Elysia P Davis

Dr. Elysia Poggi Davis is a Professor of Psychology. In collaboration with her students she conducts a program of research evaluates the way that biological and behavioral processes during the prenatal period are incorporated into the developmental program and the influence this has on physical and mental health across the lifespan. Professor Davis’ research contributed to an important shift in our understanding of health and wellbeing. It now is evident that in order to understand individual differences in health and development it is essential to consider the fetal experiences. The prospective and longitudinal studies that she has conducted provide compelling evidence that prenatal maternal stress and stress hormones have profound and lasting consequences for fetal development, birth outcome, and subsequent child and adult health and disease risk. Professor Davis has led research program that has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for the past 15 years and she has published over 100 journal articles and book chapters. 

These interdisciplinary research projects involve collaborations with students and faculty from disciplines including psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, social work and obstetrics. Ongoing research relies on collaboration with Denver area hospitals including integration of mental health treatment into obstetric practice. These research studies provide multiple training opportunities for postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate students to develop research their interests in ways that are clinically meaningful and to gain grant and paper writing experience.

• Ph.D., Psychology, University of Minnesota, 2002

• Society for Research In Child Development