Unaisa Saud is a psychology lecturer at the Department of Behavioural Sciences (Faculty of Health Sciences, The Maldives National University). She holds a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Cognitive Neurosciences. Her research interests centre around various aspects of cognition and learning among diverse populations. She is particularly interested in employing experimental research methods to understand the complexities of the human brain.

Master of Cognitive Neurosciences | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 2021
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) | HELP University | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 2015

? Brain–Behaviour Relationships
? Neural correlates of cognition
? Neuroplasticity & Learning
? Memory
? Cognitive development

1. Project Title: Prevelance and sociodemographic correlates of common mental health disorders among Maldivian adults (MNU grant)
Date: August 2024 till present
Role: Principal Investigator

2. Project Title: Behind the Prison Walls: Stress, Burnout, and Health and Wellbeing of Correctional Officers in the Maldives
Date: August 2022 till present
Role: Co-researcher

3. Project Title – Relationship Between Parenting Styles and Romantic Attachment in Adults with Gender as a Moderating Variable
Date: June 2024 to November 2024
Role: Co-researcher

5. Project Title: Exploring the Impact of Clinical Supervision on Students’ Professional Development: Perspectives of Supervisors and Supervisees in Maldives
Date: March 2026 to May 2026
Role: Co-investigator

4. Project Title: Understanding Student Mental Health Support Needs, Help-Seeking Barriers, and Preferred Support Services in a University Setting
Date: June 2026 to present
Role: Co-investigator

6. The Relationship Between Academic Resilience, Perceived Social Support And Academic
Performance Among Students Of The Maldives National University
Date: June 2024 to August 2024
Role: Co-investigator

Master’s Research Projects

Completed Projects

1.Maryam Ina Mohamed – The Relationship between Family Cohesion and Mental Health
Resilience Among Adults in Greater Male’ Area (2025)
2. Mausoodha Mohamed Salim – Comparative study on stress, anxiety, depression and life
satisfaction among working and non-working mothers in Male City (2025)

Ongoing Projecs:
1. Aminath Lamha Jaleel – A Qualitative Study on Maldivian Psychologists’ Perceptions of
Artificial Intelligence based Diagnosis, Treatment, Intervention and Ethical Implications in
Mental Health Practice (2026)

Undergraguate Research Projects

Completed Projects
1. Aminath Noora – The Effect of Suggestive Questioning on Eyewitness Memory Accuracy in
Bilingual Maldivians (2025)
2. Umaima Ibrahim – The Role of Gender Differences in Family Influence on Career
Decision-Making Among Adults in Malé (2025)
3. Asiya Zaeem – The Effect of Articulatory Suppression on Working Memory of Young Adults in Maldives (2024)
4. Aalaa Azmath Jameel – Effect of suggestive questions on adults’ memory recognition (2023)
5. Fathimath Faseeha – The relationship between Style of Humour and Self-Esteem among
University Students of Maldives (2023)
6. Aishath Aifa Athif – Relationship between age and internalized misogyny among Maldivian
women (2023)
7. Amathulla Moosa – Relationship between age and social comparison among Instagram users (2023)
8. Aminath Rafa Abdul Ghany – The relationship between extrovert, introvert, and ambivert
personality types on academic performance among university students in Male’ City (2023)
9. Fathimath Noosha – Impact of stress on academic performance of students in MNU (2023)
10. Samha Amir – Role of social media and stress level among young adults of the Maldives
National University (2023)
11. Hibaa Ibrahim – The role of Personality Traits in mediating the relationship between Sleep
quality and Emotional regulation in undergraduate students in Male’ City (2023)
12. Aishath Jazlee – Relationship between Job stress and Quality of life among Maldivians (2022)
13. Aishath Razan – Relationship between job satisfaction and Organizational commitment
among employees of an organization (2022)
14. Aishath Shifa – The relation Between High Body Mass Index and Body Appreciation among Adults in Male’ (2022)
15. Aminath Lamha Khalid – Effect of Crime seriousness and duration from crime on the
accuracy of eyewitness (2022)
16. Hussain Miraah Rasheed – Credentials or Ability: Do we conform to leaders based on their credentials or ability? (2022)
17. Mohamed Nuvaas – The impact of memory conformity in eyewitness confidence in people
living in Male’ City (2022)
18. Niha Nashid Yoosuf – The Mediating Roles of Job Autonomy and Psychological Well-being on Perceived Work-Life Balance among Civil Servants (2022)

? Cognitive Psychology
? Neuropsychology
? Research Methodology
? Biological Psychology

Shanoora, A., & Saud, U. (2024). Relationship between parenting styles and romantic attachment in adults with gender as a moderating variable. The Maldives National Journal of Research, 12(Special Issue), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.62338/mmac4398

Member of MNU Research Ethics Committee – September 2024 to present

Conference Participation
1. Theveli International Conference (2024, 2025).
2. Oevaru Mental Health Conference (2023, 2026)

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Outstanding Paper Award at Theveli International Conference (2024) – (Co-investigator of the paper)

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