Dr. Tara Mahfoud | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award
University of Essex | United Kingdom
Author Profile
š± Early Academic Pursuits
Dr. Tara Mahfoudās academic foundation is rooted in an exceptional interdisciplinary trajectory. She began her journey with a BA in Sociology and Anthropology (Distinction) from the American University of Beirut, followed by an MA in Social Anthropology (Distinction) from SOAS, University of London, and culminated in a PhD in Anthropology from Kingās College London. Her early focus on the human and societal aspects of science set the stage for a career that merges anthropology, sociology, and neuroscience.
š§āš« Professional Endeavors
Currently a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the University of Essex, Dr. Mahfoud has held prestigious roles including Visiting Research Fellowships at Harvard University and the University of Edinburgh, and key research positions at Kingās College London. Her teaching repertoire spans modules like Psychiatry and Mental Illness, The Sociological Imagination, and Politics of Medicine, reflecting a rich blend of social science and biomedical inquiry. Her roles have consistently bridged the gap between research and pedagogy with interdisciplinary clarity.
š¬ Contributions and Research Focus
Dr. Mahfoudās research lies at the intersection of neuroscience, sociology, science and technology studies (STS), and bioethics. She has co-led multiple interdisciplinary projects that explore the societal dimensions of brain science, responsible innovation, and data ethics. Her work in the Human Brain Project, particularly in modeling and integrating neuroscience with social science, exemplifies her pioneering role in shaping the āneuro-socialā interface.
š Accolades and Recognition
Her academic excellence has been consistently recognized. She received the Best Dissertation Award in Anthropology at SOAS and a Kingās College Annual Fund Studentship during her PhD. She has since secured significant research grants, including from the Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness, University of Essex, and the Independent Social Research Foundation, attesting to her leadership in collaborative and cutting-edge scholarship.
š Impact and Influence
Dr. Mahfoudās work has had a profound impact on understanding how society interacts with emerging brain technologies. Her publications in top-tier journals like New Media & Society, Science, Technology & Human Values, and Interdisciplinary Science Reviews are frequently cited, particularly in discussions around AI ethics, predictive brain models, and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). As a thought leader, she is also shaping the training of future neuroscientists and sociologists through transdisciplinary education.
š Legacy and Future Contributions
Dr. Tara Mahfoud continues to be a beacon in sociology of neuroscience, fostering global collaborations, and mentoring the next generation of socially conscious scientists. With her upcoming book A Brain for Europe (MIT Press), she is set to further influence public discourse on the political and cultural stakes of neuroscience. Her work not only interrogates the science-society interface but helps reimagine it with inclusivity, ethics, and responsibility.
Publications
š Experiments in Anticipation: Learning from Responsible Research and Innovation in the Human Brain Project
Authors: Christine Aicardi, Tara Mahfoud, Nikolas Rose
Journal: Futures
Year: 2025
š Formal and Informal Infrastructures of Collaboration in the Human Brain Project
Authors: Christine Aicardi, Tara Mahfoud
Journal: Science, Technology & Human Values
Year: 2024
š Ā Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Training in Neuroscience: Insights from the Human Brain Project Education Programme
Authors: Alice Geminiani, Judith Kathrein, Alper Yegenoglu, Franziska Vogel, Marcelo Armendariz, Ziv Ben-Zion, Petrut Antoni Bogdan, Joana Covelo, Marissa Diaz Pier, Karin Grasenick, Vitali Karasenko, Wouter Klijn, Tina Kokan, Carmen Alina Lupascu, Anna Lührs, Tara Mahfoud, and others
Journal: Neuroinformatics
Year: 2024
š Ā Experimentation, Learning, and Dialogue: An RRI-Inspired Approach to Dual-Use of Concern
Authors: Inga Ulnicane, Tara Mahfoud, Arleen Salles
Journal: Journal of Responsible Innovation
Year: 2023
š Clinical Translation of Computational Brain Models: Understanding the Salience of Trust in ClinicianāResearcher Relationships
Author: Tara Mahfoud
Journal: Interdisciplinary Science Reviews
Year: 2021