Role
Blerina is a Lecturer in Social Psychology in the Division of Psychology. She is Module Leader for Social Psychology at undergraduate level and contributes to research methods and statistics modules in Years One and Two. She also lectures on the MSc Psychological Wellbeing and Mental Health course and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.
Career overview
Blerina has a PhD in Psychology from the University of St Andrews. After her PhD she held postdoctoral positions at Freedom from Torture, the University of Oxford and the University of Nottingham. She has also previously held a Teaching Fellowship at the University of Nottingham and a Lectureship in Psychology at the University of Staffordshire. Blerina joined Division of Psychology at NTU in September 2015.
Research areas
Blerina's research has focused on how people deal with and are affected by extreme life events from illness and accidents to war, torture and detention. Her PhD work investigated the influence of social identities on understanding and dealing with human rights abuses and trauma.
More recently, she has coordinated a large project on the psychosocial, health, occupation and economic impact of unintentional injuries and factors predicting recovery in UK adult populations.
She is currently conducting research investigating the quality of life in Immigration Removal Centres in the UK, focusing on identity, coping, support, relationships, and mental health.
In the future, she would like to develop research exploring the role of transitional justice processes (like reconciliation, recognition, redress, forgiveness and peace building) on mental health and the risk of further intergroup conflict.
Sponsors and collaborators
- University of St Andrews: Professor Stephen Reicher
- University of Nottingham: Professor Denise Kendrick, Professor Carol Coupland, Professor Stephen Joseph, Professor Richard Morris
- University of Oxford: Professor Mary Bosworth, Dr Sarah Turnbull
- International Centre for Health and Human Rights (ICHHR): Dr Nimisha Patel, Dr Amanda Williams
- University of Surrey: Dr Sarah Earthy, Jude Sleney
- UCL: Dr Nicola Christie
- Loughborough University: Dr Jo Barnes
- University of Bristol: Kate Beckett
- University of Staffordshire: Dr Anca Roberts