Get to know the early stage researchers – interview with Tija (ESR9)

Here we introduce you to the last of the ESRs who will work on the group of pre-adolescents. Meet Tija Rageliene from Lithuania, who will do her PhD in Aarhus, Denmark, on peer and sibling influence on children’s healthy eating behavior.

Please, tell us about your background

My name is Tija Ragelienė. I came to study PhD from Lithuania. I hold a Master degree in Health Psychology, which I obtained at Vilnius University. I have been working as children and adolescent psychologist for 7 years before I came to Denmark.

Why did you want to be a part of Edulia?

As a young researcher, I was always interested in the systemic view of personality, health and developmental psychology issues as well as a healthy lifestyle, well-being and improving people’s everyday lives. Leading a healthy lifestyle and eating healthy is important for me not just for working in Edulia project but also is my personal values which I want to pursue in my everyday life. Childhood and early adolescent are sensitive development phases when a lot of psychosocial changes occur so it is a good time to cultivate a healthy eating and healthy lifestyle habits. I want to use my creativity and extensive experience working with children and adolescent in Edulia project in order to develop effective strategies that may help to develop children healthy eating behaviour.

Which institution are you going to work in?

I work in the Department of Management, Aarhus University, Denmark.

What are your expectations of living in Denmark?

To do my job in the best possible way I can and reach significant goals for my further career development.

When will/did you start your position?

I started my PhD studies on the 1st of September, 2018.

What impressions do you have so far?

So far I am happy with the working environment I have and the support and expertise of my supervisors.

What do you think about your future carrier?

I think that work in Edulia project will open me a lot of carrier opportunities in the scientific and in the business sector. In both cases, after my PhD studies, I would like to continue my career as a researcher in the field where I can use my creative potential and work towards the improvement of people’s health and well-being.

Which challenges do you find most important for our society in the future?

That every individual is kind and conscious about every living being and each other, think about the good and benefit not just for himself but also about those living creature that is near and around us.  It is a challenge to take conscious consumer decisions that would be nature and human-friendly.

How do you want to make a difference?

Create a research that is significant to the real humans and not only at a theoretical level. Create a business model that exceeds consumers’ expectations and do my everyday job with full heart and in the best possible way.

Your project is focused on pre-adolescents. What do you think will be the worst/best part of doing research related to this age-group?

It is always fun to work with pre-adolescents and learn from them new insights about their worldview. It may be difficult to reach an actual behaviour change and motivate them to change behaviour on a conscious decision making level, but creating and implementing strategies that may help pre-adolescents to have a better physical and mental health is always an exciting experience.

eating behaviour, ESR, ESR9, influence, peer, pre-adolescents, sibling