PsyPAG

This position is currently vacant.

This position is currently vacant.

This position is currently vacant.

This position is currently vacant.

This position is currently vacant.

This position is currently vacant.

Division of Clinical Psychology – Natalie Berry

Bio coming soon.

Division of Counselling Psychology

Position currently vacant.

Division of Educational and Child Psychology

Position currently vacant.

Division for Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology – Georgina Wren

Hi, I'm Georgina and I'm a second-year PhD student at Cardiff University in the Behavioural Genetics Group. Prior to starting my PhD, I completed a BSc in Psychology, then a MSc in Health Psychology at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Very simply, my current research is somewhat of an amalgamation of Dermatology, Psychology, Genetics and Medicine! Using a mixed-methods approach, I am interested in understanding the psychological and physical conditions associated with a rare congenital skin condition, X-linked ichthyosis. I am passionate about improving the patient experience, and exploring the link between this genetic deletion and physical manifestations.

Alongside my PhD, I also teach first year undergraduate students as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, co-chair a research translation and impact network for ECRs, and volunteer within a number of charities. I also like to play rugby in my spare time when I have the chance!

I'm excited to join the PsyPAG committee as DART-P representative, to support PGR's who teach, and to improve the research environment and culture for Psychology postgrad students. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to get in touch via email: [email protected], or Twitter @WrenGeorginaCU – I would love to hear from you!

Division of Forensic Psychology – Liz Deehan

Hi, I'm Liz! I started my PhD in Psychology at the University of Lincoln in 2019 and am completing this part-time alongside my full-time employment. My PhD thesis focusses on sleep related paraphilia which are currently under-researched. The over-arching aim of my research is to inform treatment and interventions for people who have been convicted of offences relating to these interests. I am also working as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator at a Category B prison in England, trained in and delivering medium and high intensity treatment programmes.

I am super excited to be taking the role of Communications Officer and to be elected as the Division of Forensic Psychology representative for PsyPAG. Please get in touch with any questions or any topics you'd like to raise!

Twitter: @E_T_Deehan

Email: [email protected]

Division of Health Psychology – Daniel Walker

Hi I'm Danny and I am a third-year PhD student at Edge Hill University investigating the impact that concussion and physical pain can have on mental health, cognition, and quality of life. By better understanding how concussion and pain effects these three broad outcomes, we can better support those that have sustained head injury in sport or elsewhere. This project intends to have practical applications on the long-term guidance of managing and supporting those with concussion and/or experiencing physical pain.

I am excited to have been elected as a representative for the Division of Health Psychology for PsyPAG and keen to support fellow postgraduates. If you wish to get in touch please email: [email protected], contact me on Twitter: @walkerd_ehu

Division of Neuropsychology

Position currently vacant.

Division of Occupational Psychology

Position currently vacant.

Division of Coaching Psychology

Position currently vacant.

Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology

Position currently vacant.

Cognitive Psychology Section

Position currently vacant.

Consciousness and Experiential Psychology Section

Position currently vacant.

Cyberpsychology Section - Chris Leech

Hello, my name is Christopher Leech, I am a PhD researcher at Edge Hill University. My research is looking at the impact of video games upon mental health. What I am most interested in, is looking at what impact playing a game with explicit mental health information has on knowledge of mental health, and attitudes towards it. Specifically, I am interested in how this impacts students as a population due to the challenges students face with their mental health.

Being involved with PsyPAG is a true pleasure and a privilege, representing the Cyberpsychology section for the next two years is a dream come true. I am hoping to help foster a strong Cyberpsychology community and provide a collaborative space for us to connect and support each other. Also, about me, I'm a person with Albinism and legally blind/visually impaired/severely sight impaired – so representation, equality and equity are very close to my heart. In my other-time, I'm also a PGR rep within my university, a Streaming Ambassador for mental health charities Take This.org, and Safe In Our World, a podcaster, and as you might have guessed I'm quite the nerd! Feel free to get in touch, I'm very active on Twitter, and you can find me on my weekly Twitch show too or if you'd prefer drop me an email.

Defence and Security Psychology Section

Position currently vacant.

Developmental Psychology Section

Position currently vacant.

History and Philosophy of Psychology Section

Position currently vacant.

Psychology of Sexualities Section

Position currently vacant.

Male Psychology Section

Position currently vacant.

Mathematical, Statistical and Computing Section - Abi Davis

Hi! I'm Abi, and I'm a PhD researcher at the University of Lincoln My research areas and interests are broad, but my PhD field is infant language development. I'm using novel testing methods to figure out how mothers influence babies' speech development over time. I'm also interested in open science practices, maternal health and wellbeing, and autism research.

You can get in touch by emailing me at [email protected], or via Twitter @AbiMBDavis

Political Psychology Section - Nicole Devlin

Bio coming soon

Psychobiology Section

Position currently vacant.

Psychology of Education section (co-rep) - Donna Smith

Hi, I'm Donna Smith, PsyPAG Representative for the BPS Psychology of Education Section.

I am a PhD researcher in the Psychology, Education and Learning Studies (PELS) Research Group at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, and a member of the Wellbeing and Inclusion Special Interest Group.  My research focuses on mental health in first generation university students.

I am interested in the psychology of education across the lifespan and have held various volunteering roles with students of all ages.  I have been an adult literacy teacher, a reading tutor for disadvantaged students, and a trainer for a wellbeing intervention programme in secondary schools.

I joined the PsyPAG Committee in July 2021 and I'm really looking forward to hearing from psychology of education postgraduate students about any issues, concerns or suggestions you would like me to raise at PsyPAG and BPS Psychology of Education Section meetings.  If you'd like to get in touch, please contact me by email [email protected] or on Twitter @Donna_L_Smith

Psychology of Education section (co-rep) - Bronte McDonald

Hi, I'm Brontë and I'm the co-rep for PsyPAG Psychology of Education section.

I was previously a primary school teacher and is now a PhD researcher at the University of Sussex. My PhD is working towards developing and evaluating a community-based intervention with primary school-aged children who are experiencing school attendance problems during the Covid-19 pandemic. My research interests include child mental health particularly anxiety, education, dyslexia, and parent wellbeing.

Outside of the academia world I teach Pilates and love walking with my big golden lab Barney!

I am excited to meet with and support fellow researchers in the Psychology of Education world. If you'd like to get in touch, please contact me: [email protected]

Psychology of Women and Equalities section - Lucy Eldred

Hi, I'm Lucy and I'm a PhD researcher and Graduate Teaching Assistant at Leeds Beckett University.

My PhD is looking at young masculinities and whether/how they may be changing. I am really interested in intersecting identities, and how identities such as gender, race, class, age and ethnicity all shape our experiences and our understandings.

The Psychology of Women and Equalities is an amazingly friendly and inclusive group and I hope to bring some of that energy to my PsyPAG role!

My contact email is: [email protected] and I'd welcome you to get in touch with any questions or queries.

Psychotherapy Section

Position currently vacant.

Qualitative Methods Section

Position currently vacant.

Social Psychology Section

Position currently vacant.

Transpersonal Psychology Section

Position currently vacant.

Community Psychology - Priya Ahmed

Bio coming soon.

Crisis, Disaster and Trauma

Position currently vacant.

North East of England Branch - Stacie Thursby

Bio coming soon.

East of England Branch

Position currently vacant.

East Midlands Branch - Tina Kent

Bio coming soon.

North West of England Branch

Position currently vacant.

Northern Ireland Branch

Position currently vacant.

Scottish Branch

Position currently vacant.

South West of England Branch

Position currently vacant.

Welsh Branch

Position currently vacant.

Wessex Branch - Izzy Ball

Hi, I'm Izzy, your PsyPAG rep for Wessex. I am based in Chichester where I am currently working as a Research Assistant and Associate Lecturer while completing my PhD.

My PhD is focused on the transition from school/college to university and higher education. The goal is to identify the key factors on an individual level that impact 'success' in this transition and create an intervention protocol that can be rolled out before students leave school to better prepare them for this transition. I am primarily interested in quantitative methods and statistics. I primarily teach on research method modules and am co-lead of the Peer Assisted Learning Scheme.

I'm very excited to be your rep, and would love to hear from you, if you have any suggestions of queries. You can find me on twitter @IzzyBall98 or email me – [email protected]

West Midlands Branch

Position currently vacant.

London and Home Counties Branch

Position currently vacant.

BPS Ethics

Position currently vacant.

BPS Research Board – Carrie Toplan (Chair)

See Chair bio.

Standing Conference Committee – Myrto Efstathiou

 Hi! I am a PhD student and a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Heriot-Watt University and my PhD explores how we perceive our bodily self. During my PhD, I have had opportunities to organise events and activities to better strengthen our community, enhance our voice and reduce feelings of isolation. As the Conference Standing Committee member, I plan on continuing this path and supporting our postgraduate community.

Feel free to contact me via [email protected] or via Twitter @Myr_Efstathiou

Student Group Liaison Officer

Position currently vacant.

The Quarterly publishes a wide range of articles that contribute to an understanding of psychology. Submissions may correspond to the following article types:

• Feature Articles and Discussion Papers: Articles may cover a wide range of topics. Articles may describe a piece of original research; provide an overview of a theory, area of issue.
• Research in Brief: A short report of original research, often preliminary findings.
• Big Interviews: An interview with anyone connected with Psychology, usually written in a question and answer format.
• Reflective: Reflective pieces may observe events, human interactions and perspectives in the field of Psychology. We also welcome reflections on teaching practices.
• Conference Reviews: Provide an overview of a conference, outlining the main themes of the conference.
• Departmental Reviews: An overview of a department as well as research interests of the postgraduates.
• Book and Software Reviews: A review of books or software relevant to psychologists.
• Hints and Tips: Hints and tips that will be useful to postgraduates. For example, how to apply for funding; how to conduct systematic literature reviews or meta-analyses; statistical techniques.
• Postgraduate Research in Brief: This is a reference list of research that has recently been published by postgraduates within a particular area or department.
• Guest Author: Articles written by those with a PhD and that would be of interest to psychology postgraduates. This can be any one of the other types of articles we accept e.g. hints & tips, discussion paper etc.

Word limits

• Abstracts: from August 2015, an abstract is required with a maximum word limit of 100 words.

• Manuscripts: the journal has a broad word limit of 500 - 2000 words excluding abstract and references.

  The maximum word limit is flexible for in depth discussion papers, longer interviews, or hints and tips.

  The word count will differ depending on the type of article; for example, conference and book reviews should be shorter than featured articles.

References

• Articles should have a maximum of 15 references. Articles that do not adhere to these guidelines will be sent back to the author.
• Please state in your submission e-mail if your manuscript is attached to a PsyPAG bursary.

• Please submit all articles in Microsoft Word (or Open Office for Mac, etc.).
• You should use the running head (i.e., an informative shortened version of your title) as the file name, for example EpisodicMemoryConsolidation.doc.
• The content, including tables, figures and references should all comply with BPS house style. 
• Articles should be double spaced, in a font size of 12.
• Single spaces should be used to begin a new sentence.
• You should also include your contact details (authors name, affiliation and e-mail address) at the end of each article

When submitting an article, please ensure you include the following details:

• Name
• Role, Department, University
• Email address

Before you start writing, you should think about the following:

1. Content

Key considerations and recommendations regarding content include having clear, logical arguments. For a detailed guide please consult Elsevier's Elements of Style for Writing Scientific Journal Articles.

Remember that these tips are applicable to any article type!

2. Style

The Quarterly encourages postgraduates to write concisely, and to use language and style that reflects BPS and APA guidelines.

For further information consult the BPS Style Guide.

3. Audience

The Quarterly cater to a range of postgraduate psychologists, who may not necessarily be expert in your specific area of work. It can be tricky to strike a balance between accessible academic language and still stay true to your key messages as the author. Wherever possible we encourage you to consider the specific audience you are writing for.

Things to consider as you are writing:

1. Make it personal

In some cases, making the manuscript more personal can make the article much more interesting to read. For example, when doing a conference/book/software review, what was personally interesting to you? Did you learn something at the conference that you will take forward in your own work? Was there a particular chapter of the book that you found particularly relevant/helpful to your own work? If so, why? Of course, this is not applicable to some types of article that we accept, including featured articles/discussion papers and research in brief, where a scientific writing style is expected.

2. Stigmatising terms

Ensure that your writing is professional and avoid any negative or stigmatising terms. For example, terms such as "mentally ill person" should be avoided and replaced with "individuals/people with a mental illness". As you write your article, think about how you would reflect upon it in years to come!

This article provides a range of incorrect and inappropriate (but often extensively used) terms that you should try to avoid.

3. Avoiding Ambiguity

Besides avoiding needless complexity, you also should avoid ambiguity in your writing. Ambiguity is created by the use of a word, phrase, or sentence that can be interpreted in more than one way. Many ambiguities in scientific writing are difficult to classify. A pronoun must refer to a single, particular noun, which acts as its antecedent. When multiple antecedents exist, the error is called an ambiguous pronoun reference. When a specific antecedent doesn't even exist, the resulting error is called a vague pronoun reference.

Avoiding ambiguous pronoun references:

• Error: When Samuel dropped the goblet onto the glass table, it broke. (What broke? The table or the goblet?)
• Correction: The goblet broke when Samuel dropped it onto the glass table.

Avoiding vague pronoun references:

• Error: Sleeping eight hours a night is vital to students' health, yet research clearly shows they simply don't do it. (Does "it" have a specific noun serving as its antecedent?)
• Correction: Although sleeping eight hours a night is vital to students' health, research clearly shows they simply don't sleep that much.

4. Avoiding Colloquial Writing

In scholarly writing, except when reporting conversation, it is best to use standard language and to avoid colloquial language and slang. Using colloquial language can make the author and the piece sound less credible. Colloquial language is language that does not conform to the stands set by schools, media, and public institutions. It is often acceptable in everyday conversion and in fictional writing but seldom is used in formal speech or other forms of writing.

Colloquial examples: "contraption," "fire," "kid," "how come," and "quote" Standard: "device," "dismiss," "child," "why," and "quotation."

Finishing off:

1. Co-authors and collaboration

When writing up your research for publication in other journals, it is often the case that your supervisors and other collaborators will be co-authors who contribute to and review the manuscript before submission. Personal experience shows that this typically improves written work immensely, and therefore we highly encourage you to work with your supervisors on submissions to PsyPAG Quarterly too! Your manuscript is much more likely to be accepted if it has been reviewed by established academics and is therefore of a higher standard as a result. However, ensure you discuss whether your supervisors will be in the acknowledgements or a co-author prior to submission.

2. References

References are one of the easiest aspects of a manuscript to do, yet it is rare to receive an article that doesn't have referencing errors. Your manuscript will be returned to you if referencing errors are found, so please ensure you check them thoroughly before submitting your article. PsyPAG follows BPS house style referencing guidelines, which can be found by following the link in the second tip called "style".

PsyPAG Quarterly invites expressions of interest. 

The periodical is published for psychology post-graduates across the UK. 

It covers all aspects of psychology and welcomes a wide range of manuscripts; for some of these articles, it is standard practice to undertake peer review to evaluate the validity, accuracy and standard of content.

Contact [email protected] with details of your current studies and research/practice area of interest and we will be in touch.

The PsyPAG Practitioner Psychologist Trainee Award was newly launched for 2020 and specifically recognises trainees working towards formal registration in Clinical, Counselling, Forensic, Education, Occupational, Sports and Health Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology.

This award aims to celebrate exceptional early career practitioners and the skills necessary for working with service users.

It also acknowledges the dual focus of practical and academic work, commending the high-quality research that is being conducted by practitioner psychologist trainees.

Prize

The winner of the PsyPAG Practitioner Psychologist Trainee Award will receive:

• £100 cash prize.
• An invitation to the PsyPAG annual conference to orally present their work at our Awards ceremony or present a poster;
• Expenses to the annual PsyPAG conference up to £150 (to cover registration, travel, and accommodation);
• The opportunity to publish an article in the PsyPAG Quarterly (subject to peer review).

Eligibility

In order to apply for this Award applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Hold BPS membership
• Studying a BPS accredited course or Stage 2 qualification
• Studying a recognised formal practitioner training programme in Clinical, Counselling, Forensic, Occupation, Sports, Health Psychology or Clinical Neuropsychology in the UK (including Higher Education Institution and BPS pathways);
• Not yet submitted the final thesis (pre-viva).

If you do not meet the above criteria then please consider one of our other Awards that may be more appropriate. If you are unsure about any of the criteria then please contact the Awards Chair at [email protected]

Applying

Applicants to the Practitioner Psychologist Trainee Award must evidence:

• The development of practitioner skills, demonstrating an understanding of the importance of empirical evidence and reflexivity to their work
• Ability to develop successful relationships with service users (if applicable)
• The impact of social, cultural, spiritual, political and economic values within their practice
• Research work undertaken, including its theoretical and/or practical importance, and its originality
• Public dissemination of research and/or practitioner work;
• Characteristics, qualities, and skills which make the student an exceptional candidate
• Support of supervisor(s)
• A clear rationale as to why the researcher should be considered for this award.

The PsyPAG Masters Award recognises outstanding research in a Masters (MSc, MA, MRes, and MPhil) level research project. Submissions are invited from all areas of Psychology.

The aim of the award is to provide recognition of the excellent research that is conducted at Masters level, which we feel, is sometimes overlooked.

Prize

 The winner of the PsyPAG Masters Award will receive:

•  
  • £100 cash prize.
  • An invitation to the PsyPAG annual conference to orally present their research at our Awards ceremony or present a poster;
  • Expenses to the annual PsyPAG conference up to £150 (to cover registration, travel, and accommodation);
  • The opportunity to publish findings in the PsyPAG Quarterly (subject to peer review).

Eligibility

In order to apply for this Award applicants must meet the following criteria:

•  
  • Within 18 months of completing a Masters level course at a UK university;
  • Awarded at least 60% for the dissertation component of the degree.
  • Awarded a final classification of either a merit or distinction for the degree.

If you do not meet the above criteria then please consider one of our other Awards which may be more appropriate. If you are unsure about any of the criteria then please contact the Awards Chair at [email protected]

The PsyPAG Rising Researcher Award recognises outstanding early PhD/Doctorate research.

This award aims to celebrate the high-quality research which is being conducted at this level and champion fantastic upcoming researchers. Submissions are invited from all areas of psychology.

Prize

The winner of the PsyPAG Rising Researcher Award will receive:

• £100 cash prize.
• An invitation to the PsyPAG annual conference to orally present their research at our Awards ceremony or present a poster;
• Expenses to the annual PsyPAG conference up to £150 (to cover registration, travel, and accommodation);
• The opportunity to publish findings in the PsyPAG Quarterly (subject to peer review).

Eligibility

In order to apply for this Award applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Studying a doctoral level degree at a UK university;
• At least one year full time or two year's part time into the doctorate;
• Not yet submitted the final thesis (pre-viva).

If you do not meet the above criteria then please consider one of our other Awards which may be more appropriate. If you are unsure about any of the criteria then please contact the Awards Chair at [email protected]

Applying

In order to apply for the Rising Researcher Award applicants must evidence:

•  
  • Originality of approach;
  • The importance of the project in relation to previous and on-going research;
  • Specific contribution to the long-term impact of the field, in terms of methodological rigour, theoretical contribution and/or practical applications;
  • Dissemination of research through publications and presentations;
  • Personal characteristics or qualities which have enabled the researcher to overcome personal adversities or to persevere through any research difficulties (if any).
  • A clear rationale as to why the project and the researcher should be considered for this award.

Congratulations to all the PsyPAG 2022 award winners, runner-ups and highly commended!

We received so many amazing submissions and we thank all the applicants for their hard work and for applying.

Winners of PsyPAG Master Award

• First place: Nicola O'Donnell
• Runner-up: Branwen Dafis
• Highly Commended: Lucy Waldren

Winners of PsyPAG Rising Researcher Award

• First place: Georgina Wren
• Runner-up: Annayah Prosser
• Highly Commended: Ian Hadden

Winners of PsyPAG DART-P Award

• First place: Liz Travis
• Runner-up: Gaby Mahrholz
• Highly Commended: Sean Westwood

Winners of PsyPAG Practitioner Award

• First place: Vanessa See Yim
• Runner-up: Nico Amari
• Highly Commended: Marie Bech