My research uses tools from developmental cognitive neuroscience to investigate how childhood socioeconomic status and exposure to environmental adversity influence brain and cognitive development as well as mental health during childhood and adolescence. My work also seeks to understand how psychological and environmental factors can mitigate the effects of adversity, fostering resilience. Ultimately, my research aims to leverage insights into individual variations in brain development to support children's overall well-being and academic success, fostering positive mental health and cognitive function in young individuals.

Prior to joining KCL, Dr. Rakesh was a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University, USA. She received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Melbourne, Australia and her Masters of Research in Neuroscience from the University of Bordeaux, France. Before that, she completed an MBA from Mudra Institute of Communication and a BSc. (Hons) in Biochemistry at the University of Delhi, India. 

Please see my Research Staff Profile for more detail.

Find out more about my research:

https://divyangana.com/

Key publications:

• Rakesh et al., 2023. Childhood socioeconomic status and the pace of structural neurodevelopment: accelerated, delayed, or simply different? Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 
• Rakesh et al., 2021. Socioeconomic status and the developing brain – A systematic review of neuroimaging findings in youth. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.
• Rakesh et al., 2021. Associations between neighborhood disadvantage, resting-state functional connectivity, and behavior in the adolescent brain cognitive development study: the moderating role of positive family and school environments. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.
• Rakesh et al., 2022. Assessment of parent income and education, neighborhood disadvantage, and child brain structure. JAMA Network Open.
• Rakesh et al., 2021. Unraveling the consequences of childhood maltreatment: deviations from typical functional neurodevelopment mediate the relationship between maltreatment history and depressive symptoms. Biological psychiatry: cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging.

Key collaborators:

• Prof. Katie McLaughlin, Harvard University
• Prof. Sarah Whittle, University of Melbourne
• Prof. Andrew Zalesky, University of Melbourne