Other links:
Other links:
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Ashoka University
Ph.D. University of Rochester School of Medicine and DentistrySimantini (Simi) Ghosh conducts research on traumatic stress.
Her research focuses on gender-based violence, systemic discrimination, and their impact on survivors, specifically examining psychological dysfunction in the context of cumulative trauma rather than acute exposure to a single traumatic event. She is also interested in exploring patterns of familial violence and its intergenerational consequences. The overarching aim of this research is to move beyond traditional clinical constructs of PTSD, reframing trauma as a psychosocial issue and investigating its impact on survivors even when diagnostic criteria are not met. The research methodology encompasses qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods designs. These efforts are increasingly diversifying to incorporate experimental psychological approaches.
A second, neuroscience-based strand of research in her lab investigates the molecular neurobiology of traumatic stress in rodents, with a primary focus on neuroimmunology. This work employs various rodent behavioral paradigms related to stress, including learned helplessness and other behavioral assays. Analytical techniques include molecular biology, biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, microscopy-based approaches, and cell culture methods.
Her background has evolved from neuroscience to psychology. She studied neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation , traumatic brain injury and chronic and acute traumatic stress in the past. She earned a PhD in Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY and pursued her postdoctoral fellowship in Neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, MO prior to joining Ashoka. She enjoys teaching courses that straddle both neuroscience and psychology, as well as research methods courses.
Outside work she enjoys reading poetry and nonfiction, listening to classic rock, jazz and blues.
Published articles
Preprints (Currently in review)
Manuscripts in preparation:
Current Research Interests:
My broad research interest lies in understanding how chronic, unpredictable traumatic stress affects the mind and the psychological, sociocultural, neurobiological and neuroinflammatory components that underlie stress responses. Research and approaches span disciplines and techniques, but the central theme is focused on understanding the sequelae of chronic stress and by extension, developing interventions and targets for stress related disorders.
Current Projects:
Prior Areas of Training:
Neuroinflammation in the context of neurodegenerative and neurocognitive disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, tauopathies and traumatic brain injury. Prior projects include
Articles in the Indian Express
Indian Express Columnist Profile
Unedited versions of the articles can be accessed through the links below
Articles in the Outlook magazine :
Other articles in the media:
Articles where I have been interviewed :
https://researchmatters.in/news/partner-or-perpetrator-understanding-causes-and-consequences-intimate-partner-violence
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/domestic-inequality-in-sharp-focus-with-lockdown/1828840
https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Has-India-s-most-influential-guru-finally-gone-too-far
Students requesting letters of recommendation, should note the following:
Dear Students,
In your 4th (ASP) year, there are both thesis and non-thesis tracks, both of which will enable you to get research experience.
The thesis track:
A thesis track (12 credits) will be divided into thesis proposal (4 credits) and thesis (8 credits) over the monsoon and the spring semester of your ASP year. There is a tight timeline with respect to several stages of the process, and submission of several drafts of the proposal and the final thesis will be required on specific dates.
For a sample timeline, please use the 2024 timeline. Course manuals for PSY4998 (Thesis Proposal) and PSY4999 (Thesis) can be found here : ASP Syllabus 2024-25 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MUJ7xZumyRNqMblvvbQBKXv-1CwnisDvNjX00JsUoKI/edit?usp=sharing
An honors thesis is a capstone course where students will complete a piece of original scholarly work that contributes substantially to the knowledge and/or application of the discipline. Doing a thesis requires a substantial amount of research skills, commitment, and time management skills.
Please do not enter the thesis track lightly. A thesis is a student’s independent idea and the formulation of the research questions, methodological decisions and analysis is mostly dependent on the student, with a general oversight by the advisor. While accepting thesis students, I try to assess whether the project conceptualization is strong enough to make an independent publication in a peer reviewed journal.
Thesis application form: https://forms.gle/rFsBfQxhBVouH2ocA
For the foreseeable future I will only be accepting thesis students whose research interests are allied with gender based violence and mental health.
The Independent Study Module (ISM) /Advanced ISM track:
An ISM/ advanced ISM is an avenue to gain hands on research experience with me on my research projects. The theoretical conceptualization and research question formulation is directly under my supervision, and students help collect data, and analyze them. When we publish, you get co-authorship/ acknowledgement depending on your involvement, diligence and the quality of work you produce.
A list of my currently running projects, names of the coordinators for each project can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xwoMZF6au2PEfnYGduRkIXCn_Wfu7MCw1gK4g5BcFhU/edit#gid=0
The same sheet has also been circulated with the psychology representatives.
If you are interested to join any of my projects, please contact the coordinators mentioned in the sheet, read the documentation on the project, understand where the work is, and fill out the form for application by May 15 ( summer research) or July 30(For Monsoon 22). Then send me an email. Most of my projects can span over multiple semesters, so ISM students can expect to be a part of a specific phase of a larger, ongoing project. PLEASE DO NOT RAISE ISM REQUESTS ON AMS WITHOUT TALKING TO ME FIRST. This is a form I ask to fill before I accept an ISM student: https://forms.gle/25ATaSTCdutg8Ke1A
We are always looking for bright and motivated students to join our research initiatives. Passionate and curious about research? I usually look at three things while evaluating one’s application, other than consistency in your academic achievements.
So if our any aspect of our research excites you, and you would be interested to work with us, please write to me with a CV, a transcript that shows all coursework you have taken in psychology and a one page statement of interest. (what project(s) already described or what new project that aligns with the broader interest of my group would you liked to be involved in and why? What kind of methodological/statistical training do you have? )
We look forward to reading your applications!
