Miss Ella Watson
(she/her)

Research student

I am an ESRC funded PhD student linked to CASCADE, the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre at Cardiff University. My research concerns the long-term health and criminal justice outcomes of care experienced young people.

My previous research experience has been with academics in the Cardiff University School of Psychology. I completed a year-long placement with the Neurodevelopmental Assessment Unit (NDAU) within CUCHDS, the Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental Science, which is also where my MSc Children's Psychological Disorder course was based.

My core research interests concern how adverse experiences throughout childhood and adolescence may inform later outcomes for individuals, particularly concerning their mental health. I am particularly interested in the outcomes and experiences of those who have experience of care or adoption.

I have previously completed research on hot and cold executive functioning in neurotypical and neurodiverse children using fNIRS imaging.

My recent Masters dissertation focused on a general psychopathology factor, known as 'p-factor', and how this might be relevant for assessing at-risk children.

Thesis

Longer-term health and criminal justice outcomes for care experienced young people

Funding sources

I am an ESRC funded student.

I completed my bachelors degree in Psychology with a professional placement, graduating in Summer 2022 from Cardiff University. I have recently completed my Masters degree in Children's Psychological Disorders, also at Cardiff University.