Dr Cristina Douglas
Postdoctoral Research Associate (AMBER project)
Contact details
- Email: cdougla5@ed.ac.uk
Background
I am a medical anthropologist with an interest in cognitive impairment, ageing, human-animal relations, research ethics, and more-than-human ethics.
In 2017 I was awarded a PhD in medical humanities (Summa cum laude) from the University of Bucharest, Romania. In my research project, I explored how various categories of advertising (medical, cosmetic, food and drinks, tourist) reflect and are informed by a wide range of public attitudes toward age, health and illness, and death, which, in turn, have a cultural and historical root.
In 2017 I started my second PhD at the University of Aberdeen (near completion). My project looks at how people living with advanced dementia in care homes in Scotland develop relations with therapy-animals through Animal-Assisted Therapy services. In this project, I explore how such relations are based on practicing more-than-human ethics, and how such ethics may shape reframe the care environment.
I have an extended experience in public engagment with research and participatory approaches.
Qualifications
PhD in social/medical anthropology, University of Aberdeen (near completion)
PhD in medical humanities, University of Bucharest (2017)
MRes in social sciences, University of Bucharest (2007)
MRes in Cultural Anthropology, Ethnology and Folklore, University of Bucharest (2006)
BA (with Hons) in Romanian language and literature, Ethnology and Folklore, University of Bucharest (2005)
Research summary
antropology of ageing; dementia/cognitive impairment; more-than-human approaches; research ethics; more-than-human ethics