizes real-world applicability through diary studies, field experiments, and naturalistic replication across diverse domains from traffic behavior to vaccination decisions.
