Research
I have researched in a range of fields including
-Addiction (cognitive bias and impulsivity, cannabis use, psychedelics)
-Appetite (weight loss trials, impacts of poverty on food, the influence of advertisement)
- Food security (impact of labels on food decisions)
-Forensic Psychology (Analysis of police interviews with terrorists and sex offenders, prioritizing arrests of sex offenders)
-Clinical psychology (Developing scales assessing mental distress in marginalized groups, impacts of adverse life events on well-being)
-Bowel disease(s) (Developing scales measuring symptoms)
Addiction
I am interested in automatic cognitive processes in appetitive behaviours. I am particularly interested in the automatic orientation of attention and how that is related to alcohol consumption. I also study the acute effects of alcohol on cognitive processes and subsequent alcohol and food consumption.
Interviewing
I currently collaborate with the University of Liverpool Forensic psychology group analysing the role of interview techniques on terrorist detainees. We have been developing models of good interviewing practice based upon the analysis of real interrogations conducted with convicted terrorists.
Research groups
Research grants
Children's overall exposure to high fat, sugar and salt food and drink advertising: a robust and comprehensive baseline assessment
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
March 2022 - October 2023
Refinements of the CBM-based Tools
TELEFONICA INNOVACION ALPHA S.L (SPAIN)
January 2017 - May 2018
IKnowFood: Integrating Knowledge for Food Systems Resilience.
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2016 - September 2021
SWEET: Sweeteners and sweetness enhancers: Impact on health, obesity, safety and sustainability
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
October 2018 - March 2024
Fighting International Internet Paedophilia – Phase Two.
HOME OFFICE (UK)
April 2015 - March 2017
All in the mind? The effect of beliefs about alcohol on alcohol binges.
ALCOHOL RESEARCH UK (UK)
January 2014 - June 2014
Effects of non-nutritive sweetened (NNS) beverages on appetite during active weight loss: Does the consumption of low calorie sweetened beverages (versus water) support or undermine weight management through effects on hunger, satiety, liking, wanting or changes in food preference?
AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION (ABA) (USA)
November 2014 - December 2024