Curriculum Vitae

Education

University of Cambridge
Doctor of Philosophy Psychology
St. John's College

Supervisor: Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
Co-supervisor: Livia Tomova
Advisor: Rebecca Lawson

Expected 2025
Gates Cambridge Scholar

University of California, Los Angeles
Master of Social ScienceSocial Science

Advisor: Jennifer Silvers

2019
GPA: 4.0

Columbia University
Postbaccalaureate Psychology

2018
GPA: 4.3

City University of New York, School of Professional Studies
Bachelor of Arts
Communications and Media

2017
GPA: 4.0
Summa Cum Laude

Fashion Institute of Technology
Associate in Applied Science
Advertising and Marketing Communications

2015
GPA: 4.0
Valedictorian
Summa Cum Laude

Honors And Awards

2024 - City University of New York's 50 Under 50 2023 - International Society for Developmental Psychobiology Poster Award 2022 - International Society for Developmental Psychobiology Travel Award 2022 - Cambridge University School of Biological Sciences Fieldwork Fund Award2020 - 2025 - Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2020 - 2023 - St. Johns Honorary Benefactors' Scholarship 2020 - SARMAC Student Caucus Research Grant 2019 - International Society for Developmental Psychobiology Travel Award 2019 - UCLA MaSS Conference Travel Grant Award 2019 - UCLA Grad Slam (3-Minute Thesis) Finalist 2018-2019 - UCLA MaSS Merit Scholarship Award2016-2017 - CUNY SPS E-Porftolio Showcase Winner 2015 - FIT Foundation Distinguished Scholar Award 2015 - FIT Alfred B. Wagner Award

Publications

Esfand, S.M., Querdasi, F.R., Gancz, N.N., Savoca, P.W., Nussbaum, S., Somers, J.A., Ditzer, J., Figueroa, M.B., Chu, K., Towner, E., Callaghan, B.L. (2024). The mind, brain, and body study: A protocol for examining the effects of the gut-brain-immune axis on internalizing symptoms in youth exposed to caregiving-related early adversity. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity-Health. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100880. PDF.
Towner, E., Thomas, K., Tomova, L., & Blakemore, S-J. (2024). Increased threat learning after social isolation in human adolescents. Royal Society Open Science. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240101. PDF.
Somers, J.A., Querdasi, F.R., Chu, K.A., Gancz, N., Towner, E., & Callaghan, B.L. (2024). Transactional models of depression via caregiver-child interactions: Evaluating conflict resolution as a source of resilience in adversity-exposed families. Children and Youth Services Review. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107945. PDF.
Gancz, N.N., Querdasi, F.R., Chu, K.A., Towner, E., Taylor, E., & Callaghan, B.L. (2024). Characteristics of the oral microbiome in youth exposed to caregiving adversity. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity-Health. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100850. PDF.
Somers, J.A., Chu, K.A., Schwartz, C., Towner, E., & Callaghan, B.L. (2022) Sometimes “we” can help: parents’ pronoun use buffers fear and anxiety transmission. Anxiety, Stress & Coping. DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2022.2127694. PDF.
Towner, E., Chierchia, G., & Blakemore, S-J. (2023). Sensitivity and specificity in affective and social learning in adolescence. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2023.04.002. PDF.Metcalfe, J., Vuorre, M., Towner, E., Eich, T.S. (2022). Curiosity: The effects of feedback and confidence on the desire to know. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. DOI: 10.1037/xge0001284. PDF.
Towner, E., Tomova, L., Ladensack, D., Chu, K.A., & Callaghan, B.L. (2022). Virtual social interaction and loneliness among emerging adults amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cresp.2022.100058. PDF.
Towner, E., Grint, J., Levy, T., Blakemore, S-J., & Tomova, L. (2022). Revealing the self in a digital world: A systematic review of adolescent online and offline self-disclosure. Current Opinion in Psychology. DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101309. PDF.
Uy, J., Schwartz, C., Chu, K.A., Towner, E., Lemus, A., Brito, N.H., Callaghan, B.L. (2022). Parental transmission and buffering of child fear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developmental Psychobiology. DOI: 10.1002/dev.22253. PDF.
Chu, K. A., Schwartz, C., Towner, E., Kasparian, N. A., & Callaghan, B. (2021). A mixed-methods investigation of the impact of COVID-19 on family life. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100161. PDF.

Conference Presentations

Towner, E., Tomova, L., Thomas, K., & Blakemore, S-J. (2023). The effects of social isolation on adolescent threat learning. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology (ISDP). 26-28 July, Utrecht, Netherlands. PDF.
Towner, E., Tomova, L., & Blakemore, S-J. (2023). Investigating the effects of reward and threat on social learning. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS). 22-34 June, Padova, Italy. PDF.
Towner, E., Tomova, L., Thomas, K., & Blakemore, S-J. (2022). Threat learning after social isolation in adolescents. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology (ISDP). 9-11 November, San Diego, California. PDF.
Towner, E., Tomova, L., Thomas, K., & Blakemore, S-J. (2022). The effects of social isolation and loneliness on fear learning physiology in mid-adolescence. Poster presented at Flux Congress. 7-9 September, Paris, France. PDF.
Towner, E., Tomova, L., Thomas, K., & Blakemore, S.J. (2022). The effects of social isolation on fear learning in adolescents. Poster presented at the 18th NVP Conference on Brain and Cognition. 28-30 April, Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands. PDF.
Towner, E. & Callaghan, B.L. (2020). Distress amid COVID-19 among those exposed to early life stress. Poster presented at the 53rd annual meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology (ISDP). 21-23 October, Virtual. PDF. Video.
Towner, E., Guassi Moreira, J.F., Méndez Leal, A., Waizman, Y., Ninova, E., & Silvers, J.A. (2019). Previous institutionalization worsens the relationship between current life stress, internalizing psychopathology, and adaptive functioning. Poster presented at the 52nd annual meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology (ISDP). 16-18 October, Chicago, IL. PDF.
Towner, E. & Metcalfe, J. (2019). The association between confidence and curiosity for general information questions under different feedback conditions. Talk presented at the 13th biennial meeting of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC). 6-9 June, Cape Cod, MA.
Towner, E. & Metcalfe, J. (2018). Confidence in errors predicts curiosity about the correct answers to general information questions. Poster presented at the 59th annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society. 15-18 November, New Orleans, LA. PDF.

Research Experience

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
University of Cambridge - Department of Psychology
Principal Investigator: Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
Graduate Researcher

2020 - Present

Tamnes Lab
University of Oslo - Department of Psychology
Principal Investigator: Christian K. Tamnes
Visiting Researcher

June 2022

Brain and Body Lab
University of California, Los Angeles - Department of Psychology
Principal Investigator: Bridget Callaghan
Lab Manager / Staff Research Associate

2019 - 2020

Social Affective Neuroscience and Development Lab
University of California, Los Angeles - Department of Psychology
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Silvers
Graduate Research Assistant

2018 - 2019

Metacognition and Memory Lab
Columbia University - Department of Psychology
Principal Investigator: Janet Metcalfe
Postbaccalaureate Research Assistant

2017 - 2018

Teaching Experience

Adolescent Development and the Teenage Brain
Downing College Summer Program
University of Cambridge
Lecturer

2024

Adolescence
Department of Psychology
University of Cambridge
Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
Guest Lecturer

2024

Adolescence
Department of Psychology
University of Cambridge
Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
Supervisor (Teaching Assistant)

2021-2023

Introduction to Psychology
Department of Psychology
University of Cambridge
Supervisor (Teaching Assistant)

2021-2024

Neuroanatomy
Department of Psychology
University of Cambridge
Demonstrator (Lab Assistant)

2021-2022

Supervision

Bagley, E. - Undergraduate Student - University of Cambridge
Final year dissertation - Received an Exceptional First2021-2022
Chitwa, E. - Undergraduate Student - University of Cambridge
Final year dissertation - Received an Exceptional First2021-2022
Lee, D. - Undergraduate Student - University of Cambridge
Final year dissertation2021-2022
Zhang, Y. - Undergraduate Student - University of Cambridge
Final year dissertation2020-2021
Fonacier, N. - Undergraduate Student - University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA Undergraduate Research Week Showcase2019-2020
Ortega, A. - Undergraduate Student - University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA Psychology Research Opportunity Programs Scholar (PROPS)
UCLA Undergraduate Research Week Showcase2019-2020
Wieand, A. - Undergraduate Student - University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA Psychology Research Opportunity Programs Scholar (PROPS)
UCLA Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference 2019-2020

Invited Talks

Student Wellbeing in the Psychological and Behavioural SciencesBlakemore Lab RetreatCambridge, UKJune 2024
Social Connection and the Adolescent BrainGuildford High SchoolGuildford, UKMay 2024
Student Wellbeing in the Psychological and Behavioural SciencesAnnual Academic Staff MeetingDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridge, UKMay 2024
Social Connection and the Adolescent BrainParis Brain InstituteGender Equity MovementThe Power of Inclusion in Science -Emergence of Diversity Paris, FRApril 2024
Adolescent Social and Emotional DevelopmentHaileybury SchoolAlmaty, KZJanuary 2024
Threat Learning After Social Isolation in AdolescentsPrediction and Learning Lab (Principal Investigator: Rebecca Lawson)Department of PsychologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridge, UKMarch 2023
Adolescent Threat Learning After Social IsolationChild Development ForumMRC Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitUniversity of CambridgeCambridge, UKMarch 2023
Adolescent Development and the Teenage BrainPrince's Trust InstituteLondon, UKMarch 2023
Threat Learning After Social Isolation in AdolescentsTamsin Lab (Principal Investigator: Tamsin Ford)Department of PsychiatryUniversity of CambridgeCambridge, UKJanuary 2023
Adolescent Threat Learning After Social Isolation7T MRI Methods Group MeetingWolfson Brain Imaging CentreUniversity of CambridgeDecember 2022
Threat Learning After Social Isolation in Adolescents
Fear Lab (Principal Investigator: Dean Mobbs)
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
November 2022
Adolescent Development, Fear Learning and Anxiety
Haileybury School
London, UK
September 2022
Adolescent Fear Learning After Social Isolation
Blakemore Lab Retreat
Cambridge, UK
July 2022
Adolescent Fear Learning After Social Isolation
Gates Day of Research
Cambridge, UK
May 2022

The Teenage Brain
UCL Academy
London, UK (Virtual)
March 2022
Psychology as an Undergraduate Subject, Adolescent Brain Development and the Being Alone Study
St. Mary's SchoolCambridge, UK (Virtual)
June 2021
R for Data Wrangling
Social Psychology Seminar SeriesDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridge, UK (Virtual)
May 2021
Video
Virtual Social Interaction, Loneliness, and Well-Being Among Emerging Adults Amid the COVID Pandemic
Gates Cambridge Internal SymposiumCambridge, UK (Virtual)
March 2021
Video
Preparing a Three Minute Thesis Presentation
GradSlam Coaching SessionUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos, Angeles, CA
March 2020
Master of Social Science - Question and Answer Session
Current Student EventUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA
January 2020
Curiosity and Learning - Curiosity Did Not Kill the Cat
Alumni Day Centennial Celebration GradSlam ShowcaseUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA
May 2019
Video

Skills

Statistical packages - R, SPSS, JASPProgramming languages - R, Python, HTML, CSSNeuroimaging - MRI Physiological data collection - EDA, ECG, EGGInstrument/interview administration - WASI, WIAT, KSADSBiological sample collection - Dried Blood Spot, Saliva, HairApplications - REDCap, PsychoPy, Gorilla, Git / GitHub, Adobe Suite, WordPress, LaTex

Service

Vice PresidentSamuel Butler Room Postgraduate SocietySt. John's CollegeUniversity of Cambridge

2023 - 2025

Welfare OfficerSamuel Butler RoomPostgraduate SocietySt. John's CollegeUniversity of Cambridge

2022 - 2023

Postgraduate Student RepresentativeDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of Cambridge

2021 - 2022

National Sexual Assault Hotline VolunteerRape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)

2016 - 2019

Google Sites

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