BSc in Psychology (University of Groningen, the Netherlands, 2021)

MRes in Clinical Psychology (University of Birmingham, England, 2022)

PhD in Psychology (University of Warwick, England, 2026)

• Mood disorders
• Self-harm and suicide
• Sleep and mental health
• Sleep and neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, Autism)
• Biopsychosocial and contextual risk and protective factors for mental health, particularly for adolescents
• Early-life adversity
• Intervention design and implementation
• Epidemiology
• Birth cohort studies

Michaela is researching how sleep may contribute to the development of mental health problems (e.g., self-harm, suicide behaviours, mood disorders) in adolescence. Her current research utilises longitudinal birth cohort studies to understand the role of sleep in youth mental health, as well as identify the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors in these associations. The ultimate aim of her research is to provide insight and design evidence-based interventions that may protect and enhance adolescent mental health. 

Michaela studied Psychology BSc at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, graduating in the top 5% of her cohort. During this time she developed a keen interest in clinical and positive psychology. This motivated her to found a student-run community support platform, Not Alone, which provides evidence-based training to volunteers to deliver both one-on-one and group sessions to peers. Furthermore, Michaela was introduced to the field of sleep research which she pursued simultaneously alongside her Clinical Psychology MRes at the University of Birmingham. Following her thesis (Adolescent Emotion Regulation Knowledge, Its Development and Application: Exploring Experiences of Playing an Emotion Regulation Game) receive a pass with no corrections, she pursued her passion for sleep and mental health through securing a Psychology Departmental PhD Fellowship at the University of Warwick. Michaela is currently employed as a Research Fellow in Mechanisms and Mood Disorders Group at the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre, where she is investigating the prospective association between sleep and subsequent mental health problems.