Psychology BSc, University of Liverpool
Memory and Its Disorders MSc, University of Leeds
PhD, University of Leeds
I am an Associate Professor in Psychology with expertise in Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology. I completed my BSc in Psychology at the University of Liverpool in 2003. After some time teaching in China, I completed a Masters in Memory and its Disorders from the University of Leeds whilst working as a Rehabilitation Support Worker for the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust. After a one year period working as an Assistant Psychologist for the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust in Sussex, I returned to Leeds to complete a PhD in ‘Cognitive and mnemonic characteristics of Episodic Future Thinking’. I also spent a year as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow working at the Centre on Autobiographical Memory in Aarhus, Denmark. I joined York St John University as a Lecturer in September 2015.
- 3PY356 Neuropsychology (Module Leader)
- 3PY340 Dissertation
- MPY100 Psychological Research Methods
Imagining possible future events (or Episodic Future Thinking) is a fundamental and familiar aspect of everyday life. Imagined future scenarios can range from important life events to an upcoming job one intends to complete (e.g. doing the weekly shop). In my research, I have examined how a range of groups (for example, healthy young adults, older adults and those with acquired brain injuries) imagine specific scenarios which may plausibly happen in the future. I am interested in the cognitive processes required for episodic future thinking.
As well as these theoretical aspects, I am also interested in the practical applications of how humans use imagining the future to attain personal goals. My recent work suggests a link between spontaneous future thoughts and current goals. I am also interested in the consequences of impairments in episodic future thinking. My research involves collaborative links with Experimental Cognitive Psychologists, Clinical Neuropsychologists and Health Psychologists.
My expertise lies in memory systems, specifically episodic memory and episodic future thinking, utilising experimental methods. I also have expertise in Cognitive Neuropsychology, using case-controlled designs.
Grant funding
- EEG correlates of Involuntary Memories at Encoding and Retrieval, funded by Experimental Psychology Society.
- Cognitive mechanisms underlying spontaneous future thoughts, funded by Experimental Psychology Society.
Recent publications
British Neuropsychological Society (Member)
Experimental Psychology Society (Member)
British Psychological Society (Chartered Psychologist, CPsychol)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
