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Our people in the Department of Psychology

Head of Department

Thumbnail Jamin Halberstadt Professor Jamin Halberstadt BA(Swarth) PhD(Indiana)
Email psy.hod@otago.ac.nz

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Academic staff

Thumbnail Cliff Abraham 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.
Thumbnail Brent Alsop

Dr Brent Alsop MSc PhD(Auck)
Experimental analysis of human and animal behaviour in detection and choice procedures.

Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle image 2021

Dr Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle BCom BA(Hons) PhD(Otago)
Email hitaua.arahanga-doyle@otago.ac.nz
Social identity perspective, belonging, cultural and cross-cultural understanding towards identity, behaviour and motivation.

vanessa-thumb

Dr Vanessa Beanland BAppSc(Deakin) GradCertInfoMgt(RMIT) MBioethics(Monash) BSc(Hons) PhD(ANU)
Human factors, applied cognitive psychology, transport safety, visual attention.

Thumbnail David Bilkey

Professor David Bilkey BA(Hons) PhD(Otago)
Biological basis of memory and learning. Spatial memory and navigation. Hippocampal function in schizophrenia.

Amanda Clfford image 2021

Dr Amanda Clifford BSc (Hons) PhD(Otago)
Email a.clifford@otago.ac.nz
Children's socio-emotional and language development, parent-child Interactions, culture and clinical and developmental psychology

Thumbnail Mike Colombo

Professor Mike Colombo BA(Colorado) MS PhD(Rutgers)
Neural basis of memory and learning, effects of brain damage on behaviour, comparative animal cognition.

Thumbnail Tamlin Conner Professor Tamlin Conner BA(Colorado) PhD(Boston College)
Emotional and physical well-being, happiness, nutrition, genetics, mobile-phone based experience sampling methods.
Thumbnail Liz Franz 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.
Thumbnail Jamin Halberstadt Professor Jamin Halberstadt BA(Swarth) PhD(Indiana)
Interaction of emotion and cognition, intuition and reasoning in decision making, social cognition.
Olivia Harrison image Dr Olivia Harrison BPhEd(Hons) BSc(Otago) DPhil(Oxford)

The physiology and psychology of breathing; interoception and its relationship to physiological and psychological conditions; the effects of exercise and anxiolytics on anxiety.

Thumbnail Dione Healy Associate Professor Dione Healey BA(Hons) MSc PhD DipClinPsych(Cant)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, temperament and psychopathology, neuropsychological development in childhood.
Thumbnail Jackie Hunter Associate Professor Jackie Hunter BSc DPhil(Ulster)
Social identity, self-esteem, prejudice, intergroup relations.
Thumbnail Richard Linscott Associate Professor Richard Linscott BSc(Hons) PhD GDipCIPs(Otago)
Schizophrenia and risk for psychosis; ethics and informed consent; taxometrics.
Thumbnail Liana Machado Associate Professor Liana Machado BA(UCLA) PhD(UCDavis)
Neuropsychology, visual attention, automaticity, and control.
Thumbnail Neil McNaughton 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.
Thumb Jeff Miller Professor Jeff Miller BA(Ohio State) PhD(Mich) FRSNZ
Cognitive psychology and psychophysiology, visual perception and attention, mathematical and statistical models and methods.
narun-web 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.
Richie Poulton 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.
Elaine Reese Professor Elaine Reese BA(Trin Texas) MA PhD(Emory)

Research interests: autobiographical memory development; language and literacy development; social influences on cognitive development.

Thumbnail Ted Ruffman Professor Ted Ruffman BA(York Can) MEd PhD(Tor)
Social understanding in infants, children, older adults, and dogs.
Thumbnail Damian Scarf Associate Professor 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.
Sellbom-Martin-thumb 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.
Thumbnail Libby Shaughency 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.
Thumbnail Gareth Treharne 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.
Ryan Ward2 Dr Ryan Ward BS MS PhD (Utah State)
Neurobiology of motivation, cognition, and their interaction, temporal information processing and learning
Rachel Zajac 2019 thumbnail 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

Bob Knight Emeritus Professor Bob Knight MA PhD DipClinPsych(Cant) FNZPsS    
Emeritus Professor, Retired
Thumbnail Janice Murray Professor Janice Murray BSc(Dal) MA PhD(Wat)
Visual cognition, face and object recognition, face perception and aging, visual attention.
Thumbnail David O'Hare Professor David O’Hare BA PhD(Exe)
Cognitive ergonomics, human factors, aviation psychology, expertise and decision-making.
Thumbnail Geoff White Emeritus Professor Geoff White ONZM BSc PhD(Otago) FNZPsS FAPS FABAI FRSNZ
Emeritus Professor, Retired

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Professional Practice Fellows

Danielle O’Brien BA(Hons) MA PGDipCIPs(Otago)
Email danielle.obrien@otago.ac.nz
Sam Flannery BSc MSc PGDipCIPs(Otago)
Email sam.flannery@otago.ac.nz

Dr Miriama Ketu-McKenzie GradDipArts MA MClinPsych PhD(Massey)
Email miriama.ketu-mckenzie@otago.ac.nz

sasha-thumb Sasha McComb BA MA(Massey) PGDipCIPs(Otago)
Tel +64 3 479 4229
Email sasha.mccomb@otago.ac.nz
Thumbnail Jo Prince 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

Dr Marea Colombo BA(Hons)(Middlebury) PhD(Otago)
Teaching Fellow
Email marea.colombo@otago.ac.nz

Dr Charles Gibson PhD(Otago)
Teaching Fellow
Tel +64 3 479 8668
Email charles.gibson@otago.ac.nz

Sabrina Goh_thumbnail

Sabrina Goh BA(Hons) MSc(Otago)
300-Level Teaching Fellow
Tel +64 3 479 7719
Email sabrina.goh@otago.ac.nz

Dr Owen Jones BSc(Hons)(Liverpool) PGDipSci PhD(Otago)
300-Level Teaching Fellow
Tel +64 3 479 7632
Email owen.jones@otago.ac.nz

Thumbnail Celia Lie Dr Celia Lie BSc(Hons) PhD(Otago)
100-Level Teaching Fellow
Tel +64 3 479 3765
Email celia.lie@otago.ac.nz
Sophie Mathiesen thumbnail Sophie Mathiesen
Kaiāwhina Teaching Fellow
Tel +64 3 479 8812
Email sophie.mathiesen@otago.ac.nz
Dr Abigail Pigden BA(Hons) PhD (Otago)
Teaching Fellow
Email abigail.pigden@otago.ac.nz
Thumbnail Ann Reynolds 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

Kirsten Cheyne

Dr Kirsten Cheyne BSc(Hons) PhD(Otago)
Research Fellow DMHDRU
Tel +64 3 479 5239
Email kirsten.cheyne@otago.ac.nz

Jules Gross

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

Thumbnail Bruce Mockett

Dr Bruce Mockett BSc DipSci PhD(Massey)
Senior Research Fellow, Neural Mechanisms of Memory Lab
Email bruce.mockett@otago.ac.nz

Thumbnail Phoebe Neo

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

Sandhya-Ramrakha thumb

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

Moana-Theodore

Associate Professor 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

Karen-Tustin

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

calvin-thumb 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 Ashleigh Barrett-Young BA(Hons)(Otago) CertArts(Massey) DipGrad BSc (Hons) PhD(Otago)
Email ashleigh.barrett-young@otago.ac.nz
Tugce Bakir Demir 2022 image Dr Tugce Bakir-Demir BS(METU) MS(METU) PhD(Otago)
Tel +64 3 479 5952
Email tugce.bakirdemir@otago.ac.nz
Dr Jillian Hayhurst BSc MSc PhD(Otago)
Tel +64 3 479 8843
Email jill@psy.otago.ac.nz

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Research staff

jane-thumb Dr Jane Carroll PGDipLitEd(Auck) BEd(Cant) DipTchg(SLT(ChchCE)PhD(Cant)
Tel +64 3 479 5267
Email jane.carroll@otago.ac.nz
Faye Gorman 2022 thumbnail

Faye Gorman
Clinical Research Nurse, IMAGE Otago
Tel +64 3 479 8818
Email faye.gorman@otago.ac.nz

Vanessa Hayes

Vanessa Hayes BA(Hons)(Brighton Poly) MSocWk(York)
Research Interviewer, DMHDRU
Mob 022 199 4451 (Wellington)
Email vanessa.hayes@otago.ac.nz

Sean-Hogan

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

Thumbnail Barbara Logan

Ms Barbara Logan PGDipSci

Tel +64 3 479 7632
Email blogan@psy.otago.ac.nz

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Technical staff

Thumbnail Jeremy Anderson Jeremy Anderson (NZCE)
Senior Technical Officer / Lab Manager
Tel +64 3 479 7669
Email jeremy.anderson@otago.ac.nz
Thomas Bullock
Technician
Tel +64 3 479 8668
Email tommy.bullock@otago.ac.nz
JP Cronje
Technician
Tel +64 3 479 7668
Email jp.cronje@otago.ac.nz
Thumbnail Richard Hamelink Richard Hamelink (NZCE)
Technician
Tel +64 3 479 7668
Email richard.hamlink@otago.ac.nz
Thumbnail Natasha O'Docherty Natasha O'Docherty
Technician
Tel +64 3 479 5945
Email natasha.odocherty@otago.ac.nz
Thumbnail Lindsay Robertson Lindsay Robertson (NZCE)
Senior Technician / Safety Officer
Tel +64 3 479 7668
Email lindsay.j.robertson@otago.ac.nz
Thumbnail Stephanie Sherbund 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
Lynne Ando
Administrator Client Services
Tel +64 3 479 7645
Email lynne.ando@otago.ac.nz
Thumbnail Kally Barton

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 7631
Email psy.hod@otago.ac.nz
Thumbnail Michelle Moss Michelle Moss
Lead Administrator Client Services
Tel +64 3 479 6541
Email michelle.moss@otago.ac.nz
Clare Stubbs
Administrator Client Services
Tel +64 3 479 4294
Email clare.stubbs@otago.ac.nz
Thumbnail Jacinta Taylor Jacinta Taylor BCom(Otago)
Finance Associate
Tel +64 3 479 7521
Email jacinta.taylor@otago.ac.nz

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Research units

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
Richie Poulton

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

Vanessa Hayes BA(Hons)(Brighton Poly) MSocWk(York)
Research Interviewer
Tel +64 3 479 5550
Email vanessa.hayes@otago.ac.nz

Sean-Hogan

Sean Hogan BA(Hons)(Surrey) MSW(York) GIPM(KingstonBus)
Cohort and Assessment Manager
Tel +64 3 479 5551
Email sean.hogan@otago.ac.nz

Sandhya-Ramrakha

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

Kirsten Cheyne

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

Richie Poulton

Professor Richie Poulton MSc PGDipClPs(Otago) PhD(NSW) FRSNZ
Co-Director
Tel +64 3 479 8507
Email richie.poulton@otago.ac.nz

Moana-Theodore

Associate Professor 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

Karen-Tustin

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

Kirsten Cheyne

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