Project Title: The Psychological Impact of Armed Conflict on Adolescents (12-17) in The Gaza Strip: Understanding and Addressing Intrusive Memories and Mental Health

Maya Al-Jaber is a DPhil candidate in Experimental Psychology at Worcester College, generously supported by the ESRC Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) Interdisciplinary Studentship. Her doctoral research investigates intrusive memories and their impact on adolescent mental health and development in conflict-affected settings, with a particular focus on Gaza, Palestine. She employs a mixed-methods design combining qualitative interviews, longitudinal quantitative surveys, and systematic review methodologies to better understand trauma processes and inform scalable, evidence-based interventions. Her main research interests include complex childhood trauma, war trauma, and trauma-focused interventions.

Maya has worked as a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Al-Ahliyya University in Jordan, where she taught developmental psychology and child and adolescent mental health modules. She is also co-founder and board member of Kafl, a Canadian NGO connecting children in Gaza with peers and families worldwide to foster resilience and global solidarity. Previously, she worked as a Research Associate at Mindset on large-scale youth and socio-economic surveys in Jordan, and as a Gaza MHPSS Project Assistant with UOSSM USA, developing mental health and psychosocial support initiatives.

Maya holds an MSc in Developmental Psychology & Psychopathology from King's College London, from which she received the Best Achievement for the Research Project on the MSc, and an BSc in Biomedical Sciences intercalated with Health Psychology from King's College London, where she received the John Weinman Award for best overall performance.