Open to opportunities

Aleena Syed

@aleenasyed

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Experienced CBT researcher and therapist specialising in culturally adapted mental health.

United Arab Emirates

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What I'm looking for

I seek research-focused roles combining CBT delivery and trial management in culturally sensitive mental-health teams, with opportunities for intervention development and academic collaboration.

I am an experienced CBT therapist and mental health researcher with extensive work in culturally adapted interventions for South Asian women and families. I combine clinical practice with trial management to design and deliver complex intervention studies.

I hold postgraduate training in CBT from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Mental Health (Transcultural studies & psychotherapies). I am a part-time PhD candidate at the University of Manchester researching culturally adapted psychosocial and parenting interventions.

In NHS roles I have led recruitment, managed multi-site research projects, facilitated culturally adapted group CBT, and supported ethics and R&D processes. I have presented posters and publications on interventions for postnatal depression, self-harm prevention, and family interventions.

I am skilled in trial coordination, participant recruitment, assessment, data management, and dissemination, and I bring a culturally sensitive, evidence-based approach to clinical research and therapy.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Teaching Graduate Assistant

Current

University of Manchester

Sep 2010 - Present (15 years 1 month)

Held tutorials and seminars for undergraduate psychology students, supervised practical work, and performed marking and assessment to support course delivery and student outcomes.

Teaching Student supervision Assessments Academic Administration Feedback Higher Education

Deputy Trial Manager

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Trust

Jan 2014 - Aug 2017 (3 years 7 months)

Planned and coordinated national research projects, led research teams to deliver projects on time and budget, and facilitated group CBT therapy within trial protocols.

Clinical Trials Management CBT Team Leadership

Clinical Studies Officer

Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust

Jun 2012 - Dec 2013 (1 year 6 months)

Identified recruitment strategies and supported participant engagement for mental health research studies across NHS departments, promoting research uptake and study delivery.

Public Engagement Study Promotion Clinical Research Data Management

Clinical Research Assistant

Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust

Sep 2011 - Dec 2013 (2 years 3 months)

Supported RCTs including culturally adapted psychosocial interventions by conducting assessments, facilitating focus groups, managing participant data, and assisting analysis and write-up.

Randomised Controlled Trials Assessments Focus Groups Data Management Cultural Adaptation CBT Research & Documentation

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Manchester

PhD (candidate), Mental Health / Psychology

2010 -

Part-time PhD candidate in the Mental Health and Psychology unit researching culturally adapted psychosocial and parenting interventions for South Asian depressed women with toddlers; cleared first-year continuation.

University of Oxford

Postgraduate Certificate, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

2024 - 2025

Completed an accredited Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy covering CBT models, assessment, case formulation, and treatment implementation.

University of Oslo

Course, Intervention Development Studies

2009 - 2010

Completed a course in Intervention Development Studies covering planning, methodology, ethics, quality assurance, and evaluation of clinical intervention studies.

London South Bank University

Bachelor of Science (Hons), Psychology

2004 - 2006

Grade: Upper Second Class Honours

Activities and societies: Final year project on media influence, body dissatisfaction and food attitudes across Pakistani, English and British Pakistani women.

Completed a BSc (Hons) in Psychology with an Upper Second Class Honours, covering modules in mental health, psychopharmacology, counselling, cognitive science, and research methods.

Queen Mary University of London

Master of Science, Mental Health (Transcultural Studies & Psychotherapies)

Grade: Merit

Completed an MSc in Mental Health with a focus on transcultural studies and psychotherapies, awarded Merit.

Morecambe High School

A-Levels, A-Levels

2002 - 2003

Completed A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Psychology and AS-Level in Urdu.

Valentines Sixth Form

GNVQ Intermediate, Science

1998 - 2002

Completed GNVQ Intermediate Science at sixth form level.

Stratford Secondary School

GCSEs, Secondary Education

Secondary education with GCSEs including Mathematics, Double Science, English Language, Art, Urdu, Information Technology, Religious Studies, and Geography.