Meeting the Cooperative Childrearing Team

We are excited to announce that we are now recruiting people for our Cooperative Child Rearing study! Get to know the team members below who are conducting the interviews and running the project. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions by e-mailing anthro.childrearing@ucl.ac.uk

Luisa Rivera

Role: Research Associate 

Responsibilities: Conducting interviews and writing up findings 

From: Atlanta, USA 

I’m a biological anthropologist studying how social and environmental contexts shape intergenerational health in caregivers and children. I received my BA at Harvard University and my PhD at Emory University and have published several papers looking at how stress 'gets under the skin' and impacts our biology and wellbeing. As a new mom myself, I am inspired by learning about all the ways families raise kids despite the challenges life can throw our way. In the Cooperative Childrearing Project, I will be conducting interviews and writing up research papers, exploring how having multiple caregivers in childhood can impact child wellbeing in adolescence. Outside of work, I love sewing and playing Baby Shark covers on the piano with my toddler. 

Imogen Hensler

Role: Engagement and Communication Officer 

Responsibilities: Engaging with the public, academics and policy makers 

From: Hampshire, England 

I’m an anthropologist and psychologist who is interested in well-being and mental health of children and young people. I really enjoy thinking about how society can influence how we think about the world and ourselves, and how it affects young people as a result. While my background is in anthropology, I am currently completing my PhD at the University of Oxford in Experimental Psychology, where I am investigating panic disorder in teenagers. On the project here at UCL, I work on engaging and communicating with the public, academics, and policy makers in order to try and make our study have the most impact that it can. As someone who works in both the medical and social sciences, I find childrearing to be a very interesting and important part of development. Outside of work and my PhD, I enjoy music, reading and I am currently learning to cross-stitch. 

Emily Emmott

Role: Principal investigator/Project Manager 

Responsibilities: Managing the project and conducting interviews 

From: Tokyo, Japan and London, England 

I'm an Associate Professor in Biological Anthropology at UCL, and the project lead for the Cooperative Childrearing Project. Having grown up in both Japan and England, I noticed that people look after children in different ways – and, as a researcher, I now investigate how differences in caregiving and social support impacts the health and wellbeing of children and families. My main role in this project is to support the team and keep an eye on deadlines. At UCL, I teach Biosocial Approaches to Childrearing and Anthropological Research Methods to undergraduate students, and I am currently serving as the Director for Education at UCL Anthropology. I’m a mum to a 4-year old boy & have a lovely beagle. When I have spare time, I like to go on forest walks (especially when wet and muddy) - although I end up carrying my 4-year old for most of the way!