Early Adaptive Calibration of Physiological Stress Profiles

Building on the idea that early attachment experiences shape the maturation of autonomic and endocrine systems, my work examines how distinct stress-response profiles emerge in early childhood through the coordination of autonomic activity and HPA during stress. This work is conducted in the Representations of Early Experiences Lab (REEL) and the Public Health Research Center at NYUAD.

From Caregiving to Health

A core aim of my research is to understand how early caregiving environments shape lifelong health. I examine the interplay between attachment representations and physical health longitudinally and in twin designs, to parse the effects of environment and genetics. This work is conducted in collaboration with the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA.

Intergenerational Transmission of Stress and Parent-Child Co-regulation

My research investigates how stress is transmitted across generations through biological, behavioral, and relational pathways. Using biological markers, I examine how maternal stress histories influence children’s developing stress physiology and psychobiology. This work has been conducted across multiple collaborations with NYU Langone (US), Radboud University Medical Center (NL), and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL).