Ms. Manxia Zhao, Ph.D
Ph.D in Neuroscience.
I am a Ph.D student in the field of Neuroscience.
I began my scientific journey from studying synaptic plasticity, which is now believed as the cellular bases for learning and memory. Later my research experience on learning and memory opened the door of an intriguing area to me: Positive Psychology.
My background on neuronal circuits and knowledge about learning and memory has confirmed me in my decision to apply Positive Psychology approaches in public mental health, at school and workplace.
Like you, I am quite interested in Social Psychology and learned a lot from recent 2 weeks courses. Then I would like to try to explain Positive Psychology with an term in Social Psychology: Self-fulfilling prophecy.
A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior. In the field of personal development, Positive psychology is about looking for the good things in life and maintain a positive belief on self by doing things. We designed small "doing" approaches to increase positive emotion, feel of engagement, positive relationships, meaning of doing and sense of achievements. By doing so, people tend to have a more positive prediction on themselves and on things they plan to do, which endow people to have intelligence rising, creativity rising, energy levels rising to complete more difficult tasks. It is exactly the definition of self-fulfilling prophecy and a little bit more about by which way of doing leads to a positive prediction. With which we can keep the positive feedback loop on and on: the positive prediction to doing good to predicting more positively to doing good to eventually feeling good...
Primary Interests:
Education
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B.A., Biology
Central University of Nationalities, Beijing, China
2004
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M.S., Neurobiology
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
2009
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Ph.D, Neurobiology
University of Basel, Switzerland
2014
Work Experience
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Research Scientist
Employer: GlaxoSmithKline, R&D China
March 2009 - October 2010
Membership in Professional Organizations
- Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
- The Chinese Neuroscience Societies
- European Network for Positive Psychology
- Social Psychology Network
- Swiss Society for Neuroscience
- Swiss Positive Psychology Association
Languages Spoken
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Chinese
Native speaker
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English
Intermediate proficiency
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German
Basic proficiency
Psychology Mentors, Inspirations, and Influences
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Minghui JinFamillyShe is my mother. She sets no limit on me and she promotes my flourishing in life. What she want from me is may I be safe, may I be happy and may I be loved. -
Shuping ZhangCentral University of NationalitiesShe is my mentor when I was an undergraduate. Our relationship is kind of magic. She just simply trust me whatever the circumstance: when I had lower grades, when I was late, when I did a mess in her kitchen…:) She encouraged me to join social activities and protect our ecologic systems.
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Mu-ming PooInstitute of NeuroscienceHe is my advisor when I pursuing my Ph.D degree. He not only opened the gate of Neuroscience to me, but drives me to see a big picture of Science in China and what Science can do to China. To me, he is respected and worshipped.
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Pico CaroniFriedrich Miescher InstituteHe is my supervisor during my Ph.D study. He likes Steve Jobs, the same as me. :) He pointed out what I should do, what I should be. I am appreciated for what he have done and which boost me to think what kind of person I really want to be. Without him, I can not reach the field of Positive Psy.
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Heike OttoNovartisI love her contagious laugh. ;) She is insightful and our mentorship is an invaluable experience since it is truly interactive.
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Kangning LiuGSKShe was my first line manager when I was in GSK R&D China. I saw a beautiful case of work and family balance for a working mother.
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Guhan NagappanGlaxoSmithKline R&D ChinaHe supervised me on developing a quantification project in GSK. That is a hard project at that time and I did not make progress for a long time. What he did impressed me: we kept updating every 2 weeks even when there is no progress, he just simply said good and let's continue. ;) Then we made it!!
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Yun HaoPrimary School of HorburgShe is my lovely daughter. She seriously rewarded me with some star drawings when I did something right. It is much more funny since she is quite generous sometimes: she doubles the number of stars when I report to her something equally good as before and her explanation is "you are a good mother".
Summary
Primary goal: Doing good and feeling good
Will become available: October 1, 2014
Willing to relocate: Yes
Description
A position related to learning and education. I gained a lot of knowledge on Positive Psychology, I would like to apply my knowledge at work place or in education. My long-term goal is back to China, doing good science and eventually contributing to primary public mental health from a preventing point of view.
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Ms. Manxia Zhao, Ph.D
Maulbeerstrasse 39
CH-4058 Basel
Switzerland
- Work: 0041616978616
- Mobile: 0041763725046
- Skype Name: miludeer0422