Our people in the Department of Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Otago, New Zealand

Head of Department
Academic staff
Emeritus Professors
Professional Practice Fellows
Teaching Fellows
Academic research staff
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Research staff
Technical staff
Support staff
Research units

Head of Department

	Professor Jamin Halberstadt BA(Swarth) PhD(Indiana) Email psy.hod@otago.ac.nz
	Lucy Beres Administrator Client Services Tel +64 3 479 7644 Email psy.hod@otago.ac.nz

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Academic staff

	Professor Cliff Abraham BA(Virg) PhD(Flor) FRSNZ Neural mechanisms of learning and memory, cellular and molecular events underlying nervous system plasticity and Alzheimer’s disease.
	Dr Brent Alsop MSc PhD(Auck) Experimental analysis of human and animal behaviour in detection and choice procedures.
	Dr Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle PhD(Otago) Tel +64 3 479 5695 Email hitaua.arahanga-doyle@otago.ac.nz Social identity perspective, belonging, cultural and cross-cultural understanding towards identity, behaviour and motivation.
	Dr Vanessa Beanland BAppSc(Deakin) GradCertInfoMgt(RMIT) MBioethics(Monash) BSc(Hons) PhD(ANU) Human factors, applied cognitive psychology, transport safety, visual attention.
	Professor David Bilkey BA(Hons) PhD(Otago) Biological basis of memory and learning. Spatial memory and navigation. Hippocampal function in schizophrenia.
	Dr Amanda Clifford PhD(Otago) Tel +64 3 479 8613 Email a.clifford@otago.ac.nz Children's socio-emotional and language development, parent-child Interactions, culture and clinical and developmental psychology
	Professor Mike Colombo BA(Colorado) MS PhD(Rutgers) Neural basis of memory and learning, effects of brain damage on behaviour, comparative animal cognition.
	Associate Professor Tamlin Conner BA(Colorado) PhD(Boston College) Emotional and physical well-being, happiness, nutrition, genetics, mobile-phone based experience sampling methods.
	Professor Liz Franz BA(Whittier) MSc PhD(Purdue) Planning, attention, and memory processes of complex actions in neurologically-normal and impaired individuals, with a specific focus on bimanual skills.
	Dr Charles Gibson PhD(Otago) Tel +64 3 4798668 Email charles.gibson@otago.ac.nz
	Professor Jamin Halberstadt BA(Swarth) PhD(Indiana) Interaction of emotion and cognition, intuition and reasoning in decision making, social cognition.
	Professor Harlene Hayne ONZM BA(Colorado) MS PhD(Rutgers) FRSNZ Memory development in infants and children, childhood amnesia, the development of children’s drawing skills, interviewing children in clinical and legal contexts, risk-taking by adolescents.
	Associate Professor Dione Healey BA(Hons) MSc PhD DipClinPsych(Cant) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, temperament and psychopathology, neuropsychological development in childhood.
	Dr Kristin Hillman BSc PhD(North Dakota) Neural basis of decision-making and motivation, effects of training/drugs/brain stimulation on goal-directed behaviour.
	Associate Professor Jackie Hunter BSc DPhil(Ulster) Social identity, self-esteem, prejudice, intergroup relations.
	Associate Professor Richard Linscott BSc(Hons) PhD GDipCIPs(Otago) Schizophrenia and risk for psychosis; ethics and informed consent; taxometrics.
	Associate Professor Liana Machado BA(UCLA) PhD(UCDavis) Neuropsychology, visual attention, automaticity, and control.
	Professor Neil McNaughton MA(Oxf) PhD(S'ton) The neural basis of anxiety and its disorders; the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of human personality; neuroeconomics; the contribution of theta rhythm to these various aspects of mental processing.
	Professor Jeff Miller BA(Ohio State) PhD(Mich) FRSNZ Cognitive psychology and psychophysiology, visual perception and attention, mathematical and statistical models and methods.
	Professor Janice Murray BSc(Dal) MA PhD(Wat) Visual cognition, face and object recognition, face perception and aging, visual attention.
	Dr Narun Pat (Pornpattananangkul) BSc(Chula) MSc PhD(Northwestern) Decision-making; reward-processing; cognitive, affective and social neuroscience; human neuroimaging and electrophysiology (fMRI and M/EEG); mood disorders; aging.
	Professor Richie Poulton CNZM MSc PGDipClPs(Otago) PhD(NSW) FRSNZ Developmental psychopathology, gene X environment prediction of complex disorders, and psychosocial determinants of chronic physical disease.
	Professor Elaine Reese BA(Trin Texas) MA PhD(Emory) Research interests: autobiographical memory development; language and literacy development; social influences on cognitive development.
	Professor Ted Ruffman BA(York Can) MEd PhD(Tor) Social understanding in infants, children, older adults, and dogs.
	Dr Damian Scarf BSc PhD(Otago) Comparative animal cognition; eg, testing the ability of pigeons to learn novel sequences and solve problems. Developmental psychology; eg, testing the ability of 3- and 4-year-old children to plan for the future and delay gratification.
	Professor Martin Sellbom BA(Tri State) MA(Ball State) PhD(Clinical)(Kent State) Integration of personality and psychopathology; personality disorders; psychopathy; personality assessment; forensic psychology.
	Dr Elizabeth Schaughency BS(Pittsburgh) MS PhD(Georgia) How to promote evidence-based practices and decision-making to bridge the research-to-practice gap in professional practice with children.
	Dr Mele Taumoepeau BA(Well) BSc(Hons) QM Edin) PhD(Otago) Children’s social understanding, parent-child conversations about mental states, culture and social understanding
	Associate Professor Gareth Treharne BSc(Hons) PhD(Birm) The experience of chronic illness. Treatment decisions and adherence to medications and lifestyle advice. Social constructions of health, illness and identity. Reflexivity and research methods.
	Dr Ryan Ward BS MS PhD (Utah State) Neurobiology of motivation, cognition, and their interaction, temporal information processing and learning
	Professor Rachel Zajac BSc BA(Hons) PhD PGDipCIPs(Otago) Psychology and the law, eyewitness testimony, legal/investigative procedures for witnesses.

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Emeritus Professors

	Emeritus Professor Bob Knight MA PhD DipClinPsych(Cant) FNZPsS Emeritus Professor, Retired
	Professor David O’Hare BA PhD(Exe) Cognitive ergonomics, human factors, aviation psychology, expertise and decision-making.
	Emeritus Professor Geoff White ONZM BSc PhD(Otago) FNZPsS FAPS FABAI FRSNZ Emeritus Professor, Retired

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Professional Practice Fellows

	Sasha McComb BA MA(Massey) PGDipCIPs(Otago) Tel +64 3 479 4229 Email sasha.mccomb@otago.ac.nz
	Chris Perkins Tel +64 3 479 7625 Email chris.perkins@otago.ac.nz
	Joanna Prince BSc MSc PGDipCIPs(Otago) Tel +64 3 479 4227 Email jo.prince@otago.ac.nz
	Aimee Richardson BSc(Hons)(Cant) MSc PGDipCIPs(Otago) Tel +64 3 479 4229 Email aimee.richardson@otago.ac.nz

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Teaching Fellows

	Sabrina Goh BA(Hons) MSc(Otago) 300-Level Teaching Fellow Tel +64 3 479 7719 Email sabrina.goh@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Celia Lie BSc(Hons) PhD(Otago) 100-Level Teaching Fellow Tel +64 3 479 3765 Email celia.lie@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Ann Reynolds BA(Massey) MA PhD(Otago) 200-Level Teaching Fellow Tel +64 3 479 7646 Email ann.reynolds@otago.ac.nz

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Academic Research Fellows

	Dr Kirsten Cheyne BSc(Hons) PhD(Otago) Research Fellow DMHDRU Tel +64 3 479 5239 Email kirsten.cheyne@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Julien Gross BSc PGDipSci MSc PhD(Otago) Senior Research Fellow, Early Learning Project Tel +64 3 479 8843 Email julien.gross@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Hayley Guiney BSc MSc PhD(Otago) Research Fellow DMHDRU Tel +64 3 479 4760 Email hayley.guiney@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Owen Jones BSc(Hons)(Liverpool) PGDipSci PhD(Otago) Research Fellow, Neural Mechanisms of Memory Lab Tel +64 3 479 7632 Email owen.jones@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Bruce Mockett BSc DipSci PhD(Massey) Senior Research Fellow, Neural Mechanisms of Memory Lab Tel +64 3 479 3474 Email bruce.mockett@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Phoebe Neo BA(Hons)(Singapore) PGDipSci PhD(Otago) Research Fellow, Personality, Psychopathology, and Measurement Lab Tel +64 3 479 7287 Email phoebe.neo@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Sandhya Ramrakha BA(Honolulu) MA(Sydney) MA(Hons) ClinPsy (Woollangong) PhD(Otago) Senior Research Fellow / Research Manager, DMHDRU Tel +64 3 479 5019 Email sandhya.ramrakha@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Shabah Shadli BSc(Hons) MSc(Bangladesh) PhD(Otago) Research Fellow, Neuropsychology of Anxiety Lab Tel +64 3 479 5835 Email shabah.shadli@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Faya Tashakori Sabzevar BS(IAUM) MS (NAS RA) PHD (Otago) Tel +64 3 479 7616 Email faya.tashakorisabzevar@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Reremoana (Moana) Theodore BA(Auck) PGDipArts(Otago) PhD(Auck) (Ngapuhi, Te Arawa) Senior Research Fellow, NCLR Tel +64 3 479 4171 Email moana.theodore@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Karen Tustin BA(Hons) PhD(Otago) Research Fellow – Graduate Longitudinal Study NZ (GLSNZ), NCLR Tel +64 3 479 5089 Email karen.tustin@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Calvin Young BSc(Hons) MSc(Otago) PhD(Calg) Research Fellow, Neuropsychology of Anxiety Lab Tel +64 3 479 5835 Email calvin.young@otago.ac.nz

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Postdoctoral Fellows

	Dr Jillian Hayhurst BSc MSc PhD(Otago) Tel +64 3 479 8843 Email jill@psy.otago.ac.nz
	Dr Anurag Singh BSc(VBS Purv) MSc(Jiw) PhD(Otago) Tel +64 3 479 5835 Email anurag.singh@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Weiwei Zhang BS(BNU) MS(SWU) PhD(Otago) Tel +64 3 479 5835 Email weiwei.zhang@otago.ac.nz

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Research staff

	Dr Jane Carroll PGDipLitEd(Auck) BEd(Cant) DipTchg(SLT(ChchCE)PhD(Cant) Tel +64 3 479 5267 Email jane.carroll@otago.ac.nz
	Jackie Clearwater Early Learning Project Tel +64 3 479 7642 Email jackie@psy.otago.ac.nz
	Vanessa Hayes BA(Hons)(Brighton Poly) MSocWk(York) Research Interviewer, DMHDRU Mob 022 199 4451 (Wellington) Email vanessa.hayes@otago.ac.nz
	Sean Hogan BA(Hons)(Surrey) MSW(York) GIPM(KingstonBus) Cohort and Assessment Manager, DMHDRU Tel +64 3 479 5551 Email sean.hogan@otago.ac.nz
	Barbara Logan BSc DipSci(Otago) Neural Mechanisms of Memory Lab Tel +64 3 479 7632 Email barbara.logan@otago.ac.nz

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Technical staff

	Jeremy Anderson (NZCE) Senior Technical Officer / Lab Manager Tel +64 3 479 7669 Email jeremy.anderson@otago.ac.nz
	Francis Baster Technician Tel +64 3 479 7668 Email francis.baster@otago.ac.nz
	Thomas Bullock Technician Tel +64 3 479 8668 Email tommy.bullock@otago.ac.nz
	Sophie French Technician Tel +64 3 479 5945 Email sophie.french@otago.ac.nz
	Richard Hamelink (NZCE) Technician Tel +64 3 479 7668 Email richard.hamlink@otago.ac.nz
	Natasha O'Docherty Technician Tel +64 3 479 5945 Email natasha.odocherty@otago.ac.nz
	Russell Phillips (NZCE) Technical Officer Tel +64 3 479 7668 Email russell.phillips@otago.ac.nz
	Lindsay Robertson (NZCE) Senior Technician / Safety Officer Tel +64 3 479 7668 Email lindsay.j.robertson@otago.ac.nz
	Stephanie Sherburd Technician Tel +64 3 479 5945 Email steph@psy.otago.ac.nz

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Support staff

	Hussein Al-Foj Technician Email hussein.alfoj@otago.ac.nz
	Kally Barton Administrator Client Services Tel +64 3 479 7627 Email psy.clinicaladmin@otago.ac.nz
	Lucy Beres Administrator Client Services Tel +64 3 479 7644 Email psy.hod@otago.ac.nz
	Samuel Farr Administrator Client Services, Brain Research NZ – Ranghau Roro Aotearoa Tel +64 3 479 8812 Email brnzadmin@otago.ac.nz
	Shae MacMillan Administrator Client Services Email shae.macmillan@otago.ac.nz
	Michelle Moss Lead Administrator Client Services Tel +64 3 479 6541 Email michelle.moss@otago.ac.nz
	Colette Rivera BSc(UCSC) MSc(Otago) Administrator Client Services Tel +64 3 479 7645 Email psy.psyc300@otago.ac.nz Email psy.postgrad@otago.ac.nz
	Alex Sweetman BA/LLB(Auck) Business Manager, Brain Research NZ – Ranghau Roro Aotearoa Tel +64 3 479 8818 Email alexandra.sweetman@otago.ac.nz
	Jacinta Taylor BCom(Otago) Finance Associate Tel +64 3 479 7521 Email jacinta.taylor@otago.ac.nz
	William van der Vliet BA BSc(Otago) Scientific Programmer Tel +64 3 479 7637 Email william.vandervliet@otago.ac.nz
	Jane Wilcox BSc(Hons)(Manc) Administrator Client Services - DMHDRU Tel +64 3 479 8507 Email jane.wilcox@otago.ac.nz

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Research units

Brain Research NZ - Ranghau Roro Aotearoa

	Professor Cliff Abraham BA(Virg) PhD(Flor) FRSNZ Director Tel +64 3 479 7648 Email cliff.abraham@otago.ac.nz
	Alex Sweetman BA/LLB(Auck) Business Manager Tel +64 3 479 8818 Email alexandra.sweetman@otago.ac.nz
	Samuel Farr Administrator Client Services Tel +64 3 479 8812 Email brnzadmin@otago.ac.nz

Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health & Development Research Unit (DMHDRU)

	Dr Hayley Guiney BSc MSc PhD(Otago) Research Fellow DMHDRU, Early Learning Project Tel +64 3 479 4760 Email hayley.guiney@otago.ac.nz
	Professor Richie Poulton CNZM MSc PGDipClPs(Otago) PhD(NSW) FRSNZ Director Tel +64 3 479 8507 Email richie.poulton@otago.ac.nz
	Jane Wilcox BSc(Hons)(Manc) Administrator Client Services - DMHDRU Tel +64 3 479 8507 Email jane.wilcox@otago.ac.nz
	Vanessa Hayes BA(Hons)(Brighton Poly) MSocWk(York) Research Interviewer Tel +64 3 479 5550 Email vanessa.hayes@otago.ac.nz
	Sean Hogan BA(Hons)(Surrey) MSW(York) GIPM(KingstonBus) Cohort and Assessment Manager Tel +64 3 479 5551 Email sean.hogan@otago.ac.nz

	Dr Sandhya Ramrakha BA(Honolulu) MA(Sydney) MA(Hons)ClinPsy (Woollangong) PhD(Otago) Senior Research Fellow / Research Manager Tel +64 3 479 5019 Email sandhya.ramrakha@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Kirsten Cheyne BSc(Hons) PhD(Otago) Research Fellow DMHDRU Tel +64 3 479 5239 Email kirsten.cheyne@otago.ac.nz
	Dr David Ireland BMedScHon(Syd) PhD(NSW) Tel +64 3 479 5550 Research Interviewer Email david.ireland@otago.ac.nz

National Centre for Lifecourse Research

	Professor Richie Poulton MSc PGDipClPs(Otago) PhD(NSW) FRSNZ Co-Director Tel +64 3 479 8507 Email richie.poulton@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Reremoana (Moana) Theodore BA(Auck) PGDipArts(Otago) PhD(Auck) (Ngapuhi, Te Arawa) Senior Research Fellow Tel +64 3 479 4171 Email moana.theodore@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Karen Tustin BA(Hons) PhD(Otago) Research Fellow – Graduate Longitudinal Study NZ (GLSNZ) Tel +64 3 479 5089 Email karen.tustin@otago.ac.nz
	Dr Kirsten Cheyne BSc(Hons) PhD(Otago) Scientific Officer – Graduate Longitudinal Study NZ (GLSNZ) Tel +64 3 479 5239 Email kirsten.cheyne@otago.ac.nz