Dr. Dana Shai - Psychology - Best Researcher Award 

Academic College Tel Aviv Yaffo - Israel

Author Profile 

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Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Dana Shai began her academic journey in 1998 at Tel Aviv University, earning a B.A. in Psychology and Communications, graduating Summa cum Laude. She continued her education with an Advanced Studies program in Philosophy at Tel Aviv University in 2005, followed by a Dance Movement Therapy program at Seminar Ha’Kibutzim, Israel, in 2004-2005. Dr. Shai pursued her passion for psychology and developmental psychology, completing an M.Sc. in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology at The Anna Freud Centre/University College London, UK, in 2006, and later earning her Ph.D. in Psychology from Birkbeck University of London in 2011.

Professional Endeavors

Dr. Shai has held various academic positions, starting as a Research Fellow at the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Hertzliya, from 2011 to 2015. She then progressed to become a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the same institution from 2015 to 2017, followed by her current position as Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the School of Psychology, The Academic College Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel, since 2017.

Academic Leadership and Administration

Throughout her career, Dr. Shai has taken on leadership roles in academic administration. Notable positions include being the RIPPLE Lab Director at The Academic College Tel Aviv-Yaffo since 2017, the Founding Director of SEED and faculty member at the School of Psychology from 2017 to 2022, and the Developmental Psychology Departmental Lab Director at the same institution from 2017 to 2021.

Scholarly Positions and Activities

Dr. Shai has actively contributed to the academic community through participation in steering committees and reviewer activities. She has been a part of the Mentalizing Based Therapy Steering Group for Children and Young People at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families since 2022. Additionally, her involvement in foundations and peer review journals, such as the Israel Science Foundation and Psychoanalytic Psychology, showcases her dedication to advancing scholarly research.

Memberships and Conference Participation

She is a member of prestigious organizations like The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) since 2014 and the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) since 2011. Dr. Shai has actively participated in numerous scholarly conferences, both in Israel and abroad, presenting on diverse topics related to parental embodied mentalizing, infant development, and mental health.

Research Grants and Contributions

Dr. Shai has been successful in securing research grants, including funding from The Academic College of Tel Aviv Yaffo's Internal Grant Fund and Yad Hanadiv. Her research focuses on diverse topics such as embodied processes in parent-infant feeding interactions and the longitudinal associations between parenting quality and academic functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accolades and Recognition

While specific accolades and recognition details are not provided, Dr. Dana Shai's extensive involvement in conferences, research projects, and leadership positions suggests a high level of recognition in her field.

Impact and Influence

Dr. Shai's work in parental embodied mentalizing, infant development, and mental health has had a significant impact, as evidenced by her active participation in international conferences, keynote lectures, and symposiums.

Legacy and Future Contributions

With her continued commitment to research, academic leadership, and contributions to the field, Dr. Dana Shai is poised to leave a lasting legacy. Her focus on embodied processes and developmental psychology positions her as a key figure in advancing our understanding of parent-infant relationships and mental health.

This comprehensive overview highlights Dr. Dana Shai's academic journey, contributions, and ongoing commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of psychology.

Notable  Publications