Lab Members

Jane is a cognitive neuroscientist and is currently Associate Professor in the School of Psychology and Sport Science at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). Before joining ARU in 2011, Jane did postdoctoral research at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, at Goldsmiths College in London, and at the University of Oxford. She completed her MRC-funded PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Newcastle, and for her undergraduate studies, she read Biological Sciences at Somerville College,  University of Oxford.  

Jane's profile page.

Jenny is doing postdoctoral research in the lab and is a permanent member of staff at ARU. She was initially funded (for three years) by Versus Arthritis to investigate altered interoception and body representations in the chronic pain condition, fibromyalgia. Jenny also completed her PhD in the lab. Her PhD investigated relationships between interoception and body image and was funded by Perdana University in Malaysia. Prof Viren Swami was her first supervisor, Dr Jane Aspell was her second, and Dr David Barron her third.

 Jenny's profile page.

Phaedra completed her MSc in Psychology (Conversion) at the University of Exeter. Following this, she was awarded the Vice Chancellor's PhD Scholarship to fund her PhD studies at ARU. Inspired by her lived experience, Phaedra’s PhD investigates positive body image among autistic individuals using a mixed methods design. Phaedra is a committee and SIG member of the Academy of Eating Disorders. Dr Jane Aspell is her first supervisor, Prof Viren Swami is her second, and Dr Jennifer Todd is her third.  

                Phaedra's RG page

Ryan completed his psychology BSc undergraduate degree in psychology at ARU. His PhD project investigates pain processing and experience in gymnasts and other athletes. He will conduct qualitative, behavioural and EEG studies aiming to examine potential differences in pain processing between gymnasts and control groups. Ryan's first supervisor is Dr Flavia Cardini, Dr Jane Aspell is his second and Dr Francesca Cavallerio is his third. 

Ryan's profile page

Azeezat completed her BSc in Human Anatomy at Babcock University, Nigeria. She completed an MSc in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience at ARU. Her MSc dissertation project focused on schizotypy. Her PhD project involves investigating neuro-psychological assessments for premorbid cognition in schizophrenia and affective disorders. Azeezat's first supervisor is Prof Peter Bright, Dr Jane Aspell is her second and Dr Debora e Sa is her third.

Lovell completed her BSc in Psychology at ARU and was awarded the BPS Psychobiology National Project Prize. Her PhD project aims to investigate the experience of autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) and its hormonal correlates. Lovell will be conducting a systematic review and lab-based experiments, utilising the School's EEG lab and Biomarker lab. Lovell’s first supervisor is Dr Flavia Cardini, Dr Jane Aspell is her second, and Dr Matt Bristow her third. 

Edoardo is a Research Assistant investigating multisensory body representation in depersonalisation. He is also currently pursuing a research MPhil in Biological Science at the University of Cambridge, developing computational and mathematical metrics for “hyperscanning” — a promising social neuroscience paradigm. Other research includes the evolution of religion and extreme self-sacrificial behaviours and schizotypal phenomenology and cognition. Edoardo is the founder of an international undergraduate journal, Cambridge Journal of Human Behaviour.

Edoardo's profile page

Cari-lene completed her PhD in the lab in 2020. She investigated interoceptive processing and bodily self-consciousness in autism. She recently worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Addenbrooke's hospital, Cambridge, working with Nikesh Thiruchelvam, and collaborating with Jenny Todd and Jane Aspell on a project investigating pain associated with pelvic mesh implants. She was funded by The Urology Foundation.