Dana Abdulhafiz is a Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences (FANS) at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London. Her research focuses on translational neuroscience, employing preclinical models to explore the biological pathways underlying neurodevelopment and behaviour.

She joined King’s in 2024, initially undertaking a MSc in Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology before progressing to PhD research within the FANS department.

She holds a BSc in Psychology with Neuroscience from Middlesex University and is a member of the British Neuroscience Association. Her research interests centre on neurobiology, behavioural neuroscience, and the molecular and neural mechanisms that contribute to developmental variation.

Research Interests

• Translational neuroscience
• Behavioural neuroscience
• Neuroimaging and biomarker research
• Developmental neurobiology
• Autism and neurodevelopmental disorders
• Neurobiology of speech and communication