People

Kathleen Vancleef

Assistant Professor

Kathleen completed her PhD in 2013 at University of Leuven (Belgium) where she studied perceptual organisation with psychophysical and neuropsychological methods. She then moved to Newcastle University (UK). Under the lead of Prof Jenny Read, she developed and validated ASTEROID, a 3D vision test for children with lazy eye that works on a tablet. In 2018, she started her Stroke Association Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Oxford (UK). Since October 2021, she is an Assistant Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience at Durham University. She is currently supported by an NIHR Advanced Fellowship.

Email her: kathleen.vancleef@durham.ac.uk

Jaclyn Ferraro

PhD student

Jackie Ferraro is a developmental neuroscience researcher from Pennsylvania, USA. After completing her undergraduate degree in Psychology at West Chester University (USA), she worked as a cognitive support therapist. Jackie moved to the UK in 2022 for her MSc in Cognitive Neurology at the University of Kent, followed by becoming a Research Assistant at the same university.

Now, Jackie is a doctoral student at Durham University on a Fight for Sight studentship. With her research, she aims to better understand why children with Cerebral Visual Impairment struggle in busy cluttered environments like class rooms, playgrounds, and shops.

Outside of research, Jackie has worked in theatre/video production, teaching and activities coordination.

Rummaysia Uddin

MSc Student

Rummaysia completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology (Clinical) at Northumbria University, where her dissertation explored schizotypal traits in diabetic and non-diabetic populations. Currently, she is studying Cognitive Neuroscience, driven by her passion to understand the brain’s neural mechanisms and the extent of neurological damage.

Rummaysia’s experience as a carer has greatly shaped her dedication in supporting vulnerable populations, inspiring her to pursue a career in the field of clinical psychology.

Chloe Mitchell

MSc Student

Chloe is currently studying cognitive neuroscience, building upon her previous degree in psychology from Royal Holloway, University of London. She joined our team in November 2024, where she is focusing on the underdiagnosis of visual perception difficulties following a stroke. Her research contribution aims to assess current clinical diagnostic practices and compare them with the newly developed standardized test for visual perception, the Oxford Visual Perception Screen.

Zirui Zhang

MSc Student

Zirui Zhang is a Master’s student at Durham University, currently studying Developmental Psychopathology. Zirui completed an undergraduate degree in Canada at the University of Toronto, majoring in Psychology and Environment & Behaviour. He is interested in the developmental processes in children and how these may be affected by various factors.

In November 2024, Zirui joined our research team focusing on simultanagnosia and apperceptive agnosia in children with visual impairments. The research compares children with and without visual impairments to examine differences in attention and visual perception structure.

Lottie Barton

Research Assistant

Lottie Barton is a second-year BSc Psychology student at Durham University. She has had previous experience in optical consulting, with her interests lying in vision. Going forward, she wishes to pursue a career in Clinical Neuropsychology.

You?

PhD student

Are you interested in our work? Why not join us. We are growing our team and would love to hear from you. You do not need a background in Psychology, we are an interdisciplinary team.

Together, we can apply for departmental studentships, the Durham Doctoral Studentships, Chinese Scholarship Council scholarships, NINE DTP, Fight for Sight studentships, Stroke Association Postgraduate Fellowship, NIHR doctoral fellowship, Dunhill Medical Trust doctoral training fellowship, British Heart Foundation PhD Studentships, Action Medical Research Training Fellowship. To start in October 2025, please get in touch in October 2024.

Photo credit: Marco Bellucci

You?

Postdoctoral researcher

To explore your own research interests and develop your own line of work, you can apply for Addison Wheeler Fellowships, British Heart Foundation fellowships, Dunhill Medical Trust postdoctoral fellowship, Stroke Association postdoctoral fellowship, Wellcome Trust Early Career Awards, Newton International Fellowship, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral fellowship, and others. Get in touch to hear how we can support you and your career.

Photo credit: Marco Bellucci

You?

Research assistant or MSc research student

Want to find out if a research career is for you? Want to get research experience for your application for a Clinical Psychology Doctorate course? Why not join us! We regularly have short and long term opportunities.

Paid summer internship schemes we can apply for are AVA Undergraduate Research Scholarship, BPS Undergraduate Research Assistantship Scheme. Deadline for these are typically in March, so get in touch in January. Durham University students can join us through the Research Assistant Scheme or apply for a Laidlaw summer internship.

If you want to get a real feel of research and get a MSc on top, you can join us for a 1-year research project. There are several scholarships available with specific opportunities for students from developing countries and refugees.

Photo credit: Marco Bellucci