Overview

Stella is a PhD researcher at the University of Exeter Medical School in the Primary Care Research Group. Her PhD investigates the current practices used to identify and manage binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa in primary care and aims to improve them.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Psychology – First Class Honours, University of Exeter (2022)
• Certificate in Advanced Study in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education - University of Exeter (2023)

Research group links

• Clinical

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Research

Research interests

Stella is interested in how binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa are identified and managed in primary care, what are the experiences of healthcare professionals and patients and how they could be improved. Stella is further interested in early interventions for binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa and eating disorders overall.

Stella is also involved in fMRI research with the Department of Psychology, which focuses on the neurological pathways of complex cases of personality disorder, eating disorder and functional motor disorder. 

Conferences:

• Kozmér, Germmann, Mizen, Milton & Tanzer (2023). Understanding eating disorders – a comparison of cognitive and emotional flexibility - 22nd Annual Congress of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society, Poster

Publications:

• Becker, Kozmér, Aulbach & Lawrence (2022). The Relationship Between Meat Disgust and Meat Avoidance – A Chicken and Egg Question. Frontiers in Nutrition. Abstract

Research projects

• PhD project title: Improving identification and management of Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN) within Primary Care

  • Currently recruiting for a national survey to map out current practices used to identify and manage binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa in primary care in the UK. Looking for primary care professionals and individuals who identify as struggling with the symptoms of binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa

    Link to survey: https://exe.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5C61nsvJm3BJi6i

• Collaboration with Cassandra Lowe  on Reward Motivation Study in Brain Eating Stimulation (BEST) Lab

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External Engagement and Impact

Awards

• Best Poster Prize -22nd Annual Congress of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society
• Postgraduate Teaching Associate of the Year, Teaching Awards, University of Exeter (2023)
• The Postgraduate Excellence Award runner-up, Students Guild, University of Exeter (2023)
• Student Representative of the Year, Students Guild, University of Exeter (2022)
• Exceptional Contribution Award – Community category, Department of Psychology, University of Exeter (2022)

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Teaching

Stella is working as a Postgraduate Teaching Associate in the Psychology Department. She is supporting teaching across years and modules.

Stella also guest-lectures on PSY3427 Compulsive Behaviour on Eating Disorders.

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