Postgraduate study in Psychology

POSTGRADUATE

YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLDuniversity of otago

Why? Here are some good reasons...

We are ...

• ranked#1psychologydepartmentinNew Zealand

• ranked#1departmentintheUniversity of Otago

• ranked#19psychologydepartmentinternationally

• ahighlyinclusivedepartmentthattakesimmenseprideinitsstudents

We give you ...

• first-rateresearchopportunitieswithadiverseandinterestingrangeofprojectstochoose from

• exceptionalteachingandsupervisionbyworld renowned researchers

• exceptionaltechnicalandadministrativesupport

otago.ac.nz/psychologyfacebook.co.nz/Psychology@Otago

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Abraham LabProfCliffAbraham’sresearchfocusesontherulesandmechanismsgoverningsynapticplasticity,metaplasticity,andmemoryformationinthebrain,withaparticularfocusoncellularandmoleculareventsinthehippocampus.Intheirresearch,thelabuseselectrophysiological,behavioural, and immunofluorescent microscopy approaches tostudyingthemechanismsmediatingtheinductionandpersistenceofsynapticplasticity in vivo and in vitro,andtheirrelevancetomemory.

Research extends to clinical research areas such as Alzheimer’sdisease, schizophrenia, neurogenesis, and neuroprotection, usinganimalmodels.AmajorcurrentresearchinterestisinbiomarkersandtherapeuticmoleculesforAlzheimer’sdisease.

Alsop Lab: Experimental Analysis of BehaviourMostenvironmentsconfronthumansandotheranimalswithchoices.Thesecanrangefromamajorcorporationmakingfinancialdecisions,toducks foraging for foodona lake.DrAlsop’s researchexaminesthewaythedistributionofresourcesinanenvironmentdetermineshumans’andanimals’choices.

Thelabhasthreeverydifferentlinesofresearchatthemoment:

• lookingattheroleofpunishmentandrewardinsensationseekingandhowtheyinfluencebehaviourinhumans

• lookingathowpigeonsmakechoiceswheretherearemorethantwooptionsavailable

• usingasignal-detectiontasktoinvestigatedifferences inrewardsensitivitywithchildrenwithADHDandchildrenwithoutADHD

They’re also using a second task to look at possible differences insensitivitytonegativeoutcomesbetweenthesamegroups.

Bilkey LabProf David Bilkey’s general research area is systems neuroscience,withaparticularfocusontheroleofthetemporalcortexregionsofthebraininmemoryandlearningprocesses.Specifically,investigatinghowthebrainencodesanepisodicmemory.

Researchinthelabfocusesonthehippocampalareaofthebrainwhichseemstocode‘where’information,andlinkstotheperirhinalcortex,whichappearstoencode‘what’.Thegroupalsolooksathowthebraincombinesinformationfromthesedifferentlocationsinordertoformacoherentmemory, focusingon the idea that theprefrontalcortex

hasaroleinintegratingthisinformationwithpriorexperienceandmotivation.Thisisbeinginvestigatedusingavarietyofbehaviouralandelectrophysiologicaltechniques.

Morerecently,thelabhasbeeninvestigatinghowthefunctionofthehippocampus is altered in schizophreniausingananimalmodelofthe disorder.

Colombo LabThe focus of Prof Mike Colombo’s research is the neural basis oflearningandmemoryandcomparativeanimalcognition.

Thelabcurrentlysupportsfourlinesofresearch:

• conductingsingle-unitelectrophysiologystudiesandexaminingthe neural basis of learning, memory, gambling, rewardmechanisms and recently the neural basis of magnetic basednavigation

• examining the effects of hippocampal lesions on learning andmemory

• exploringthecognitiveabilitiesofbirds,focusingonserial-orderexpertise, numerical competence, concept formation aswell asbasicmechanismsoflearningandmemory

• theeffectsofnootropics(cognitiveenhancingdrugs)onlearningand memory

Conner Lab: Daily Experiences

Weareinterestedinthepsychological,cognitive,andgeneticfactorsinfluencingouremotionalandphysicalwellbeing.Weusetechnologycomputers andmobile phones - to track people’s daily experiencesclose-to-realtime,intheirnaturalenvironment.

At present, we are running the 4-year micro-longitudinal DailyLifeStudyonthedailyexperiencesofUniversityofOtagostudents.This study is leading to many exciting interdisciplinary projectsinvestigating the interplay between genes, nutritional factors, andwellbeing.

Labprojectsinclude:

• social psychology interests in positive psychology and hedonicexperience,suchastheconsequencesofrepeatedlyintrospectingonandverbalisingouremotionalstates

• healthpsychology,investigatinghealthbehaviourssuchasalcoholand drug use

Whatourcurrentpostgraduatestudentsareresearchinginthelabs…

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Franz Lab: Action, Brain & Cognition• How and why do we perform a particular action at a specific

time? • Whynotdosomethingelse?• Whataretheinfluencesonthatchoiceofaction?• Didweconsciouslychoose?

Prof Liz Franz’s Action, Brain & Cognition lab and fMRIotagoinvestigates all of these questions using a variety of techniques,includingbrainimaging(fMRI,DTI,MRI,EEG),kinematicanalysis,behaviouralvariables,TMS,andgestureanalysis.Ourprimarytooltoinvestigatetheseissuesisbimanualactions.Thatis,weviewbimanualactionsasawindowintotheworkingsofthebrain.Inaddition,weinvestigateanaction selectionmodel, according towhich thebasalganglia (and frontal-striatal circuitry) play a critical role in whatactionsgetselectedandwhatactionsgetinhibited.

Our lab investigates neurological patient populations includingpeople with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, stroke, AutismSpectrum Disorder, congenital disorders (eg, mirror movements),and other conditions that affect the action system.

Halberstadt Lab: Social CognitionResearch in the Social Cognition lab is aimed at improving ourunderstanding of how people process social information. Theinclusive nature of social cognition as a subfield of psychology,combinedwithProfJaminHalberstadt’snumerousinterests,hasledtodiverseresearchprojectsemergingfromthelab.

Presently,studentsare:

• exploringtheapparentconnectionbetweenreligiosityandfearofdeath,andevaluatingfactors thatmayexplainor influencethisconnection,includingtheeaseofprovidingreasoningforbeliefs,agencydetection,self-regulation,andritualisticbehaviour

• focusing on emotion and perception within various contexts,including depressive rumination, attitude and beliefs,categorisation,andthefitofnameswithshapesandpeople

Moral cognition and risk perception have emerged as additionalthemeswithinthelab,withprojectslookingat:

• the influence of perceivedmotivations on judgments ofmoralgoodness

• therelationshipofrisktotheperceptionofmoralbadness• theperceptionofhonestythroughlanguage• how people’s views of occupations are influenced by gender

stereotypes

Hayne Lab: Early Learning ProjectProf Harlene Hayne’s lab focuses on investigating learning andepisodic memory (memory for specific events) in young childrenand age-related changes in episodic memory through childhoodandadolescence.Participantsofdifferentagesaretestedinordertomeasurebothverbalandnonverbalepisodicmemory.

Recentresearchfromthislabhasshownthat:

• 3-yearoldchildrencanbetaughttodelaygratification• perhapsbabiesdonothaveaninnatemoralcompass• children’sdrawingshavenolinktotheirIQ

Researchinthislabhasimpactedontheoriesofmemorydevelopmentandhasledtochangesinhowchildrenareinterviewedinclinicalandlegalcontexts.

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Healey Lab: ADHDDrDioneHealey’sADHDlablovesinvestigatingandfixingallthingsinattentiveandhyperactive.Currently,DrHealey’smainprojectisanHRCfundedinterventionstudywheresheiscomparinganinterventionthatshehasdeveloped,calledENGAGE(EnhancingNeurobehaviouralGainswiththeAidofGamesandExercise),whichusesgamestoteachself-control skills, to reduce the disruptive behaviours of preschoolchildrenexhibitinghighlevelsofhyperactivity/impulsivity;toawell-knownparentbehaviouralmanagementprogramme, calledTriple P (PositiveParentingProgramme).

Students are also using physiological measures such as heart ratevariabilityandpupillometryintheirresearchonchildrenwithADHD.

Individually,theyare:

• investigating how social functioning may be impacted bydifficulties with emotion recognition and emotional reactions

• looking to disambiguate attention fluctuations from executivefunctioningdeficits

• examiningthepredictorsofimpairmentandsymptomseverityinchildrenwithADHD,suchasparentingstyleandtemperament;using qualitative methods to look at parents’ experiences ofhavingachildwithADHD

• exploring the relationship between classroom attentionalbehaviourandacademicachievement

Hunter LabDr Jackie Hunter’s lab focuses on social identity, self-esteem, andintergroup discrimination.More specifically, the group investigatesthe question of whether discrimination and prejudice betweenmembers of different groups is in part motivated by attempts toachieveandmaintainpositiveselfesteem.

Differentareasofresearchinourlabinvestigates:

• towhat extentdifferent formsof intergroupdiscriminationareaffectedbydifferenttypesofself-esteem

• howthreatstoself-esteemaffectpatternsofdiscrimination• howotherfactorssuchasbelongingness,meaning,anxiety,and

perceptionsofcontrolarerelatedtovariousformsofintergroupdiscrimination

Knight LabResearchinProfBobKnight’slabfocusesonmeasurementinClinicalPsychologyandtheneuropsychologyofmemory.

It is important when assessing clients who have psychologicalproblems that the assessment tools used are well-validated. ProfKnight’sresearchfocusesontheconstructionandvalidationofclinicaltestsandmeasures.Inparticular,theareaofclinicalneuropsychology,where the lab’s main focus is older persons with mild cognitiveimpairments.This research aims to understandmemory processesthatdeclineinbothnormalandabnormalaging.

Linscott LabInDr Richard Linscott’s lab,many hands have beenworking on alargeprojectassessingperformanceonnumerousindicatorsthatarerelatedtopersonalitydifferences.Wearetestingthingslike:

• eyetrackingperformance• motorcoordination• reactiontime• attention• speechperception• rewardsensitivity,aswellasotherbehavioursandexperiences

Theresultsoftheprojectwillbeabletotellusabouttherelationshipsbetween ethnicity, alcohol and cannabis use, motor performance,speechperception,andpersonalitydifferences.Twonewstudiesareextendingtheprojecttofurtherinvestigatetheserelationships.

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Machado Lab: Neuropsychology & Cognitive PsychologyDr Liana Machado’s lab conducts research in the areas ofneuropsychology and cognitive psychology. The majority of theongoing projects are investigating themechanisms andmachineryunderlying cognitive functions in healthy brains, cognitive deficitsthatemergeasaresultofbraindiseaseandhealthyaging,andmethodsbywhichthesedeficitscanbeminimisedviasimpleaccessiblemeans.Research tools currently being utilised include transcranial directcurrentstimulation,nearinfraredspectroscopy,transcranialDopplerultrasound,andeyetracking.

Researchquestionscurrentlyunderinvestigationrelateto:

• benefits of electrical brain stimulation and habitual physicalactivityforexecutivefunctions

• influencesof cerebrovascular factorsandprescriptiondrugsoncognitiveperformance

• aspartofacommunityproject,methodsbywhichtheattentionofmotoristsmightbeattractedbycycliststoreducerisk

McNaughton LabResearchinProfNeilMcNaughton’slabcombinesthepsychologicalanalysis of emotion and memory with physiological analysis ofrhythmicalelectricalactivitycalled ‘theta’ inbothratsandhumans.Anxiolyticdrugsareusedtolinkthepsychologicalandphysiologicallevels of analysis and to generalise from laboratory experiments toclinicalsituations.Inrats,thesedrugsimpairthetaandthereforethefunction of the temporal lobe –which is thought to be crucial forsometypesofmemory.

Currently,attheneurallevel,weareinvestigatingthepharmacologyand neural control of hippocampal theta activity and its relationto theta recorded from frontal cortex. This includes the use of a‘brainbypass’ andother techniques to restore functionafterneuraldamage. At the psychological level, we are analysing the humanEEGforspecificneuralsignaturesofgoalconflictandlinkingthistopersonalitymeasuresandtheneuroeconomictheory.

Miller LabProfJeffMiller’sresearchinterestsare:

• cognitivepsychology• cognitivepsychophysiology• investigativemathematicalandstatisticalmodelsandmethods

Recentresearchhaslookedatdividedattentionandredundancygain.Ithasbeenfoundthatpeoplereactmorequicklywhentwostimuliarepresentedsimultaneously,ratherthanjustone.Thisistheredundancygaineffect, aneffectwhich is larger in splitbrain individuals.Suchfindingsallowinvestigationintothesensoryandmotorcausesoftheredundancy gain effect.

Murray Lab: Face ResearchTheFaceResearchlab,ledbyDrJaniceMurraylooksathowyoungandolder(>60years)adultsrecogniseemotionsfromfaces.Emotionrecognition is generally thought to decline over the lifespan, witholder adults showing worse performance than young adults whenlabellingtheemotionsofanger,fear,andsadness.However,wehavefoundthatnotallislostinageing.Olderadultshavedifficultydirectlylabelling emotions, but perform as well as young adults in tasksassessingindirectemotionalknowledge.

Wewanttoknowwhatotheremotionalabilitiesremainintactwithageing.Theremayalsobebetterwaystoassessemotionknowledgethan asking participants to label faces, such as using force as anindirect measure. We are also interested in why these changes are occurring in ageing.

Onepossibilityisadeclineinneuropeptides,becauseadministrationof oxytocin improves emotion recognition for older males. Weareworking toward an understanding of how emotion recognitionchangeswithageingandthemechanismsbehindthesechanges.

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O’Hare Lab: Cognitive Engineering & Human Decision MakingThe Cognitive Engineering and Human Decision Making lab,under the supervision ofAssociate ProfDavidO’Hare is currentlyinvestigating:

• implicit learning of categorisation decisions as a basis forunderstandinghowbesttotrainsportsofficials

• riskydecisionmakinginfinancialsettings• supporting medical practitioners’ assessment and diagnosis of

patientswithAutism-SpectrumDisorders• thedevelopmentofapoweredwheelchairsimulator

Wearealsoconductingstudiesinourflightsimulatorofpilotdecisionmaking and investigating approaches to reducing flight anxiety innon-pilots.

We are involved with Australian government funded research onpowersystemoperators’expertiseandskillacquisitioninconjunctionwithMacquarieUniversityinSydney.Previousgraduateshavegoneontojobsinindustry(eg,Airbus,QueenslandRail,HelicoptersNZ,RNZAF,etc.)andacademia.

Reese Lab: Autobiographical Memory & Literacy Development in young childrenResearchinProfElaineReese’slabfocusesonhowchildrendevelopautobiographical memory, language, and literacy. The way thatparentstalktotheirchildreninfluencesthechild’sdevelopment.

Researchinthelabhasfoundthat:

• the quantity and quality of the stories that parents tell theirchildrenmakesadifferenceindevelopment

• openendedquestionsallowchildrentoputexperiencesintheirown words; helping with language development and memorydevelopment

• talking aboutmore emotional aspectsof stories creates amorepositive self in children and this helps them understand theiremotionsandpastexperiences

Recent research is focusingon theoutcomesof early conversationsusinglongitudinalstudies.Childrenwhoweretoldelaborativestoriesas children have earlier memories and stronger self-concepts inadolescence.Theseeffectsarealsobeinginvestigatedinothercultures.

Ruffman Lab: Development across the lifespanProfTedRuffman’s lab investigates socialunderstanding (theoryofmind)ininfants,children,youngandolderadults,andindomesticdogs. We examine emotion recognition, faux pas recognition,verbosity,andliedetection.Examplesofthecurrentresearchare:

• investigating differences in moral judgement and prejudicebetweenolderandyoungeradults,andassociatedpatternsofeyegazeduringmoralproblems

• looking at how perception of emotion changes with agingusingmusicalstimuliandifitisapplicabletodeceptioninfalseadvertising

• examining whether there are differences in facial expressionswhen someone is lying, compared towhen they are telling thetruth

• investigating whether domestic dogs “understand” humanemotional cues using both behavioural and physiologicalmeasures.

Scarf Lab: Animal, Behaviour, Cognition & Development Dr Damian Scarf ’s lab has two main focuses; developmentalpsychologyandcomparativeanimalcognition.

The lab’s developmental work focuses on mental time travel inyoungchildrenandchildren’sabilitytodelaygratification.Verylittleisknownabouthowchildren reflectonapast event andhow theyareabletousethememorytoplanforupcomingevents.Thelabisusingnonverbalteststoinvestigatethis.Howwellchildrencandelaygratificationwhen they are younghas been linked tomany factorsinlaterlife.Researchhasbeenfocusedonhelpingchildrentodelaygratificationandseeingifthisrelatestootherabilities,eg,executivefunction,mentaltimetravel,andinhibition.

Thelab’sworkwithanimalsfocusesonidentifyingbrainareasinvolvedwhenpigeons learna listof items.Futureworkwill investigate thecognitiveabilitiesofparrotsandtrackingofhomingpigeons.

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Shaughency LabDrLibbySchaughency’slabhasstudentsinvolvedwiththreedifferentprogrammes of research. The Paediatric Sleep Research Groupengagesinmultidisciplinaryresearchthatinvestigatestheimpactofchildhood sleep disorders on cognitive and sensory development,learning,anddaytimefunctioning.

Currently,wehavefourstudentsfromtheDepartmentofPsychologyconducting research at the postgraduate and undergraduate level.Theirresearchcoverstopicssuchas:

• sleepdisorderedbreathing(SOB)andlearningandbehaviouraldevelopmentinyoungschoolchildren

• sleepmaturationfrombirthlinkedtocognitivedevelopmentandsensoryprocessing

• technologicaladvancementsformeasuringSOB

Furtherstudieslookatfamilyinvolvementandliteracydevelopmentin primary school students; and a new programme of research inwhich we’re developing a preventive intervention for families ofkindergarten age children to promote school readiness and familysupportforlearning.

Taumoepeau LabSomeofthequestionsweaskinDrMeleTaumoepeau’slabare:

• Whattoddlersknowaboutthemindsofothers?• Howchildrenlearnlanguage?• Howparent-childinteractionsinfluencechildren’scognitiveand

socialdevelopment?• Howcultureinfluencesthewaychildrenandteenagersdevelop?

We’re broadly interested in how children learn language and howlanguagehelpsthemunderstandtheirsocialworld.It’shardtofindtheanswerstothesequestionsbecauseinfantsandtoddlerscan’ttellyou!Someofthetechniquesweuseincludefollowingchildrenandtheircaregiversaroundforyearsobservinghowchildrendevelopina social context.We also use implicitmethods that involve codinginfants’eyegazetogaininsightsintotheprocessinvolvedinlearninglanguage.Morerecently,we’vestartedworkingwiththePacificTrustOtago tounderstandbetterhowsocialandcultural factorssupportthehealthandwellbeingofPacificteenagers.

Clinical Psychology CentreThe Clinical Psychology Centre (CPC) is atraining centre for students in the Clinical Psychology Training Programme whichprovides a referral based assessment andtreatment service to children and adultsreferred from the community. Each year,postgraduate students work part-time at theCPC seeing referrals under close supervisionfrom Registered Clinical Psychologists.

Working in theclinic is a challenging timebutisalsoveryrewardingasthestudentslearnhowtoapplytheiracademicknowledgeanddeveloptheirclinicalskillstohelppeopleovercometheirpersonalproblems.

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Treharne Lab: Health Psychology Research TeamHealth Psychology is a recent addition to the specialities withinpsychology. This speciality involves research into physical health,illnesses,andhealthcarefromapsychologicalperspective.ResearchprojectsinDrGarethTreharne’slab,include:

• howhavingahandinjuryimpactsonpeople’slivesleadingtoasenseofblameandchangestoidentity

• how farmers reduce their risk of quad bike accidents andhowtheycopeiftheyhavehadanaccident

• howpeoplewithcancercopewiththeirdiagnosisandtreatments,andhowpsychologistscansupportthem

• howpeoplewitharthritiscanbeencouragedtobemorephysicallyactivebyremovingbarrierstoregularwalking

• howmenwith arthritis handle the impact of reduced physicalactivityontheirmasculinity

• whatformsofexercisepeoplewitharthritisenjoydoingandhowthiscomparestobeforetheyhadarthritis

• dailyexperiencesoffatigueamongpeoplewitharthritisandhowthisimpactsontheirmood

• howpeoplewitharthritiscanbesupportedinquittingsmoking• theimpactofhavingabraininjuryortheneurologicalcondition

prosopagnosiathatmakesithardtorecognisefaces• how parents of a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity

disordersupporttheirchildinachievinginlife• Māoripreteenchildren’sviewofHauoraasaholisticconceptof

healthrelatedtobehaviourslikeexercising• howpregnantwomenfeelabouteatingandweightgainduring

pregnancy• studentsviewsofschizophrenia–whattheythinkcausesit,how

muchitimpactstheindividual’slifeandhowitisbesttreated• howlesbian,gay,andbisexualindividualsfeelabouthealthand

chronicillnesseslikearthritis

Zajac Lab: Forensic PsychologyDrRachelZajac’slabworksattheintersectionofpsychologyandlaw.Ourprimary goal is to conduct research thathelps to identify andpreventmiscarriagesofjustice.Morespecifically,westudythefactorsthatinfluencepeople’sabilitytoprovidereliableevidenceabouteventsthattheyhavewitnessed.Wealsolookathowexpectationsandbiasescanimpairpeople’sabilitytointerpretforensicevidence.Someofourresearchquestionsinclude:

• Howshouldweinterviewchild,adolescent,andadultwitnessestoensurethattheiraccountsareascompleteandaccurateaspossible?

• Can an eyewitness’s evidence become contaminated throughdiscussions with another witness to the same crime?

• Whateffectdoescross-examinationhaveonchildren’sandadults’testimony?

• Whyismistakenidentificationsuchalargecontributortowrongfulconvictions,andhowcanwehelppeopletoavoidthiserror?

• How can cognitive shortcuts interferewith the interpretation offorensicevidencesuchasfingerprints,bitemarks,andbloodstains?

The research produced by the Zajac laboratory continues to be indemand from the forensic community, with Dr Zajac regularlydisseminating the laboratory’s findings to the professionals whooperatewithinthecriminaljusticesystem.

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DrRobMunnPhD completed 2013 Postdoctoral position at Stanford University

RobcompletedhisPhD titled, Circadian modulation in hippocampal activity: A temporal code for episodic memory?,underthesupervisionofProfessorDavidBilkey.

Hisresearchfocusedontherepresentationof time on circadian timescales in the hippocampus. Rob now has a postdoctoral position at StanfordUniversity.

“OneofthethingsI’mmostexcitedaboutisworkinginwhatismaybethesinglemostexcitingplaceforNeuroscienceresearchintheworldat themoment!KarlDiesserothatNeurobio inventedoptogenetics:a technique in which cells are made to express proteins calledrhodopsinsthroughtransfectingthemwithavirus.Rhodopsinsarenormally expressed in cells of the eye andmake the cell sensitiveto light.Thismeanswecan insertafibre-opticcable into thebrainand reversibly activate/deactivate cellsof interest.This technique ismaybe the biggest breakthrough in neuroscience techniques in thelastdecade(orlonger!).”

OneofRob’sfirstprojectsistopreventcellsexpressingacertaintypeofreceptorusingaviralvector,andanaturalextensionoftheprojectistouseoptogeneticstodothisreversibly.

“LisaGiocomoisabrandnewAssistantProfessor,andthere’sjusther,meandagradstudentinthelabatthemoment.IguessI’mlookingforwardtothe“SiliconValleyStartup”feelofworkinginsuchasmallteam with such advanced and cutting-edge techniques. I’m alsolookingforwardtomeetingabunchoftheheavy-hittersinmyfield,severalofwhomarerunningactivecollaborationswithmyprincipalinvestigator.”

LucyDevlinMasters and PGDipClPs completed 2012 Employed as a Clinical Psychologist

“From a young age I was fascinated bypeopleandwhatmakespeopledifferent.Itmade sense for me to follow my interest bystudyingpsychology.Initially,Istudiedpsychologyandneuroscience,but I soonrealised that they were pretty closelylinked and that I could learn a lot aboutthebrainthroughpsychology.

I later concluded thatwhat I reallywanted to dowas to applymyknowledge to realpeopleand to learnpracticalways tohelp them.ClinicalPsychologywasaperfectwayformetodothat.

Iamnowworkinginaresidentialandcommunity-basedrehabilitationserviceforpeoplewithtraumaticbraininjuryorstroke.

Myrole isbroadand includesprovidingpsychological supportandeducationforclientsandtheirfamilies,managingbehaviour,trainingstaff,andconductingcognitiveassessments.Theroleischallengingattimes,butitishugelyrewarding.

Iworkwithadiverserangeofpeoplefromallsortsofbackgrounds,andwhohaveexperiencedawiderangeofinjuries.

Themostrewardingpartoftheroleiswitnessingpeopleprogressandrealisinghowmuchofadifferencewemakeintheirrecoveries.”

Where are they now? Whatsomeofourpaststudentsareupto…

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HayleyGuineyMaster completed 2012Employed by the Health Promotion Agency

Hayley completed an undergraduatedegree in psychology before taking on amultidisciplinaryMasterofScience.

SupervisedinpartbyDrLianaMachado,her thesis includedelementsofcognitivepsychology, physiology, and physicaleducation.

HayleyisnowaresearcherfortheHealthPromotionAgency(HPA),aCrownentityresponsibleforpromotingpublichealthandinformingpublic health policy through marketing campaigns, research, andotherinitiatives.TheresearchcompletedbytheHPAisdesignedtobe highly relevant to current public health issues, such as tobaccocontrol, alcohol, immunisation, nutrition, and physical activity(amongothers).

“Myjobisgreatbecauseit is interesting,challenging,andpractical.Psychologywasanessentialprecursortothis jobasIhavetothinkcriticallyaboutdifferentresearchdesignsandhowtheymightbeusedtoinformusaboutawiderangeofhealth-relatedbehaviours.

MyplanforthefutureistocontinuewithpublichealthresearchthatleadstowardsimprovedhealthforallNewZealanders.”

DrNikiOsbornePhD completed 2013Employed by Environmental Science and Research (ESR)

Niki Osborne completed her PhD “Did you find what you were looking for?” The effect of context on the interpretation offorensic evidence, under the supervisionofDrRachelZajac.

In her thesis, she investigated howdecisions about forensic evidence (ie, fingerprints, bitemarks, andchildren’sdrawings) canbe swayedbymore than just the evidenceitself.

She now works for the Institute of Environmental Science andResearch(ESR)asaResearchAssociatewithintheForensicBusinessGroup.ESRisthesoleproviderofforensicservicestotheNewZealandPolice.Niki says that she is learningnewskillseverydayand lovesseeinghowherresultswilltranslatetorealcrimesceneinvestigations.

Niki’s current research projects are focused on twomain areas: 1)investigating the decision-making process of bloodstain patternanalysts, and the cognitive factors that influence these decisions,and2)improvingjurorunderstandingofcomplexforensicevidencethroughtheuseofeducationaltoolsand3Dcrimescenetechnology.“EverydayIhavetopinchmyself.Ifeelsoluckytohavemydreamjob,workingfortherealCSI:NewZealand.”

The social side of Psychology Itisn’tallwork:thethingsourpostgradsocialcommitteeorganiseforusall...

Psychology Stair Run

Staff vs Student Cricket

Psychology’s Hottest Home Baker

Psychology Quiz Night

Psychology Bowling Night

Staff and Postgrad Xmas Drinks

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Officer Cadet StephenWrightMasters completed 2012Employed by NZ Royal Air Force

Stephen completed his Masters thesisunder the supervision of AssociateProfessor David O’Hare in 2012. Hewas drawn toO’Hare’s lab after takingApplied Psychology (now CognitiveEngineering)inhisthirdyearofstudy.“Thevideosandexplanationsofaviationaccidentsopenedmyeyestotheworldofappliedpsychology.Being able to apply psychological principles in exciting real worldsituationsreallysetthisareaapart.” Stephen’sthesisfocusedonthetransition from analog to digital flight displays in cockpits, a verycurrent issue in theworldof aviation, andone that theRoyalNewZealandAirForce(RNZAF)isfacing.

Asastudent,StephenappliedtobecomeapsychologistintheRNZAF.Hewasaccepted,andbeganworkimmediatelyaftercompletinghisthesis.Hisinitialworkfocusedonhumanfactors,aviationpsychology,post-deploymentissues,andtheaircrew/officerselection.“SomeofthehighlightshavebeenaerobaticsinaCT-4Airtrainer,aflightinanIroquois,andflyingtheA109helicoptersimulator.”

Stephen was due to complete his Initial Officer Training Course(IOTC)courseinNovember2013,andisnowcommissionedwiththerankofFlyingOfficer,inhispsychologistregistrationyear.

DrDamianScarfPhD completed 2011 Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Otago

Damian’s PhD focused on therepresentationandplanningofsequencesin pigeons under the supervision ofProfessorMikeColombo.

During the course of his PhD Damianreceived a Fulbright scholarship andworkedas a visiting researcher inProfessorHerbTerrace’sPrimateCognitionLabatColumbiaUniversity.WhileatColumbiaUniversity,Damian investigated the planning abilities of rhesusmonkeys andtransitive preference in children. Damian received several otherscholarships during his PhD as well as a number of travel grants.Damian’sPhDwasalsoplacedontheUniversityofOtagoDivisionofSciencesListofExceptionPhDTheses.

AftercompletinghisPhDDamianwentontobePostdoctoralFellow,and subsequently a Research Fellow, in Professor Harlene Hayne’schilddevelopmentlab.InProfessorHayne’slabDamianfocusedonmemory development in young children and investigated whetherchildrenarebornwithaninnatesenseofrightandwrong.

In2013DamianbecameaLecturerintheDepartmentofPsychology.The current focus ofDamian’s developmental work ismental timetravel and the delay of gratification in young children. Damian’sanimal work currently focuses on the neurobiology of sequencelearning inpigeonsandcognitiveabilitiesofparrots, includingkeaandkaka.

MeetOPSYC:OtagoPsychologyStudentCommitteeEnjoy working on committees? OPSYC are an incredible bunch ofpostgradswhohelpforgealinkbetweenstaffandstudentsanddolotsofimportantthingsinthedepartmentsuchas:

• editthethink.magazine–whichshowcasesPsychologytothewidercommunity

• organisesocialeventsforpostgradsandstaff• representstudentsatstaffmeetings• representstudentsonthePEAS(PsychologyEnvironmentalAction

Squad)committee

Thecommitteewelcomesnewmemberstojointheirgroup.Ifyou’reinterested,pleaseemailthematopsyc@psy.otago.ac.nz

Department rankings strongest predictor of employment for postgrad students

School rankings, department rankings, and

individual accomplishments: What factors

predict obtaining employment after the PhD?

Thisis thetitleofanarticlepublishedintheMarch2013Journalof the Association for Psychological Science: Perspectives on Psychological Science.

Theauthorsagree that thestrongestpredictorofemployment forpostgrad studentswas the ‘department-level rankings evenwhilecontrolling for individual accomplishments, such aspublications,posters,and teachingexperience’.Theygoon to say that ‘Equallyaccomplished applicants for an employment position were notequal, apparently, if they graduated from differently rankeddepartments’.

Read the article at pps.sagepub.com/content/8/2/208.abstract

Psychology at Otago ranked highest departmentInMay2013, thedepartmentofPsychologyatOtagowasrankedin 15th place internationally in the 2013 QS World UniversityRankings by Subject, and the highest ranked department in anysubjectareainNewZealand(wearenowrankedat19thintheworldandweshare thatwithtwootherdepartments,CivilEngineeringfromCanterburyandAgriculturefromMassey).

Theseresults,combinedwiththeannouncementjustamonthearlierthatwewerealsoratedthetopacademicunitinthecountryinthelatestPBRFratingexercise,canonlybegoodnewsforPsychologypostgraduatestudentsseekingemploymentaftercompletion.

The UniverSiTy of oTAgo hAS A long-STAnDing rePUTATion for ProviDing high qUAliTy TerTiAry eDUCATion. We Are ProUD, AnD yoU CAn be Too, ThAT The DePArTmenT of PSyChology TAkeS A leADing role in ConTinUing ThAT TrADiTion.

for further information please contact our department’s postgraduate administrator:kally bartonemail: kally@psy.otago.ac.nzTel 64 3 479 5049

Findoutmoreaboutpostgraduatestudyin Psychology at otago.ac.nz/psychology/study/postgraduate/index.html