Ms Megan Skelton

Biography

Education and Employment History

• NIHR BRC Maudsley PhD studentship, Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London (2018 - 2021)
• MSc Genes, Environment and Development in Psychology and Psychiatry (Distinction), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London (2017-2018)
• Research Assistant, School of Psychology, University of Leeds (2014 - 2015; 2016 - 2017)
• Research Assistant, School of Education, University of Leeds (2015)
• BSc Psychology (First Class with Honours), University of Leeds (2011 - 2014)

Research interests

I am currently in the second year of my PhD, in which I am investigating how genetic, clinical and sociodemographic factors predict outcomes following psychological therapies for adult depression and anxiety disorders. I am particularly interested in the interplay between psychiatric symptoms and social/occupational functioning. I employ a range of analytical methods, including statistical genetic techniques such as genome-wide association and polygenic risk scores, and structural equation modelling for phenotypic data. I am currently working on a project with data from the UK Biobank cohort and another using patient data from the NHS “Improving Access to Psychological Therapies” (IAPT) programme. My next project will use data from the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study.

Awards 

• NIHR Maudsley BRC funded 1+3 PhD at the Social, Genetic Developmental & Psychiatry Centre, King's College London (2017-2021)
• British Psychological Society Award for Undergraduate Psychology, University of Leeds (2014)
• Wellcome Trust Biomedical Vacation Scholarship (2013)