• Postdoctoral Research associate Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College (2022- )

• Postdoctoral Researcher School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London (2019 - 2022)
• PhD School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London (2014 - 2019)
• MSc Genes, Environment & Development, Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College (2013 - 2014)
• BSc Psychology, Birkbeck University of London (2009 -2013)

Research Interests:

 

I am broadly interested in understanding the factors that contribute to individual differences in mental health and disorder. The focus of my research is to examine how genes and the environment influence the development of psychopathology or resilience to it. I take an interdisciplinary approach to addressing this question by using behavioural genetic and genomic approaches, and data from twin and large cohort studies.

 

In my latest project, I used the MZ differences design to investigate genetic influences that are associated with greater sensitivity to environmental influences for a range of psychopathologies and subjective wellbeing.

Awards:

• International Conference travel grant, Guarantors of Brain, Cambridge University, UK (2017)
• PsyPAG international conference travel grant, UK (2016)
• Fragile Families travel award, Columbia University, US (2015)

Publications:

Davidson T, Braudt DB, Keers R, Assary E, Harris KM, Boardman JD. Genome-wide stress sensitivity moderates the stress-depression relationship in a nationally representative sample of adults Scientific Reports 11(1) 01 Dec 2021 (Journal article)

 

Assary E, Zavos H, Krapohl E, Keers R, Pluess M. Genetic Architecture of Environmental Sensitivity Reflects Multiple Heritable Components: a Twin Study with Adolescents Molecular Psychiatry 25 03 Jun 2020 (Journal article)

 

Assary E, Vincent J, Machlitt-Northen S, Keers R, Pluess M. The role of gene-environment interaction in mental health and susceptibility to the development of psychiatric disorders In Beyond Our Genes: Pathophysiology of Gene and Environment Interaction and Epigenetic Inheritance. 117-138. 24 Jan 2020 (Chapter)

 

Wong CCY, Smith RG, Hannon E, Assary E, Parikshak N, Prabhakar S, Geschwind D, Mill J. M52 CONVERGENT METHYLOMIC SIGNATURES BETWEEN AUTISM ASSOCIATED WITH DUPLICATIONS OF CHROMOSOME 15Q AND IDIOPATHIC AUTISM European Neuropsychopharmacology 29:s983 01 Jan 2019 (Journal article)

 

Pluess M, Assary E, Lionetti F, Lester K, Krapohl E, Aron E, Aron1 A. Environmental Sensitivity in Children: Development of the Highly Sensitive Child Scale and Identification of Sensitivity Groups Developmental Psychology 01 Jan 2018 (Journal article)

 

Assary E, Vincent J, Keers R, Pluess M. Gene-Environment Interaction and Psychiatric Disorders: Review and Future Directions Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 18 Oct 2017 (Journal article)

 

Assary E, Pluess M. Differential susceptibility in minority children: Individual differences in environmental sensitivity In Handbook on Positive Development of Minority Children and Youth. 139-152. 01 Jan 2017 (Chapter)

Assary E, Salekin RT, Barker ED. Big-Five and Callous-unemotional Traits in Preschoolers Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioural Assessment 37(3):371-379 11 Sep 2015 (Journal article)