Introduction

Dr. Franziska Meinck (University of Edinburgh): Principal Investigator

Franziska is an associate professor in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburhg and an honorary associate professor in the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand. Franziska's research focuses on the measurement of violence in childhood, the prevention of violence against children and on intergenerational continuity of violence. Franziska is an advisor on the WHO Advisory Group on the Global Estimates of Violence Against Children and was previously a Board Member of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN). She is currently Associate Editor of the Journal Child Abuse & Neglect. 

Dr. Nicola Christofides (University of the Witwatersrand): Co-Investigator

Nicola Christofides is an associate professor in the School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand. She heads up the Master of Public Health programme and a Division on Health and Society within the School. Nicola has more than 20 years’ research experience in the area of gender-based violence, HIV, and evaluating social and behaviour change programmes. Her research has focused on how services for survivors of sexual violence are delivered, as well as the role that gender-based violence plays in reproductive and sexual health outcomes. Previously, Nicola was the Principal Investigator on a What Works innovation grant that evaluated the Sonke community mobilization and advocacy intervention to reduce men’s perpetration of violence against women.

Dr. Nataly Woollett (University of the Witwatersrand): Co-Investigator

Dr. Woollett is an interdisciplinary social scientist and therapist with training in psychology, art therapy, and play therapy.  Her clinical practice has focused on trauma, bereavement, gender based violence and the associated mental health issues of HIV.  Dr. Woollett’s research is strongly informed by her therapeutic practice, with a consequent emphasis on mental health, arts-based methods and intervention research. 

Dr. Hannabeth Franchino-Olsen (University of Edinburgh): Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Dr. Franchino-Olsen is postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Edinburgh focusing on issues of violence against children, gender-based violence, and intergeneration violence transmission. Her training and expertise centre on gender-based violence, maternal and child health, population health, and human trafficking. Her research focuses on intersectional nature of violence across the life course using the lens of polyvictimization to illuminate links between forms of violence in order to prevent violence for children, adolescents, and young adults and to halt violence transmission across family generations.

Dr. Kopano Monaisa (North-West University): postdoctoral researcher & project manager

Kopano is a dedicated and accomplished Registered Social Worker with over 10 years of experience in various social work roles, including clinical practice, management, and research. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Africa Transdiscipolinary Unit for Health Research at North-West University, Potchefstroom. Kopano holds a BA, an MSW and a PhD in Social Work from North-West University. 

Dr. Mpho Silima (University of the Witwatersrand): postdoctoral reasearcher & project manager

Mpho is a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Public Health at the University of Witwatersrand. She is a qualitative researcher with extensive public health research experience. She has a strong interest in gender equity-related issues and the intersections of violence, HIV, mental health, and parenting, reframing health concerns using an ecological lens that includes the social determinants of health. Mpho holds an MPH and a PhD in Public Health from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Dr. Christina Thurston (University of Edinburgh): postdoctoral researcher

Christina is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh. Her PhD  investigated whether government-level interventions can mitigate the impact of childhood adversity on mental ill-health outcomes in South Africa. Christina is specifically interested in longitudinal research that explores causal risk and protective pathways from childhood adversity to later life psychopathology. Prior research Christina has undertaken has explored the relationship between childhood adversity and schizotypal traits in Northern Irish emerging adults. Christina holds an MSc in the Psychology of Childhood Adversity (Queen's University, Belfast), an MA(Hons) in Psychology (University of Dundee) and a PhD in Social Work (University of Edinburgh).