Dr Laura Bozicevic

Dr Laura Bozicevic is a postdoc working in developmental psychology. She was a member of the University of Liverpool Prosper cohort in 2025.

We interviewed Laura about her career journey and experience with Prosper - read more below.

Role

Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool.

Case study conducted

February 2026

What is your background as a postdoc?

My academic journey began in Italy, but I moved to the UK to complete my PhD. I then moved to Liverpool for my postdoc, which I have recently finished to begin a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship.

My field is developmental psychology, specifically focusing on cross-cultural studies. I’m deeply interested in how maternal and paternal mental health and parenting styles influence child development across different cultural groups.

Currently, my fellowship research is reorienting slightly toward school readiness and educational outcomes, particularly looking at how different ethnic groups in the UK adapt to the start of school and how early emotional abilities influence their long-term school performance. While my work is rooted in psychology, I am currently based within Primary Mental Health Care in the Institute of Population Health.

Why did you join the Prosper cohort?

The main reason I joined was that I simply didn’t have the time to stop and think about my career. My path has been a bit non-traditional; I took maternity leave and have three children, so my PhD took longer than expected and actually overlapped with the start of my postdoc position. Everything was "rolling along," and as someone coming from a different country where the academic landscape is different, I felt I needed a dedicated opportunity to understand the UK system and my own development.

I also wanted to gain a better understanding of what potential options existed for me outside of academia.

How did you find the Prosper cohort?

I really enjoyed the experience. It provided me with far more tools than I initially expected, particularly on a personal level. Because I am not actively job hunting right now, it acted as a space for me to think deeply about my priorities and how I might improve my professional profile in the future.

Which aspects of Prosper did you find most useful?

The practical exercises on the Prosper portal were very effective for me, especially those focused on understanding my own skills and priorities. One of the biggest takeaways was learning about time management—specifically the practical skill of how to prioritise and how to say "no". It prompted a lot of personal reflection; for instance, I realised that I am a reliable and valuable colleague, and that acknowledging those strengths actually makes it easier to set boundaries.

I also found the buddy groups (peer support groups) incredibly valuable. Even though they could be difficult to organise, meeting in smaller groups before the main sessions helped me build confidence and feel more connected to the wider cohort.

What are your future career plans?

I am currently in the first year of a three-year fellowship. Research is my first love, and I previously felt hesitant about moving into a lectureship because I was worried the teaching load would take me away from the research I enjoy so much. However, Prosper has helped me think about a "Plan B". If I can’t secure further funding to stay purely in research, I’m now more open to looking at roles in the third sector, charities, or government.

A key shift for me through Prosper was the realisation that I want my research to have a practical impact. Moving forward, I want to reorient my work toward policy and developing practical interventions or trials for families.

If there’s one bit of advice you could give to a postdoc that was in the position you were in before you joined Prosper, what would it be?

My advice would be that your personal development is just as important as the research itself. We often focus so much on "getting things done" for the project, but you have to be the one to drive your own career development. Line managers don't always prioritise this for you, so don't be scared to ask for the time you need to focus on your own growth.