CURRICULUM VITAE Alina Simona RUSU 1. Name: Rusu 2. First name: Alina Simona 3. Date and place of birth: 29.07.1973, Medieșu-Aurit, Satu-Mare. 4. Nationality: Romanian 5. Contact: alinasimonarusu@gmail.com, alinasrusu@yahoo.com; +40 746566311. 6. Current position and affiliation: Associate Professor at Special Psycho-pedagogy Department (http://psihoped.ubbcluj.ro/) and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, Babeș-Bolyai University. 7. Education: Oct 1991 – June 1996: Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Diploma in Biology (with Highest Honors - Șef de promoție). Oct 1997 – Jan 2000: Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education; graduation in 2009, Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences, University of Oradea, Diploma in Psychology. Oct 1996 – June 1997: Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Master Degree in Biocenology. Sept 1994 – Aug 1995: Fellowship Tempus-PHARE, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. Sept 2000 – Apr 2004: University of Zurich, Institute of Zoology. PhD title awarded in April, 2004. Thesis: Development of competitive behavioral profiles in wild house mice, Mus musculus domesticus.   1   Oct 2005 – Oct 2006: University of North Texas, Distance learning course in Animal assisted activities and therapy. Certificate awarded by Delta Society and University of North Texas. 8. Professional experience: Sept 1996 – Aug 1999: Teaching Instructor, Faculty of Biology and Geology, BBU. Sept 2000 – Apr 2004: Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Biology and Geology, BBU, and PhD student at University of Zurich, Institute of Zoology (Department of Animal Behavior), Switzerland. Jan 2005 – May 2006: Senior Researcher, Faculty of Psychology and Scuences of Education, BBU. June 2006 – Jan 2008: Postdoctoral Researcher at the International Institute for Advanced Studies in Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, BBU. Jan 2008 – Feb 2009: Lecturer, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, FPSE, BBU. Feb 2009 – March 2013: Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, FPSE, BBU. March 2013 – present: Associate Professor, Special Psycho-pedagogy Department, FPSE, BBU. 8. Member of professional organizations and collaborators of institutes/ organizations: Romanian Association of Animal Assisted Therapies and Activities (President) Institute for the Research of Human-Animal Interactions – www.icioa.ro (Collaborator) 9. Research grants: director or team member: (1) National project, 2011-2013. Project PN-II-RU-TE-3-2011-3-0080 - Psycho-social and physiological mechanisms of the effects of human-animal interactions on the socioemotional abilities of autistic children (Director). (2) National project, 2011-2014: PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-2-0484 - Exploring Robot-assisted therapy for children with ASD (Member - Senior Researcher).   2   (3) National project, 2011-2014: PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0230 – Darwinian Psychotherapy – A clinical trial for an Evolutionary-Driven Type of Intervention for Depression (Member). (4) International project 2012-2014: Co-constructing Healthy Experiences - Lifelong Learning Programme Erasmus – Intensive Programmes (IP) – 2012-1-BE3-ERA10-06071; PI Howest University, Belgium (Member). (5) National Project – November, 2012 – School of Advanced Studies PN-II-ID-SSA2012-2-032 – 2012. Human-Animal Interactions: Modern Zoo Management, Animal Welfare and Behavioral Enrichment (Co-Director – with Andrei D. Mihalca, PhD – USAMV CN and Miranda Stevenson, PhD – BIAZA, UK). (6) National Project - November, 2012 - Exploratory Workshop PN-II-ID-WE-2012-4061. 2012. New Advances in Robot Assisted Therapy (Co-Director – with Bram Vanderborght, PhD – VUB, Belgium). (7) National Project – December, 2011 - Exploratory Workshop PN-II-ID-WE-2011-061. 2011. Cognitive Clinical Neurosciences: Advance methods for the assessment of neurobiological predictors of psychopathology (Director). (8) National project 2005-2007. Psycho-physiological indicators of coping strategies development and behavioral adaptive phenotypes in wild and captive mammals - CEEX Young Researchers Integration Grant (Director). (9) National project 2007-2010. Implementing new non-invasive diagnostic methods for the optimization of preoperatory cognitive functions in elderly; implications in quality of life and psychosocial performances. PNCDI II (Member). (10) National project 2008-2011. The role of cognitive factors in emotions: the impact of expectancies and response expectancies in anxiety and pain. PNCDI II (Member). 10. Professional training: (1) Teaching certificate in Cultivating Emotional Balance (certificate awarded in 2010, by Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies. Cultivating Emotional Balance Teachers’ Training (CEBTT) led by Paul Ekman, PhD and B. Alan Wallace, PhD (July 18 – August 24, 2010, Phuket International Mind Center, Thailand). (2) Training of Trainers program in Genetic Counseling (5-9 September 2009, Vienna) – training program offered by the European Society of Human Genetics (coordinator: Heather Skirton, PhD, UK).   3   (3) Training in non-invasive hormone analysis. Sept 2005. Berlin Summer School, IZW (certificate awarded); (4) Diagnostician (biochemist) BSE. March 2004 – Sept 2004. Prionics AG, Schlieren, Switzerland; (5) Training in biochemical analysis of Major Urinary Proteins. Apr 2003. Research visit at Biodiversity Group, Charles University, Prague – fellowship awarded by Gender Studies Kollegium, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich). (6) Postgraduate course in Evolutionary Biology. Apr 2003 – Aug 2003: University of Zurich, Ecology Department. Supervisors Rosemary and Peter Grant (Princeton University, USA). (7) Course in Scientific Grant Writing (Organizer: Tim Clutton-Brock, University of Cambridge). Apr 2004 – May 2004. (8) Workshop on Self-Organization and Evolution of Social Behavior. Sept 2002. Monte Verita, Ascona, Switzerland, Centro Stefano Franscini, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. 11. Published papers: Grigore, A. A., Rusu, A.S. (accepted for publication). Interaction with a therapy dog enhances the effects of Social Story method in autistic children. Society & Animals. Cocia, R.I., Uscatescu, L., Rusu, A.S. (2012). Attention Bias to Threat in Anxiety-Prone Individuals. Evidence from Disengagement, but not Engagement Bias using Cardiac Vagal Tone. Journal of Psychophysiology. 26: 74-82. Dumitrescu, D., Rusu, A.S. (2012). Relationship between early maladaptive schemas, couple satisfaction and individual mate value: an evolutionary psychological approach. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 12:63-76. Vanderborght, B., Simut, R., Saldien, J., Pop, C.A., Rusu, A.S., Pintea S., Lefeber, D., David, D. (2011). Social Stories for Autistic Children Told by the Huggable Robot Probo. Cognitive Neuroscience Robotics. IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems IROS 2011: 7-12. Tapus, A., Aly, A., Peca, A., Pop, C., Jisa, L., Pintea, S., Rusu, A.S., David, D. (2011). Exploratory Study: Children’s with Autism Awareness of Being Imitated by Nao Robot. Proceedings of Human-Robot Interactions (HRI 2012): 1-8.   4   Tapus, A., Peca, A., Ali, A., Pop, C., Jisa, L., Pintea, S., Rusu, A.S., David, D. (2012) Children with Autism Social Engagement in Interaction with Nao, an Imitative Robot - A Series of Single Case Experiments. Interaction Studies, 13: 315-347. Vanderborght, B., Simut, R. Saldien, J., Pop, C. Rusu, A. S., Pintea, S. Lefeber, D., David, D. (2012). Using the Social Robot Probo as Social Story Telling Agent for Children with ASD. Interaction Studies, 13: 348-372. Chitic, V., Rusu, A.S., Szamoskozi, S. (2012). The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Communication and Social Skills. Transylvanian Journal of Psychology, 1:2-13. Cocia, R.I., Rusu, A.S. (2010). Attitudes of Romanian pet owners towards sterilization of their animals: Gender conflict over male, but not over female companion animals. Anthrozoos. 23:185-191. Bartos, S.E., Rusu, A.S. (2010). Do Romanian Heterosexual Men Differ from Homosexual Men in Expressing their Mate Preferences? – A Preliminary Evolutionary Psychological Investigation of the Online Personal Advertisements. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies. Vol.10, 2:199-210. Botezan, D., Rusu, A.S. (2010). Subjective Sleep Quality in Relation to the Type of Living Environment (Rural versus Urban) – An Evolutionary Psychological Analysis of a Romanian Non-Clinical Sample. Cognition, Brain, Behavior. An Interdisciplinary Journal. vol. XIV, 2:141-158. Rusu, A.S., Maxim, A. (2009). An Evolutionary Psychological Investigation of Mating Strategies in Romania (II) – How Do Single versus Attached Individuals Search for New Partners? Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies. 9: 169-184. Rusu, A.S., Benta, I.M. (2009). Social Network Analysis (SNA): An interdisciplinary frame for the study of human-animal communication. Studies of Special Psychopedagogy. 1:123-130. Presa Universitara Clujeana. ISBN 978-973-610-875-4. Rusu, A.S., Krackow, S., Jedelsky, P.L., Stopka, P., Koenig, B. (2008). A qualitative investigation of Major Urinary Proteins in relation to the onset of aggressive behavior and dispersive tendency in male wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Journal of Ethology. 26:127-135. Rusu, A.S., Bencic, A. (2007). Choosing a Mate in Romania – A cognitive evolutionary psychological investigation of personal advertisements market. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 7:24-43.   5   Rusu, A.S., Krackow, S. (2005). Agonistic onset reflects dispersal propensity and emotional changes in maturing male wild house mice (Mus domesticus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 119: 58-66. 12. Books: Rusu, A.S. (Ed.), 2012 – Second Edition – Human-animal Interactions: Elements of Applied Ethology and Animal-Assisted Therapy. Bybliotek. ISBN 9786069319819, 158 pages (in Romanian). Bartoş, S.E., Rusu. A.S. (editors), 2011. Psycho-Biology of Sexuality: Research Ideas. Sinapsis. ISBN 978-606-531-078-0. 186 pages (in Romanian). Rusu A.S. (Ed.), 2008 – First Edition - Human-Animal Interaction. Elements of Applied Ethology and Animal-Assisted Therapy. Presa Universitară Clujeana. ISBN 978-973610-838-9. 150 pages (in Romanian). Rusu A.S., 2008. Modern Principles of Zoo Management. Presa Universitară Clujeană. ISBN 978-973-610-663-7. 125 pages (in Romanian). David D., Benga O., Rusu A.S., 2007. Fundaments of Evolutionary Psychology and Genetic Counseling. Approaches from biology and psychology. Collegium, Polirom. ISBN 978-973-46-0612-2, 264 pages. Rusu A.S. (Ed.), 2005. Studying communication in animals. ASCR, Cluj-Napoca, ISBN 973-7973-23-2, 152 pages. 13. Attended conferences and talks (selected): CISP 2012 (International Conference of Psychology Students), Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Oral Presentation. Post-natal depression - Current views from Evolutionary Psychology. 41st EABCT Conference. Reykjavik, Iceland. 2011. Interaction with a therapy dog enhances the effects of Social Story method in autistic children. Rusu A.S., Grigore A.A. 7th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy. Istanbul, Turkey. 2011. Can the toy robot Pleo decrease our emotional distress? – An investigation of the emotional effects of human interactions with Pleo raised in different controled conditions. Poster presentation. Rusu A.S., Pintea S., David D. 23rd Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society. 2009. Pisa, Italy. From proximate to evolutionary explanations of the anxiety disorders. Oral presentation. Rusu A.S.   6   23rd Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society. 2009. Pisa, Italy. State- anxiety reducing effect of exposure to felid purring in a controlled laboratory experiment. Poster presentation. Apostol L. and Rusu A.S. 23rd Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society. 2009. Pisa, Italy. State-anxiety reducing effect of exposure to felid purring in a controlled laboratory experiment. Poster presentation. Apostol L. and Rusu A.S. 5th Joint Meeting of East Central and West Central Europe Regions of the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE). 2009. Vienna, Austria. Social Network Analysis: A tool for the study of the psycho-physiological effects of Animal Assisted Activities in humans. Tautu L., Benta I.M. and Rusu A.S. 5th Joint Meeting of East Central and West Central Europe Regions of the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE). 2009. Vienna, Austria. Online persuasion strategies used by animal rights organization sites – a trans-cultural and interdisciplinary investigation (Oniujec, L.D., Rusu, A.S.) Balkan Congress for Rare Diseases Romania. 2009. Cluj-Napoca. Oral presentation: Counselling Psychologist in the “Post-genomic Age” – Interdisciplinary Solutions for Genetic Counselling Competences in Romania (David D., Moldovan R., Rusu A.S.). Workshop Stimulating communication through animal- and robot-assisted therapy. (Rusu A.S.). 2009. National conference Comunicare orală – Comunicare gestuală. Complementaritate și diversitate. Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Workshop Psychotherapy, robotics and virtual reality (Opris, D., Rusu, A.S.). Salonul Național de Psihologie. 2008. București, Romania. International Congress of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapy Latini Dies. 2007. Cluj-Napoca. Oral presentation: Expérimente versus expérience: l’analyse socio anthropologique d’un cas d’auto isolation en cave. Benta IM, Rusu AS. International Congress of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapy Latini Dies. 2007. Cluj-Napoca. Oral presentation:: L’origine des phobies spécifiques: modèles explicatives d’une perspective évolutionniste. Rusu A.S. Conference Nonconventional therapies for individuals with special needs. 2007. Fundatia Esperando, Baia-Mare. Oral presentation: Scientific principles of animal assisted activities. Rusu A.S.   7   13th World Congress of Psychophysiology. 2006. Istanbul, Turkey. Poster: Latent vs. manifest social networks: A psychophysiological and sociometric empirical investigation. Autori: David I. Opris, Alina S. Rusu and Marius I. Benta. 3rd National Conference of Psychology. 2006. Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Oral presentation: How do romanians choose their mates? – An ethological analysis of companion ads. Rusu, A.S., Bencic, A. 3rd National Psychological Conference. 2006. Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Poster: Sequence Network Analysis: a possible hybrid methodology? Authors: Marius I. Benta (University College Cork, Ireland) and Rusu, A.S.. XXIX International Ethological Conference. 2005. Budapest, Hungary. Oral presentation: Dispersal, competitive aggression and urinary chemosignals in wild house mouse males. Rusu A.S. Invited speacker at Evolutionary Ecology Seminar, Institute of Zoology, University of Bern (Group of Michael Taborsky). 2005. Bern, Switzerland. Oral presentation: Dispersal propensity and competitive aggression: Parts of the same story in wild house mouse males (Mus musculus domesticus)? Rusu A.S. Brain Awareness Week. 2005. Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Oral presentation: The smell of the human sexuality: The neurobiology of pheromone-mediated behaviors in humans. Rusu, A.S. Invited speaker at Konrad Lorenz Institut fur Vergleichende Verhaltensforschung. 2004. Vienna, Austria. Oral presentation: Development of competitive behavioral profiles in wild house mice. Rusu, A.S. Bio04. Joint Meeting of Swiss Botanical, Mycological and Zoological Societies, Fribourg, Switzerland. 2004. Poster: Individual Major Urinary Protein profiles, agonistic onset and dispersal in maturing male wild house mice. Rusu, A.S., Krackow, S., Koenig, B. ASAB Summer Meeting. 2003. Grunau, Austria. Oral presentation: Individual MUPs profiles affect the development of competitive behavioural phenotypes in male house mice (Mus domesticus). Rusu, A.S., Jedelsky, P., Krackow, S. ASAB Summer Meeting. 2003. Grunau, Austria. Poster: Pre-reproductive alliance formation in female house mice: the effects of relatedness, familiarity and MUP (Major Urinary Proteins) profile-sharing. Rusu, A.S., Krackow, S., Koenig, B.   8   Bio03. Anual Meeting of Swiss Botanical, Mycological and Zoological Societies. 2003. Zurich, Switzerland. Oral presentation: Competition for mates and social cooperation in wild house mouse females (Mus domesticus). Rusu, A.S., Krackow, S. Workshop on Work in progress – Gender Studies. April 2003. Kompetenzzentrum Gender Studies, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. Oral presentation: Competition and cooperation in female wild house mice. 4th International Congress of the Society for Behavioral Ecology. 2002. Montréal, Canada. Poster: Reproductive skew depends on social and kin structure in communally nesting wild house mice. Rusu, A.S., Krackow, S. 1st European Conference on Behavioral Biology, Munster: Conflict and Resolution, Germany. 2002. Poster: Microsatellites marking agonistic phenotypes in wild house mice. Krackow, S., Rusu, A.S., Koenig, B. 1st European Conference on Behavioral Biology, Munster: Conflict and Resolution, Germany. 2002. Poster: Reproductive skew mediated by familiarity-based agonistic relationships in communally nesting wild house mice. Rusu, A.S., Krackow, S. Zurich Interaction Seminar, ETH. 2002. Zurich, Switzerland. Oral presentation: Competition and cooperation in communally breeding wild house mouse females. Rusu, A.S. Bio02. Joint Meeting of Swiss Botanical, Mycological and Zoological Societies. 2002. Bern, Switzerland. Poster: Do males pacify females in wild house mice? Rusu, A.S., Krackow, S. Workshop on Self-Organization and Evolution of Social Behaviour. September 2002. Monte Verita, Ascona, Switzerland, Centro Stefano Franscini, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. 14. Awards: - National Award (CNCIS) - in 2008, ASR was awarded by CNCSIS with In Hoc Signo Vincens Price for Young Investigators (Domain: Natural Sciences).   9