Dr Maria Dauvermann

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

School of Psychology, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Dr Dauvermann’s research focusses on the identification of risk and resilience markers after childhood adversity in young people who are at high risk of developing mental health conditions, specifically psychotic disorders. She uses cognitive neuroscientific and interdisciplinary methods to integrate (neuro)biological, psychological and psychosocial factors to better understand how youth vulnerability can influence and be influenced by neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions.

Scientific Inspiration

Individuals who have had difficult childhoods or live with a psychotic disorder and did not receive the respect and support they deserve.

Research Groups

Institute for Mental Health

Centre for Human Brain Health

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, Student-centred, Collaborative.

Provision of Training

Initially, I prefer to take primary responsibility for your technical training, with the aim of fostering increasing independence as the PhD progresses. From the outset, I expect you to develop the ability to identify and implement appropriate methods and methodological adjustments independently. Your day-to-day training and support will be provided primarily by my experienced research staff and PhD students.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I encourage my students to take ownership of their research and professional development, while viewing me as a resource for troubleshooting and strategic guidance. I appreciate regular updates and expect to see consistent evidence of methodological refinement and data generation throughout the project. We will review progress against agreed regular objectives, and if challenges arise, we will discuss them openly and develop a plan of action together. I am ambitious for my students and will challenge and support you to realise your full potential.

Communication

Communication is very important. I expect you to keep up with communications in the group, while I will do the same. Importantly, we strive towards a good work/life balance. I am happy to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential or our expectations.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be a mixture of face-to-face and via video chat or telephone. I am usually contactable for an instant response 3 or 4 days per week.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings) I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks' notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

The resilient system: Socio-ecological buffers against childhood poverty-related mental health risk

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

The resilient system: Socio-ecological buffers against childhood poverty-related mental health risk

Secondary Supervisor(s): Professor Michael Larkin

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Neuroscience and Behaviour)

Project Outline

Childhood poverty increases the risk of anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties by disrupting stress responses. Resilience research has often focused on the child, implying poor outcomes reflect low individual resilience. This project instead tests the socio-ecological model of resilience, which views resilience as a property of the systems around a child, such as family, school, neighbourhood and services, and their capacity to provide resources in culturally meaningful ways. Outcomes reflect system capacity, not a deficit in the child.

Using a mixed neuroscience, behavioural and qualitative design, the student will test whether the availability of these resources changes how poverty related stress affects the body, measured through behavioural markers of stress reactivity, thinking skills and emotion regulation. The project focuses on Birmingham, where around 46 percent of children live below the poverty line, more than double the national average.

Aim 1: Map the resources available within the systems around a group of children exposed to poverty.

Aim 2: Test whether these resource profiles change stress responses, behavioural and mental health outcomes.

Aim 3: Work with children, families and community partners to develop a lived experience account of which resources matter most, combined with the biobehavioural and mental health data.

Public involvement is built in from the start, with a standing panel of families and young people with lived experience of poverty shaping the research from start to finish. The project partners with Flourish Community Health Collaborative CIC, based in Birmingham, to support this involvement.

Supervised by Dr Maria Dauvermann (University of Birmingham, cognitive neuroscience) and Professor Michael Larkin (Aston University, qualitative methods), the project brings together neuroscience and behavioural science with lived experience methods, fitting the BBSRC and MIBTP priority area of Understanding the Rules of Life.