Director / PI
Dr. Noa Gueron-Sela
Noa is an assistant professor at BGU in the developmental psychology program at the department of psychology. She completed a Ph.D. in developmental psychology at BGU, and postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Drawing from developmental psychopathology and biopsychosocial theoretical frameworks, Noa’s research explores the interplay between biological and environmental factors in shaping children’s development over time, with a focus on early childhood (0-3 years). She is particularly interested in the role of the caregiving environment in early development, including aspects such as parental psychopathology, parenting behaviors, and parental self-regulatory abilities. The overarching goal of her research program is to identify pathways to resilience, and the ability to thrive in the face of early life stress and adversity.
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Ph.D. Student
Avigail Gordon-Hacker
Avigail is studying for her PhD degree at BGU under the joint supervision of Dr. Noa Gueron-Sela and Dr. Florina Uzefovsky. She received her BA in psychology and multidisciplinary studies, and her MA in clinical psychology from BGU. In her MA thesis, Avigail examined the links between toddler sleep, maternal sleep and emotional availability in mother-child interaction under the supervision of Dr. Liat Tikotsky. In our lab, Avigail is part of the MAMA research team. In her research she examines mediating and moderating mechanisms of the relations between maternal depressive symptoms and the development of child empathy through infancy. She is specifically interested in the roles of maternal reflective functioning and responsiveness to infants’ distress. In addition, Avigail is clinical psychologist doing an internship in the therapeutic treatment center for foster children at the Summit Institute.
Ph.D. Student
Motty Franko
Motty is studying for his PhD degree in psychology at BGU under the joint supervision of Dr. Noa Gueron-Sela and Dr. Ravid Doron from the Open University. He obtained his BA in psychology and MA in developmental psychology from the Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo (MTA). During his years at MTA, Motty was a research assistant at Dr. Doron’s psychobiology lab where he gained expertise in applying animal models to understand the etiology of depression and anxiety. His research focused on the efficacy of a new herbal antidepressant developed in the lab, and the examination of possible side effects in comparison to traditional SSRI treatments.
In his current PhD research, Motty is building upon Dr. Gueron-Sela’s work on cognitive and social implications of preterm birth, and the moderating role of maternal caregiving on these outcomes. He is specifically interested in better understanding the causal links in this process. To that aim, Motty developed a mouse model of premature birth. Using behavioral and biological methods, Motty’s work mainly tests the cognitive and social-emotional implications of prematurity in the offspring, and the moderating role of maternal behaviors in this process.
Ph.D. Student
Alisa Egotubov
Alisa is a PhD student in the developmental psychology program at BGU University. She received her BA in behavioral sciences and her MA in developmental psychology from BGU University. Her MA research thesis focused on the associations between neonatal risk (i.e., premature birth, low birthweight and medical complications) and infants’ joint attention, and the roles of maternal behaviors and contextual stress in these associations. Alisa is currently part of the MAMA research team. She is particularly interested in examining the links between maternal depressive symptoms and the development of attention skills through infancy, while considering the role of maternal attention directing strategies and mother-infant joint visual attention.
Ph.D. Student
Yael Rozenblatt
Yael is a PhD student in the developmental psychology program at BGU under the joint supervision of Dr. Noa Gueron-Sela and Prof. Naama Atzaba Poria. She received her BA in psychology, cognition and neuroscience, and her MA in developmental psychology from BGU. Her MA research thesis focused on the implications of maternal mobile phone use for infants’ physiological reactivity during mother-child interactions.
Yael also completed a Masters degree in educational counseling at Tel-Aviv University. Her thesis examined mother-child interactions in families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder from a dyadic dynamic systems approach.
In her current PhD research in our lab, Yael will evaluate a new group-based intervention program that aims to promote reflective functioning in Kindergarten teachers. She is specifically interested in better understanding the mechanisms of change that underlie the effect of the intervention program.
Ph.D. Student
Michal Levy
Michal is studying for her PhD degree at BGU under the joint supervision of Dr. Noa Gueron-Sela and Prof. Andrea Berger. She received her BA in psychology and management and her MA in developmental psychology from BGU University. In her MA thesis, Michal focused on the link between maternal child posttraumatic stress symptoms and the role of maternal executive functions in this link, under the supervision of Prof. Naama Atzaba-Poria. In her current PhD research in our lab, Michal will examine the links between maternal depressive symptoms and childrens' attention skills, while considering the role of maternal and child characteristics (maternal attention and mentalizing abilities, and child environmental sensitivity).
MA Student
Hadar Salomon
Hadar is studying for her MA. degree at BGU under the supervision of Dr. Noa Gueron-Sela. She received her BA in psychology, sociology, and anthropology from Bar Ilan University and is now pursuing her MA in developmental psychology at BGU University. Hadar is currently part of the MAMA research team. Her MA research thesis focuses on the associations between maternal postpartum posttraumatic stress symptoms and joint attention in infancy, and the roles of empathic concern and personal distress in these associations.
MA Student
Yael Dann
Yael is an MA student in the developmental psychology program at BGU University. She received her BSc in psychology and biology from BGU University. Yael is currently part of the MAMA research team. She is particularly interested in paternal depressive symptoms and the development of empathy skills through infancy. Her MA research thesis focuses on the associations between paternal depressive symptoms and infants’ early empathic behaviors, and the roles of physiological profiles in these associations.
MA Student
Rotem Boris
Rotem is studying for her MA degree in developmental psychology at Ben-Gurion University under the supervision of Dr. Noa Gueron-Sela. She received her BA in psychology and education from BGU. Rotem is currently part of the MAMA research team. Her MA research thesis focuses on the association between maternal depressive symptoms and maternal use of emotion socialization practices.
MA Student
Avishag Edri-Batachenko
Avishag is an MA student in the developmental psychology program at BGU University. She received her BA in psychology and education from BGU University. Avishag is currently part of the MAMA research team. Her MA research thesis focuses on the associations between maternal digital media use, particularly "technoference", and social responsiveness and involvement among toddlers.