In recognition of her scientific achievements, Prof. Dr. Marcella Woud has been awarded the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize of the German Research Foundation. From 2015 to 2018, the psychologist already received funding as part of the Daimler and Benz Foundation’s scholarship program for junior professors and postdocs.

In her scientific research Marcella Woud, Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy at Bochum University, investigates to what extent cognitive distortion influences the development of psychological disorders. People with anxiety disorders tend to evaluate ambiguous situations negatively; this in turn can reinforce their anxiety. Prof. Woud’s basic research sets out to derive appropriate psychological interventions on the basis of identified mechanisms of cognitive distortion, in order to appropriately treat or prevent psychological disorders. For this accomplishment, she has been awarded the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize of the German Research Foundation – the most eminent nationwide award for scientific careers. In 2023, the prize has been bestowed on three male and seven female researchers.