Mrs Ailin Chen

Hello, and thank you for visiting my page. I am a Stage-2 trainee health psychologist and doctoral researcher at the University of Stirling, working in collaboration with Alzheimer Scotland and Brain Health Scotland. My work sits at the intersection of psychology, public health, and service design. I am especially interested in how small, realistic behaviour changes can support long-term brain health and reduce the risk of dementia.

Having lived across different cultures, I have not been anchored to a single set of cultural norms. Instead, this experience has nurtured a flexible way of seeing the world and a deep curiosity about how people think, feel, and change, especially when their values and behaviours emerge from different cultural contexts. This openness led me to health psychology, where I now combine research with hands-on service development in Scotland. I have been fortunate to learn from inspiring colleagues across universities, NHS services, and community organisations. Each project, whether a local pilot or a national programme, has helped me grow as both a researcher and a practitioner.

I am drawn to questions about brain health promotion, dementia risk reduction, and the everyday behaviours that shape cognitive wellbeing. My work uses health psychology theories to design and evaluate practical interventions. I also explore women's brain health and cognitive health, aiming to understand how mid-life changes influence long-term brain outcomes.