Candace Donovan
Candace is a doctoral researcher interested in the physiological underpinnings of self-regulation (that is, the ability to observe, manage, and adapt our emotions, thoughts and behaviours to fit different situations) and in the development of self-regulation strategies and interventions that support cognitive, behavioural, and emotional development.
Candace completed her Bachelor of Science degree (double advanced major in math and physics) at Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. After graduation, she worked in education as an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor in South Korea and Saudi Arabia (during which she obtained a Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DELTA)) and then as an educational consultant focusing both on Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and in supporting learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
It was in her work with SEND clients that she recognised the importance of self-regulation and its connection to sensory processing challenges. This recognition led to an interest in neuroscience and, ultimately, to a Master’s degree in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (with distinction) at Anglia Ruskin University in 2022. It was during her Master’s research that she realised research into how infants develop self-regulation processes in response to stimuli is essential to understanding self-regulation in children and adults.
