Research Assistant: Preventing and Treating Eating Disorders

Introduction to the topic

Eating disorders are serious psychiatric illnesses with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Although the factors that heighten risk and maintain eating disorder symptoms are multifaceted, the current research explores two particularly salient psychosocial factors: dieting behavior and (disrupted) social relationships. Past research indicates that dieting is an important risk-factor for the development of eating disorders. Whereas traditional diets appear to have recently reduced in popularity, there has been a burgeoning of dietary strategies marketed as healthy, pure, and “clean” with a purported emphasis on wellness rather than weight loss per se. However, the true impact of these diets and the broader wellness industrial complex remains poorly understood and requires further study.

Project details

Thus, one research assistant would have the opportunity to assist with the development of a new research project exploring contemporary dieting behavior and the boundaries between illness and wellness. The other research assistant would be able to assist with data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings from a recently completed 5-year randomized clinical trial for anorexia nervosa led by collaborators at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London.

In this intervention, patients admitted to intensive treatment for anorexia nervosa and their caregivers were randomized to receive additional guidance and support as they transitioned out of treatment. As the trial has now been completed, there are many opportunities to explore potential mediators and moderators of treatment outcomes, with particular attention directed toward elements of social connection and their role in the recovery process.

Selected relevant publications:

Clark Bryan, D., Macdonald, P., Cardi, V., Rowlands, K., Ambwani, S., Arcelus, J., Bonin, E.-M., Landau, S., Schmidt, U., & Treasure, J. (2022). Transitions from intensive eating disorder treatment settings: Qualitative investigation of the experiences and needs of adults with anorexia nervosa and their carers. BJPsych Open, 8(4).
Negowetti, N., Ambwani, S., Karr, S., Rodgers, R. F., & Austin, S. B. (2021). Digging up the dirt on “clean” dietary labels: Public Health Considerations and opportunities for increased federal oversight. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 55(1), 39–48.

Prerequisites

One course in each of the following: Research Methods in Psychology, Statistics, and Psychopathology

Additional application required

You must submit an additional application through the Online Registration portal.

All application materials must be submitted on the following dates by midnight in your time zone:

November 1 for spring semester applicants
May 1 for fall semester applicants

Complete your application through Student Registration.

Faculty

Suman Ambwani

Faculty; Program Director

PhD (Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2008, Clinical Psychology Internship, Medical University of South Carolina, 2007-2008). MS (Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2005). BA (Psychology, Sociology, Macalester College, 2003). Previously an associate professor of psychology at Dickinson College, visiting researcher at King’s College London, and visiting scientist at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her research broadly examines factors associated with the development and maintenance of eating disorders, particularly cultural features (such as fat-shaming environments and pseudoscientific diet fads) and difficulties with interpersonal relationships. She is also a co-investigator on two UK multisite randomized clinical trials investigating guided self-help for anorexia nervosa. With DIS since 2022.

Research Assistantship FAQ

Learn more about research at DIS.

: Earning authorship within the course of a semester is challenging. Exceptional Research Assistants may be considered for co-authorship, subject to evaluation from the supervising Research Mentor.

Though you may not ultimately become an author on a published paper, you will gain many practical skills and insights into the publication process.

: Many research projects last across several semesters, so not all RAs on the same project will conduct the same research.

: On average, students in 3-credit Research Assistantships spend at least 10 hours a week on research tasks. These 10 hours per week consist of a variety of different research-related tasks, including conducting a literature review, data collection, analyses, coding, documentation, and meetings with your mentor. You may decide on a particular block of time (consistent each week) for you to carry out the work, or adjust it on a week-by-week basis.

Students in a 6-credit Research Assistantships spend an average of 20 hours per week with lab and clinically based research tasks. You decide the exact meeting and lab times with your supervisor, but your schedule consists of classes at DIS two days a week, with two days a week in the lab.

There may be peak times in the research process where all Research Assistant students are expected to spend a few more hours, and then possibly fewer hours another week – to reflect the individual research project and process.

: Work for the 3-credit Research Assistantships may take place outside DIS, on your own time at a location of your choosing, or at DIS – this varies from project to project. The 6-credit research assistantships generally take place at labs in Copenhagen or Stockholm outside DIS.

: Students with a variety of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the 3-credit Research Assistant course. While some courses do have prerequisites, many opportunities do not require prior research experience.

The 6-credit Research Assistant opportunity is designed for highly motivated students who have a strong science background within the field of interest and some basic research experience. The student must be willing to commit a large portion of their semester to an engaging opportunity involving hands-on research in universities and medical institutes in Copenhagen or Stockholm.

Introduction to the topic

Project details

Prerequisites

Additional application required

Faculty

Suman Ambwani

Research Assistantship FAQ

Will I publish a research paper?

What exactly will I do?

What is the time commitment for a 3-credit or 6-credit Research Assistantship?

Where is the research work carried out?

What type of student applies for the 3- and 6-credit Research Assistant courses?