I am P.I of the Oxford Memory Research Group. My research programme focuses upon the neural basis of human memory and its dysfunction in neurological disease. We study the Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and limbic encephalitis

SUPERVISORY ROLES

Research associates

Verena Braun (post-doctoral researcher)
Georgios Argyropoulos (post-doctoral researcher) Michele Veldsman (post-doctoral researcher) Samrah Ahmed (post-doctoral researcher)
Clare Loane (post-doctoral researcher)
Emily Butler (post-doctoral researcher)
Adriana Roca-Fernandez (post-graduate researcher) Cristina Blanco-Duque (post-graduate researcher)

Doctoral students

Oana Gurau, Clinical Neurosciences (DPhil)
Somerville College, University of Oxford
Project: “Using immersive virtual reality to investigate spatial memory”
Thomas Miller, Neurology (DPhil)
Trinity College, University of Oxford
Project: ‘Remote memory impairment in autoimmune limbic encephalitis’
Emma Drane, Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Project: ‘Forgetting in late-onset temporal lobe epilepsy’
Kathryn Atherton, Wellcome Trust Doctoral Programme in Neuroscience (DPhil) New College, Oxford
Project: ‘Sleep and memory consolidation in accelerated long-term forgetting’ Serge Hoefeijzers, Human Cognitive Neuroscience (PhD)
Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh
Project: ‘Accelerated long-term forgetting in epilepsy: the role of interference’

Masters students

Carola Dell’Acqua
Department of Psychology, University of Milan
Project: ‘Recollection and familiarity in hippocampal amnesia’
Alex von Klemperer
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford
Project: ‘Whole body virtual navigation: a new spatial memory task for dementia’
Sara Bartels, Neuropsychology
University of Maastricht
Project: ‘Memory impairment in Posterior Cortical Atrophy’
Thomas Wassenaar, Neuroscience Vrij Universiteit Amsterdam
Project: ‘Functional brain connectivity in patients with accelerated long-term forgetting’

Undergraduate projects

Linda Wei
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford
Project: ‘Comparing confabulation in Alzheimer’s and fronto-temporal dementia’

MEDIA WORK AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

I am frequently interviewed by the media (TV, radio, press) or acted as a consultant on topics relating to dementia and memory. For example: ‘What it’s really like living with dementia’ Financial Times Weekend Review main article 21/12/17; consultant for Casualty storyline 07/01/18.

I participate regularly in public engagement events, including appearances at the British Science Festival and Cheltenham Science Festival to speak about dementia on the invitation of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

TEACHING AND OTHER DEPARTMENTAL/UNIVERSITY CONTRIBUTIONS

Examinations

PhD
Candidate: Shanti Shankar (University of Bangor) Thesis: ‘Neuropsychology of Motivated Forgetting’ Year: 2017

MSc by research
Candidate: Dr Payashi Garry (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences)
Thesis: ‘Studying the role of nitric oxide signalling in the development of cerebral ischaemia after severe aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage’
Year: 2016

Transfer vivas
Candidate: Christel Gudberg (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences) Thesis: ‘The effects of sleep on motor consolidation’
Year: 2012
Candidate: Dr Payashi Garry
Thesis: ‘Studying the role of nitric oxide signalling in the development of cerebral ischaemia after severe aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage’
Year: 2015

Other
Examination of medical students at the end of their ward based neurology attachment.

• Practical Cognition Course (www.practicalcognition.com)

For the past 12 years, I have organised this annual 2-day course together with Tim Griffiths, Professor of Cognitive Neurology at Newcastle University. The course alternates between Oxford and Newcastle. Through a series of clinical cases and lectures from leading researchers in Cognitive Neurology, we aim to give clinicians, including neurologists, psychiatrists and psychologists, and interested non-clinicians a broad overview of cognitive disorders resulting from brain disease alongside relevant aspects of cognitive neuroscience research. The course is sponsored by the Guarantors of Brain.

• University College London MSc in Dementia

I am the External Examiner on this new masters programme headed by Prof Jason Warren of the
Dementia Research Centre, UCL.

• Oxford undergraduate teaching

I give regular lectures on dementia and cognitive neurology to Oxford medical undergraduates.

These lectures consistently receive excellent feedback for clarity, relevance and interest.
I provide regular beside and clinic-based teaching to medical students on their neurology attachment.

• Athena Swan Assessment Committee member for Bronze award application (2013-14).

• Appraiser for Clinical Academics in Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2016 - present)