Gabbi Seiler
PhD Student
Profile
Biography
After working as a youth social and community worker in Germany for five years, I decided to retrain and complete my BSc Psychology in 2020-2023. During my undergraduate studies, I took on a Research Assistant role, investigating the effects of various forms of media—including social media, reality TV, and online presence—on young adults' sexual identity development and body image. Additionally, I
gained valuable experience through several clinical internships, where I supported individuals facing mental health challenges. Following my BSc Psychology, I obtained a role as a Coproduction Consultant in the EDI team at Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS; NHS talking therapies) in 2023, that included supporting individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges and researching the areas in which the service needed to improve its accessibility and inclusivity. My work involved co-designing resources and initiatives aimed at enhancing access to treatment or
culturally adapted therapies for underrepresented and Health Inequality population groups in and around Leeds. Whilst in this role, I also completed an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of York, in 2024-2025. The combination of my research roles and first-hand exposure to the gaps in mental health care motivated me to apply for a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging at the University of York, which I began in September, 2025.
Career
- PhD Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (2025-present)
- Research Assistant in Numerical Cognition Lab at University of York (2025-present)
- MSc Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (2024-2025)
- Coproduction Consultant at Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (2023-2025)
- Research Assistant Role in Children, Young People and Families Research Lab at Leeds Trinity University (2022-2024)
- BSc Psychology at Leeds Trinity University (2020-2023).
Departmental roles
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (2025-present)
- Research Assistant in Numerical Cognition Lab (completed MSc Project in this Lab and continued as RA 2025-present)
Research
Overview
Using TMS to investigate the impact of disruptions to the Cognitive Control Network on Emotional Regulation
Projects
Cognitive Control, primarily orchestrated by the Cognitive Control Network (CCN), is a foundational element of human behavior, vital for executing goal-directed thoughts and actions. This neural network often exhibits decreased functional and effective connectivity in individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). My current research aims to utilise Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to emulate the observed hypoactivity of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)—a core region in the CCN—in MDD. This experimental approach aims to determine the impact of targeted CCN disruption on both the network's overall functional connectivity and the effective top-down processing mechanisms required for emotional regulation.
Grants
- Departmental Scholarship
Collaborators
- Dr. David Pitcher
- Dr. Catherine Preston
Teaching
Undergraduate
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (2025-present)
Publications
Selected publications
Noon, E. J., Yang, C., Pesout, O., Stefanczyk, M. M., & Seiler, G. (2024). Insta-Identity: The Longitudinal Reciprocal Relationship between Authentic and Positive Self-Presentation on Instagram and the Sexual Identity Development of Sexual Minority Youth. Computers in Human Behavior, 158, 108278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108278
Noon, E., Vranken, I., Hannapel, M., & Seiler, G. (2025). ‘The Love Island Effect’? The reciprocal relationship between body pressure from watching Love Island and engagement in body change strategies. PsyArXiv. https://osf.io/8zrtn
Full publications list
Noon, E. J., Yang, C., Pesout, O., Stefanczyk, M. M., & Seiler, G. (2024, April). The longitudinal relationship between self-presentation on Instagram and sexual identity development amongst LGBTQ+ adolescents. Paper presented at the Society for Research on Adolescence 2024 Annual Meeting, Chicago.
Noon, E. J., Yang, C., Pesout, O., Stefanczyk, M. M., & Seiler, G. (2023, February). Adolescent Instagram Use, LGBTQ+ Sexual Identity Clarity, and Self-Acceptance: A Cross-Cultural Longitudinal Study. Paper presented at the Leeds Trinity University Institute of Childhood and Education Research Seminar, Leeds.