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Ayla Pollmann, PhD

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Digital Health at King's College London (KCL).

Previously, I worked as a Data Scientist after completing my PhD in Psychology.

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Ayla Pollmann

Current Research

My current research focuses on the use of AI and wearable technologies to support maternal and family health, as part of the global health initiative EMBRACE. Within this project, I investigate topics such as engagement and adherence to digital health tools. You can read more about the project here.

Previous Positions

Data Scientist & Fellow
Faculty AI / Public Sector Project

Led project using large-scale user data to support community infrastructure. Built dashboards and pipelines; delivered insights on user behaviour.

PhD in Psychology
King’s College London

Researched the impact of adversity on brain development and mental health. Analyzed data from large-scale cohort studies (e.g., 15k+ participants) using R and advanced statistical methods (e.g., SEM, ML & network analysis).

Selected Publications

For a full list of publications, see my Google Scholar profile.

2025

A framework for understanding Adverse Adolescent Experiences (AAEs)
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
Pollmann, A., Bates, K. E., & Fuhrmann, D.
DOI

2023

Making connections: Neurodevelopmental Changes in Brain Connectivity after Adverse Experiences in Early Adolescence
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Pollmann, A., Sasso, R., Bates, K., & Fuhrmann, D.
DOI | Link to code

2022

Networks of Adversity in Childhood and Adolescence and Their Relationship to Adult Mental Health
RESEARCH ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Pollmann, A., Fritz, J., Barker, T., & Fuhrmann, D.
DOI | Link to code

Awards & Fellowships

  • Open Science Research Award 2025 – IoPPN, KCL
  • PhD Research Studentship – Department of Psychology, KCL
  • Fellowship for Outstanding Doctoral Students (Begabtenförderung; Cusanuswerk) – Federal Ministry of Education & Research, Germany
  • Best Master Thesis Award – Faculty of Pedagogy, University of Groningen

Science Communication

As an early career researcher, I believe it’s essential to actively engage in science communication. Clear, accessible science strengthens public understanding and trust, helping bridge the gap between research and society.

Science Writing

For example, I’ve written evidence-based articles for parents and educators with BOLD Ideas (see my profile here). Please get in touch if you’d like to collaborate.

Open Science

I follow open science principles including preregistration, preprints, and open code. I share coding scripts linking data, code, and results to promote transparency and reproducibility.

Methods & Tutorials

I write reproducible tutorials to make research methods more transparent and accessible.