Resumé

Aina is a psychologist and researcher from Kazakhstan. She specialises in intimate partner violence (IPV) in same-sex relationships in Central Asia. She holds Master’s degrees in Gender Studies from Central European University in Vienna and in Applied Psychology from the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek. She is currently an Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen Cross-Cultural Fellow, undertaking her fellowship at the Technical University of Munich, Professorship of Global Health.

Her previous work using quantitative and qualitative methods has examined the prevalence, dynamics, and coping strategies surrounding IPV and minority stress in LGBTQ+ communities in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Alongside her research, she works in private practice providing therapy for queer individuals and has developed group programs and workshops on resilience, mental health (internalised homophobia, trauma, and resilience), and violence prevention for LGBTQ+ communities in the region.

She will be working alongside MD Nikolay Lunchenkov on research projects related to queer community in Central Asia.