Anke Kossurok

Thesis title: Making the invisible visible: A grounded theory study of female adult trauma survivors reconstructing reality with supportive others

Background

I was awarded a BSc(Hons) Psychology (first class) from Queen Margaret University in 2010, and an MSc Psychological Research Methods from the University of Edinburgh in 2012. From 2013 to 2017, I studied for a PhD in Clinical Psychology, which I completed in January 2018.

In 2014, I worked as Assistant Psychologist for the organisation Comas and supported adults in their recovery from complex trauma. I provided one-to-one emotional support, developed and delivered a series of trauma workshops. Between 2014 and 2017, I have also delivered several undergraduate and postgraduate courses in subjects such as research methods, trauma, and mental health. I have trained students in using NVivo. In 2016, I have been awarded an Associate Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy. On two occasions, I analysed and reported student data for Student Recruitment and Admissions. Between 2015-2017, I represented postgraduate research students’ issues of gender equality at the Athena Swan group at School level. One of my contributions to this group resulted in the School developing and delivering a training programme to research students.

In autumn 2017, I analysed survey data for a governmental organisation as part of a 3-months PhD internship. In May 2017, I have been awarded funding from the Innovative Initiative Grant and developed an interdisciplinary and collaborative network of PhD students and Post-doctoral researchers from Scottish universities with an interest in promoting developmental well-being across the lifespan (https://scotdpn.wordpress.com/). My recent position, as Research Fellow, involved analysing qualitative data and writing a research report on deterrence of child sexual abuse online. Currently, I am writing up several research projects for peer-review publications.

Qualifications

  • PhD Clinical Psychology
  • MSc Psychological Research Methods
  • BSc(Hons) Psychology (first class)

Responsibilities & affiliations

  • Lead of the Scottish Developmental Psychology Network, a doctoral student group initiative to develop an interdisciplinary and collaborative network of PhD students and Post-doctoral researchers from Scottish universities with an interest in promoting developmental well-being across the lifespan (https://scotdpn.wordpress.com/, on twitter: @Scot_DPN)
  • Member of the Centre of Applied Developmental Psychology (CADP)
  • Member of British Psychological Society (BPS)

Undergraduate teaching

Past teaching responsibilities:

  • Evidence and Research, Nursing Studies
  • Statistics Drop-in Sessions for psychology students at Queen Margaret University

Postgraduate teaching

Past teaching responsibilities:

  • Research Methods, MSc Psychology of Mental Health
  • Trauma and Resilience, MSc Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice
  • PhD Lab Technician (dissertation support), MSc Psychology of Mental Health
  • Dissertation support, MSc Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

No

Research summary

My research interests include interpersonal trauma, childhood abuse as well as abuse and violence in adulthood, resilience, attachment, emotions, gender discrimination/inequality, relevant policies and practice, and mixed method research designs.

Knowledge exchange

  • wrote research report on deterrence of child abuse online
  • presented PhD research findings at the Clinical Psychology Seminar
  • wrote governmental report and presented findings in a seminar to analytics and policy team (2017)
  • brought together PhD students and postdoctoral researchers across Scotland in a Knowledge Exchange and Networking event
  • delivered internal report which will help advise on the University's postgraduate widening participation (2016)
  • presented experience of using a research journal at a Postgraduate Research Conference (2016)
  • presented research proposal at a Postgraduate Research Conference (2014)
  • assisted in delivering a Knowledge Exchange event which informed teachers, social workers and other practitioners on children's mental health (2014)

Affiliated research centres

Project activity

Recently, I worked as Research Fellow to analyse data on deterrence of child sexual abuse online and to present these findings in a research report.

As part of my PhD studies, I was interested in how adults with a history of interpersonal/complex trauma recover. In particular, I was interested in the emotional and interpersonal aspects involved in this recovery process. My research project involved interviewing adult trauma survivors from two research sites in Scotland and then analysing their narratives using grounded theory. This study helps us understand what adult trauma survivors need in order to recover, and aims to improve treatment and training and, ultimately, improve the lives of survivors.

My academic supervisors were:

  • Prof Matthias Schwannauer
  • Dr Ethel Quayle

In addition, with a group of doctoral students I am developing an interdisciplinary and collaborative network of PhD students and Post-doctoral researchers from Scottish universities with an interest in promoting developmental well-being across the lifespan.

Past project grants

Innovative Initiative Grant from the Edinburgh Fund at the University of Edinburgh (2017)
College Research Award from University of Edinburgh (2013)

Conference details

April 2016: Presentation 'Diary of a PhD student' at the Postgraduate Research Conference, University of Edinburgh

May 2014: Poster presentation of research proposal at the Postgraduate Research Conference, University of Edinburgh

March 2010: Presentation of BSc research project at the BPS Undergraduate Student Conference, Queen Margaret University

Organiser

March 2018: Knowledge Exchange and Networking event (2) of the Scottish Developmental Psychology Network

December 2017: Clinical Psychology seminar on "Sexual violence: Critical reflection on research, policy and practice" as part of the Centre of Applied Developmental Psychology

September 2017: Knowledge Exchange and Networking event (1) of the Scottish Developmental Psychology Network