We know the lecturers can seem a bit intimidating... but we promise they are lovely and always happy to help! To help you get to know some of them, check out the bios below of some of the staff that will be teaching you over the next year or two - maybe you share a hobby or experience you could chat with them about 🙂.
Brain & Behaviour Module in Years 1 (Dementia) & 2 (Neurobiology of Memory)
Memory, Semantic Cognition, Cognitive Control, Language problems following stroke.
I am facinated by how the brain works!
I have three pet guinea pigs
I love wildlife, especially butterflies and moths
Brain & Behaviour - Clinical Neuroscience in Years 2
Broadly autism, language disorder, and mental health - basically how language and communication affects socioemotional processes, from emotion recognition to accessing mental health support.
I really love research about autism and DLD (developmental language disorder): it’s really important to me in particular that we strive to do research on mental health and DLD, which has been historically neglected. Mental health research in the field of autism has really picked up in recent years and I hope the same will happen for DLD too!
I have a Shetland Sheepdog called Griffin.
I like playing and running Call of Cthulhu RPGs (although I don’t get to do this as much now I’m a mum!)
Year 1 Modules on Cognition & Memory
Working memory, Distraction, Ageing, Attention, Video games.
I love thinking about new ways to solve problems and fill in gaps in our understanding. I get really excited about creative solutions that can help us answer questions that have practical implications for people's daily lives.
I used to play the trumpet in a band!
I try to keep plants alive. I currently have an avocado and some lychee plants (planted from pips), but they don't have any fruit .... yet!
Year 2 Mini Projects (Brain & Behaviour and Perception & Cognition)
I have several research interests. These include:
student wellbeing and belonging within higher education, especially as it relates to underrepresented populations (e.g. ethnic minorities and religious groups)
public perceptions of offenders based on traits such as race, gender and sexual orientation
I am passionate about creating safe spaces within universities. I define these as places where students feel 'seen' and so are free to achieve their fullest potential. Populations less likely to see university as a 'safe space' are those that are underrepresented such as ethnic minority students. Some reasons for this center around unconscious biases held by both majority groups and the minority groups themselves. These, and their complex impact, are what I am keen to explore. The negative connotations generally associated with these underrepresented groups extend to how criminals are treated and so my passion for this area within the forensic psychology field, is also linked to my desire to uncover and overcome unconscious biases.
I wake almost up every day with the desire to purchase red shoes
My favourite series is 'The Closer' - I have watched it so much that I know the outcome of every episode. Strong recommend!
I am a black belt in Shotokan karate
Perception & Cognition in Year 2
Social perception, perception of actions
I get to paid to solve interesting problems and play with new toys.
I've been struck by lighting.
I compete in polo tournaments at the weekend
Applied Psychology in Year 1
Animal behaviour and the evolution of human language and cognition
Animals are fascinating and trying to understand how they think and communicate is a brilliant challenge!
One of my worst days of fieldwork in Uganda was when a chimp pooed on my head at 0800 and I stank until I got back to camp at 1700 for a shower and no one would sit near me at lunchtime!
I love horseriding
Social Psychology & Individual Differences across Years 1 & 2
Not research active but my interest is in improving the student experience.
I love the fact Psychology has such a range of topics within it and has different ways of investigating human behaviour.
When I was about 11 years old, I went against my parents' instructions and went with some friends to play near a tidal inlet near where we lived. The tide was out so we tried to walk across the mud flats that were there. However, I got stuck in the mud and ended up having to leave one of my wellies there. Needless to say, my parents' found out where I'd been because I had to explain my missing welly and rather muddy foot!
I really love gardening and spend many hours from Spring through to Autumn in the garden. I grow lots of things from seed and have a fruit and vegetable part of my garden too!
Year 1 Hearing and Language & Development
Psycholinguistics, speech, hearing.
I like how behavioural experiments can help us answer scientific questions of general interest, and especially how we can get to the causality of a phenomenon using ingenuous experimental designs. I also think the cochlea is a very cool organ.
I finally managed to grow garlic last summer!
I like DIY (mostly wood work) and rowing.
Sentences & Meaning
Language, sleep, memory.
Aside from finding out about new stuff (e.g., how the sleeping brain prepares us for the day ahead), I really love having brilliant and generous colleagues to work with. Collaboration is the best aspect of research.
I sing (fairly badly) in Heworth Community Choir. Come and join us: Heworth Community Choir Website
Running, cycling, climbing and singing.
Infancy (Y1), The Brain Mechanisms of Action and Decision (Y2), and also the Y1 SPID mini project.
I spent a lot of time exploring the relationship between sleep and memory but have more recently pivoted into the role of 'Fake News' and it's impact on society (and what we can do about this).
The human mind is the most complicated thing known to itself which is an absolutely astonishing concept if you really think about it. Consequently, I find most things related to psychology naturally interesting - which is why I love this job.
Despite liking music I can't remember any song lyrics and I don't know why. I am a massive fan of sausage dogs but haven't brought my own yet due to a fear of becoming rapidly co-dependant.
I make Lego dioramas and spend a lot of time adding lights to them, some are in my office...
Yr 2 Brain & Behaviour
Body perception, embodiment, interoception, clinical psychology, neuroscience, pregnancy.
Every one has a body and most people take the experience of their body for granted. I am interested in how integral our bodily experience is to our sense of self and relates to our emotional and cognitive experience.
I was a bit of a goth at school and dyed my hair black until I was 29.
I love music and used to play bass in a band (or several bands)
Introduction to Language and within the Brain & Behaviour module.
Language processing and learning, language, cognition and the brain.
I am passionate about understanding how linguistic and cognitive abilities shape our lives.
My teachers used to call me “little firework” (in Spanish) because I could not stay still and I was quick. I loved running school races.
I practice shokatan karate and I play the piano.
Development & Language Year 1
I'm a developmental psychologist and I do long-term longitudinal research involving children and families. I developed the construct of caregiver 'mind-mindedness'.
We've designed interventions that improve parenting and children's outcomes, and this work is hugely rewarding.
I'm the only child of two only children. Happily, I've stopped this weird pattern and have two children of my own.
I could easily spend all of my time gardening.
Year 1: Brain & Behaviour - Semantic Aphasia Practical, Development & Language - Group Practical
Year 2: Social Psychology & Individual Differences - Intelligence, Development & Language - Cognitive Development
Language processing in both typical & atypical populations
The role of belonging in supporting accessible and inclusive practices for disabled students.
Psychology is so varied, there is always something new and interesting to learn about. I also love trying to get to the bottom of how we work and the interaction between our brains with the world around us.
I love foxes, gnomes & mushrooms 🍄🦊!
I really enjoying playing Dungeons & Dragons and am currently role playing a half-elf cleric with no shadow.
Year 1: Applying Psychology (Occupational Psychology)
Mental health and social media, online emotional disclosure
It's not a particularly exciting answer, but I really just find people interesting!
I own just over 500 books, and only two are psychology textbooks! 📚
I once moved into a converted van for six months to have a bit of an adventure, but spent most of it on the moors up the road.
It's probably evident from the number of books I've just admitted to owning, but I'm a big reader!
Yr 2 Research Methods and Attention in Year 2 Perception & Cognition
Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
I am not sure...
I was married in Texas.
I enjoy cross stitching. 🪡
*Better photo pending...
Year 1: Social Psychology & Individual Differences, Mental Health Issues & Applying Psychology, Clinical Psychology
Drug Addiction, Mental Health Issues; Brain Reward Systems
Because it allows us to learn new things about ourselves never known before.
I love cats, and I love to share students' pet pictures at the start of ALL my lectures! Please send as many as you can right now, they're the best part of the lectures to be honest ;) 🐈
History, and spotting the 'rhyming' events and people's places within them. I also learnt to play the piano during Covid and still plonk along badly to this day