Ezra Aydin

By Laura Kenworthy 2min read

Ezra Aydin came to Homerton via a BSc in Applied Psychology and MSc in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at Durham University, followed by a research assistant role at Oxford. At Oxford she researched postnatal depression and HIV, before beginning a PhD exploring potential early predictors of autistic traits longitudinally from foetal to infant development. 

“I was employed as a researcher, alongside my PhD, looking at how early foetal and neonatal brain structure might be an early predictor of autistic traits in infancy. We did this using both MRI and ultrasound scans recruiting families both with and without a history of autism. It was a wonderful experience getting to be part of these families' journeys from pregnancy to parenthood.”

Funded by the Autism Research Trust, the research is part of a new field developed by Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen.

“Simon took a huge leap of faith in trusting me to take on the work,” she says.

Ezra completed her PhD in October 2020, after Covid-related delays.

“I was one of the first Covid vivas. One of my examiners was sitting next to me, and the other was on Zoom from New Zealand, half in his pyjamas and half in a suit!”

Ezra is currently based in New York as a post-doctoral research fellow at Columbia, looking at how a mother’s environment and immunity influence foetal and neonatal brain development. She is also a visiting researcher at Trinity College, continuing her collaborative work exploring the longitudinal impact of Covid on our developing generation and families. 

At Homerton, she was heavily involved in student life, as MCR Vice-President External, and later MCR President.

“Lots of postgraduates don’t know what the collegiate experience has to offer. This allowed us to show them the possibilities. We built an amazing community – the postgraduate formals were packed, and students knew they had people they could talk to. It was just about facilitating an environment to help people take advantage of what’s there already. My friends said “you made it feel like a family.”