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Iris-Tatjana Kolassa is a German psychologist who is a professor at the University of Ulm. Her research investigates stress, trauma and depression, and how biomolecular processes impact mental disorders. She was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant and the Science Award of the City of Ulm.
Early life and education
Kolassa studied psychology at the University of Konstanz and the University of Minnesota. She was a doctoral researcher at the University of Jena, where she studied fear in phobic and non-phobic studies. Kolassa returned to the University of Konstanz as a postdoctoral researcher, where she worked in clinic psychology. She was awarded a Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Zukunftskolleg Junior Fellowship.
Research and career
Kolassa investigates the impact of traumatic stress on the mind, brain and immune system. She has studied "fear networks", a brain pathway where traumatic memories are stored. She was made an Emmy Noether Fellowship in 2008. Her research has shown that people with major depressive disorder have reduced mitochondrial energy production, i.e., it is a cellular-metabolic disorder. Kolassa is interested in whether psychotherapy (including cognitive behavioural therapy) can normalise energy pathways.
Awards and honours
International Association for Psychological Science Janet Taylor Spence Award
DeGPT Foerderpreis der Falk-von-Reichenbach-Stiftung Young Investigator Award
