In October 2024, Ana Donate, a PhD candidate at Aarhus University, joined the NofA Lab for a six-month PhD exchange. Ana is a clinical psychologist holding a master’s degree in Psychobiology from the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil, and is affiliated with the Center for Research on Alcohol and Drugs at Aarhus University.

Her interest in substance use and its disorders began in her late teens when she observed not only the emotional dysregulation experienced by individuals but also how social and cultural factors influence drug use.

After conducting a randomized controlled trial to test whether mindfulness could reduce impulsivity among patients in an inpatient treatment facility, she decided to pursue this research path during her doctoral studies. Currently, Ana is investigating emotion regulation and its role in the maintenance and escalation of cannabis use, working on an experience sampling project with nearly daily cannabis users.

Previously, Ana contributed to projects in social neuroscience, using brain stimulation techniques (tDCS) to study how emotional experiences are affected during episodes of ostracism.

“I’m happy to be part of the CeSAR/NofA Lab for these past few months. This environment has helped me grow significantly both as a researcher and as an individual, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity.”