Dr. Paulina Bala

Assistant Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Paulina Bala. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Paulina Bala is a guest researcher at the University of Copenhagen, focusing on interpreter-mediated interactions in the Danish health legal sectors through her PhD research. This project, supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, investigates how citizens, institutional representatives, and interpreters collaborate in establishing mutual understanding during court therapy sessions. Her research employs conversation analysis to closely examine identification sequences in Danish Constitutional Hearings, revealing that these sequences often lead to misunderstandings among participants. Bala’s work delves into the types of 'text-oriented activities' engaged by participants throughout the phases of Constitutional Hearings, highlighting the role of texts in courtroom interactions. These textual engagements play a crucial role in how the understanding of the accused is constructed during proceedings. Her dissertation, focusing on this situated meaning-making process, is expected to contribute significantly to the field as she completes it by January 31, 2022. Primary areas of research include misunderstandings, conversation analysis, courtroom interaction, and systemic functional linguistics.

Research Interests

Awards

#

University Gold Medal

2018-03-20

Requirements for University of Copenhagen

Master Program
Requirements
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
TOEFL
Total
Required:83
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology Minimum 45 ECTS in core psychology areas Minimum 20 ECTS in methodology and statistics
Application Checklist
  • Bachelor's diploma
  • Transcript of records
  • Course descriptions
  • Self-assessment form
  • Documentation of English proficiency
Specialization Notes

Focuses on clinical, social, and cognitive psychology.