Lecturer in cognitive psychology, The University of Salford, Manchester
My PhD investigated social cognition in the context of joint attention. Research shows that in general, when one sees someone move his or her eye gaze to a location, one cannot help but follow the gaze, this mutual gaze is known as joint/ shared attention. The fundamental question of my PhD was whether this eye gaze following results in more motivated processing and thus better working memory for looked at objects.
With Dr Robert Bendall, awarded £40,000 from the UKRI QR Capital Investment Fund, through the University of Salford to purchase a new 64 channel EEG system.
Awarded research funding from the University of Salford to conduct online studies investigating joint attention in older adults (2022).
Awarded Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship February 2019 - August 2021
Awarded an EPS Study visit grant to visit University College London for 2 months (September 2016-November 2016), worked with Dr Antonia Hamilton investigating the effect of avatar facial expression on mimicry behaviour.
Awarded a British Council fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) programme, 2014. Visited Kyoto University for two months to work with Professor Sakiko Yoshikawa investigating the impact of averted gaze on working memory for faces
University of Salford Visual Cognition Research Group workshop (2021)
Presented to a group of 6th Form College teachers (June 2018)
Presented to a family audience at University of Aberdeen May festival (2016)
Presented to a family audience at Satrosphere Science Centre Aberdeen (2014)
Presented at a JSPS event in Japan to an audience of non-psychology academics (2014)
University of Essex, 2020, invited by Dr Alasdair Clarke
University of East Anglia, Norwich, 2016, invited by Dr Gareth Edwards.
Birkbeck, University of London, 2016, invited by Dr. Atsushi Senju.
ECVP Fee waiver grant, 2016
ESCoP Travel grant, 2015
EPS Grindley grant for conference attendance, 2015
Oral presentation at EPS January 2022
Poster at BACN May 2022
Oral Presentation VWMS 2021
Poster BNA festival of neuroscience (April 2021)
Oral Presentation BPS Cognitive 2018
Oral Presentation Psychonomics (Amsterdam) 2017
Poster presentation at ECVP 2016
Oral presentation at the Scottish Vision Group meeting, 2016
Poster presentation at ESCoP 2015
Poster presentation at the British Psychological society (BPS) annual conference, 2015
Oral presentation at the Scottish Vision Group meeting, 2015
Module leader Introduction to biological and cognitive psychology, University of Salford
Module leader Psychology in contemporary contexts, University of Salford
Teach on numerous undergrad courses included introduction to research methods and cognition modules
Former module tutor for Senses and Perception (Foundation Programme in Science) Aston University.
Former tutor for psychology first year methods practicals, University of Aberdeen
Former tutor for psychology first year debate classes, University of Aberdeen
Previously supervised undergraduate lab assistants, University of Aberdeen
Co-lead of visual cognition group Salford
Founding member of the Open Science Working Group (OSWG) Salford
Chair of the Aston Early career researchers forum 2019-2021
Set up and running of a Early Careers researcher forum at Aston University. 2017
Former Member of the Aston University Psychology Go-Green team
Leader of the Early Careers researcher forum, University of Aberdeen. 2014-2016
Proficient at programming in: E- Prime, MATLAB and Experiment Builder.
Can use eyelink 1000 eye tracking equipment and the Polhemus motion-tracking device
Have gained experience with fMRI and EEG research methods.
Proficient with SPSS, Excel, and all Microsoft office document builders.
Knowledgeable of JASP statistical software to compute and interpret statistics using Bayesian methods
Leverhulme Fellowship (2019-2021): Research Fellow at Aston University in Birmingham, funded by the Leverhulme trust (Early Career Fellowship), and Aston University.
Postdoctoral research associate working with Dr Robert Nash at Aston University on a project investigating the factors affecting student memory for feedback. Here I used eye tracking in order to measure which aspects of the feedback receive most attention, to understand if participant attention can explain memory effects seen. My responsibilities on the project included recruitment and testing of participants, creation of research items, collation and analysis of data, manuscript preparation and research dissemination.
Research Assistant under the supervision of Dr Gill Windle at Bangor University:
Evaluated an arts and dementia project for Denbigh County Council.
Collected data for Lifestyle Matters; a large-scale, randomised control NHS project
Aided in the completion of a realist review.
PhD Psychology: University of Aberdeen (2013 – 2017)
MSc Psychological research: Bangor University (2011-2012) High Merit
BSc Psychology (BPS accredited): Bangor University (2008-2011) First Class