Academic Positions

Vice-Rector for Research, Development and Innovation
National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale” (UNATC), Bucharest
2023 – 2025
Vice-Dean, Faculty of Theatre
National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale” (UNATC), Bucharest
May 2022 – December 2023
Lecturer, PhD
National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale” (UNATC), Bucharest
February 2021 – Present
Associate Lecturer
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
2020 – Present
Research Assistant
National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale” (UNATC), Bucharest
December 2016 – Present
Coordinator, UNATC Junior Theatre Programme
National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale” (UNATC), Bucharest
August 2016 – Present
Drama Instructor
Forest College, London, United Kingdom
2011–2012
Professional Actress
Masca Theatre, Ion Creangă Theatre, National Theatre Bucharest
2007–2017

Education

Postdoctoral Researcher
PROINVENT Programme, UNATC
2022–2023
PhD in Theatre
National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale”
2016–2019
Teacher Training Programme (Level I & II)
UNATC
2014–2018
Erasmus Training Placement
Fanny Pack Theatre Company, London
2017
Training Programme – Sticks & Stones
Odin Teatret / Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium, Denmark
2015
MA in Theatre Pedagogy
UNATC
2014–2016
Erasmus Teaching Assistant
East 15 Acting School, London
2015–2016
MA in Acting
East 15 Acting School, University of Essex
2010–2011
BA in Performing Arts
Spiru Haret University, Bucharest
2007–2010

Research Interests

Theatre Pedagogy
Applied Theatre
Theatre in Education
Creativity and Embodied Learning
Actor Training
Arts-Based Research
Theatre Therapy
Inclusive Education
Social and Emotional Development through Theatre

Research Projects

Developing a Methodology of Therapy Through Theatre with Effects at Neurochemical and Neurocognitive Levels
STAD – Social Transmission of Cognitive and Emotional States in the Care of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
PROINVENT – Excellence in Doctoral and Postdoctoral Research
Quality in Higher Education: Internationalisation and Academic Databases

Educational and Cultural Projects

Coordinator and member of the implementation teams for numerous national projects including:

UNATC Junior
UNATC Junior Caravan
UNATC Learning Centre
UNATC Success Stories Caravan
3C Learning Centre
UNATC Caravan – Art for Creative Youth
Creatio et Innovatio
Education without Borders
Theatre and Film for Romanian Communities Abroad
Entrepreneurship for Future Graduates

Conferences

Participation

International conferences and seminars including:

Arts Impact: Context Matters (WAAE)
IDEA International Conferences
International Pathology Conference
Hellenic Theatre / Drama & Education Network
International Congress of Research and Creation in Higher Arts Education
CINETic Conferences
UNESCO Events

Organisation

Global Connection: Performance, Practice and Pedagogy
The Participation Effect. Perspectives on Theatre in Education
Shakespeare and the Contemporary World
Advanced Interdisciplinary Art Research
Performing Arts in Education and Art Therapy
Applied Theatre in Contemporary Education

Research articles

Sofonea, A., Boldasu, R., Papasteri, C. C., Benescu, V., Podina, I. R., Vasilescu, R. I., Carcea, I., & Berceanu, A. I. Decreased levels of stress and increased group closeness during theatre training exercises. Drama Therapy Review, 11(2), 157–187. https://doi.org/10.1386/dtr_00169_1
Berceanu, A. I., Papasteri, C., Sofonea, A., Boldasu, R., Niță, D., Poalelungi, C., Froemke, R., & Carcea, I. Oxytocin predicts positive affect gains in a role-play interaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1258254. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1258254
Tomescu, M. I., Papasteri, C. C., Sofonea, A., Boldasu, R., Kebets, V., Pistol, C. A. D., Poalelungi, C., Benescu, V., Podina, I. R., Nedelcea, C. I., Berceanu, A. I., & Carcea, I. Spontaneous thought and microstate activity modulation by social imitation. NeuroImage, 249, Article 118878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.118878
Berceanu, A. I., Papasteri, C. C., Sofonea, A., Boldasu, R., Niță, D., Poalelungi, C., & Carcea, I. Role-play regulates positive emotions and prosocial attitudes [Preprint]. OSF Preprints. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/r6cpn
Papasteri, C. C., Sofonea, A., Boldasu, R., Poalelungi, C., Tomescu, M. I., Pistol, C. A. D., Vasilescu, R. I., Nedelcea, C., Podina, I. R., Berceanu, A. I., Froemke, R. C., & Carcea, I. Social feedback during sensorimotor synchronization changes salivary oxytocin and behavioral states. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 531046. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.531046
Pistol, C., Berceanu, A. I., Papasteri, C. C., Sofonea, A., Boldașu, R., Picu, C., Titieni, A., Murgu, H., Podina, I., Cîrneci, D., Nedelcea, C., Barborică, A., Mândruță, I., Froemke, R. C., & Carcea, I. Imitation behavior in stress management and prosocial attitudes: Neural and endocrine mechanisms [Poster presentation]. Society for Social Neuroscience Annual Meeting (S4SN), San Diego, CA, United States.

Editorial Activity

Editorial board member of:

UNATC Journal of Drama Teaching
Doctoral Horizons
Caietele Pedagogiei Teatrale