Role: Pos-doc Researchers

Chiara Fusco (she/her) is a clinical psychologist and a PhD candidate in Psychology, Linguistics, and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Milan-Bicocca (Milan, Italy). Her research primarily focuses on the psychological correlates of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), donor conception, and infertility. She is particularly interested in the application of attachment theory to both childhood and adult relationships, and in understanding the developmental implications and family dynamics of non-traditional family forms (i.e., adoptive, LGBTQIA+, and donor-conceived families). Her methodological expertise includes both quantitative and qualitative approaches, with a focus on cross-sectional study designs and survey-based research.

Chiara is also involved in knowledge exchange and impact-oriented activities, contributing to the dissemination of research findings to clinical settings, professionals, and the wider public. Her work aims to promote evidence-based support for individuals and families involved in ART and other forms of non-traditional parenthood. In addition to her academic work, Chiara is currently a psychotherapist in training, completing her clinical internship at the ART Center and at the Family Counseling Service of the Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan.

Scopus Profile: Chiara Fusco Scopus Profile

Dr Ellen Davenport-Pleasance (she/her) is a research fellow at London Women’s Clinic. Having previously taught at the University of Cambridge, University College London, Anglia Ruskin University, and King’s College London, she now focuses solely on research in her new post. Her current research focuses on the experiences and perspectives of egg and sperm donors, as well as experiences of transgender individuals undertaking fertility preservation. Her previous research (including her MPhil at the University of Cambridge and her PhD at UCL) has focused on bisexual+ mothers and their families. The former project was qualitative and focused on various aspects of bi+ motherhood, including bi+ mothers’ disclosure decisions and conversations about bisexuality+ with their children. The latter took a mixed-methods approach, investigating meaning making, mental health, and family functioning in bi+ mother families. Ellen continues to employ both qualitative and quantitative methods in her research, with expertise in interviews and surveys, and an interest in creative methodologies, such as timeline interviewing. In terms of qualitative analysis, Ellen has expertise in both thematic analysis and narrative analysis. Ellen has published her work on bisexual+ parenthood, in both the Journal of Bisexuality and LGBTQ Families: An Interdisciplinary Journal, as well as in community magazines such as “Bi Women Quarterly”. She also recently appeared on the increasingly popular podcast “Bisexual Killjoy” for an episode on parenting while bisexual+. Alongside this, she is the director of the Bisexual Research Group, an international organisation that brings together researchers working on bisexuality across the world for monthly meetings and annual conferences.