Associate Professor Michelle Downes - Lab Director
Assoc. Prof Michelle Downes is an Associate Professor and Ad Astra Fellow at UCD School of Psychology. Prior to joining UCD she worked as a research associate at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. Her PhD in developmental cognitive neuroscience from University College London investigated the development and assessment of executive functions in typically developing preschool children as well as preschool children with sickle cell disease using electroencephalography, eye-tracking, and behavioural methods. She completed an Msc in Paediatric Neuropsychology at UCL and a BA (Hons) in Psychology at National University of Ireland, Galway. She completed a paediatric neuropsychology research internship at Children’s Hospital Boston in 2010. Her research focuses on the impact of disease-related and environmental factors, such as sleep problems and family function, on brain and behaviour development in children. She is particularly interested in the development of executive functions and learning skills in infants and young children. She investigates brain and cognitive development in typically developing children and paediatric patient populations (including ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome, epilepsy, pre-term, obstructive sleep apnoea, sickle cell disease).
Olivia Wynne - Research Assistant
Olivia is a recent graduate of the BSc Applied Psychology course at IADT and is currently a student on the Masters of Psychological Science program at UCD. Olivia is interested in Developmental Psychology and is especially interested in investigating the factors which encourage engagement in young children. This interest developed during Olivia’s time as a volunteer at the Children’s Unit in the National Rehabilitation Hospital and during her time coaching and encouraging young children to develop through sport.
Olivia is delighted to join the team as a Research Assistant on a project exploring parents’ experience of inattention in the first years of formal education.
Maisie Flynn - Research Assistant
Maisie is a student on the Masters of Psychological Science at UCD. Maisie has worked as an Assistant Psychologist in education settings and has a particular interest in enhancing the learning experience for both teachers and students. Maisie is a volunteer with the Concern Worldwide debates project in secondary schools and enjoys encouraging young people to find their voice.
Maisie is currently working on a research project in the lab that aims to explore teachers’ perspectives of mind-wandering or inattention in the early classroom setting.
Abby O’Connell - PhD Candidate
Abby is a PhD candidate with the School of Psychology at UCD under the supervision of Assoc. Prof Michelle Downes. She is a graduate of the BSc Psychology from UCD and the MSc in Clinical Neuroscience from the University of Galway. Her Masters dissertation focused on the cognitive abilities of patients with schizophrenia, with a major focus on the influence of childhood trauma, parental bonding, and inflammatory biomarkers.
Abby is interested in research in developmental neuropsychology and working with young children. This interest has progressed from her undergraduate studies to now, having represented the University of Galway's School of Neuroscience at primary school workshops, to joining the UCD BabyLab.
Abby is very excited to begin her PhD work, as part of the ECHO project, investigating the neurocognitive development of infants exposed to E-cigarettes.
Eibhlín Healy - PhD Candidate
Eibhlín will be undertaking a PhD at the RCSI under the supervision of Dr. Carmen Regan and Professor Fergal Malone. She is a clinical lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Coombe Hospital, where she is continuing her training in Fetal Medicine. Prior to studying Medicine at the University of Limerick, she was awarded a BA in French and Italian from TCD and an MA in Classical Acting from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She holds an MSc in Clinical and Translational research from UCD, is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK. She was appointed as an Honorary Clinical Fellow at the University of Liverpool in 2022, while undertaking a Fellowship in Fetal Surgery with Professor Asma Khalil at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, specialising in the management of complex twins.
Eibhlín is interested in investigating the impact of vaping on maternal, fetal and perinatal outcomes as part of the ECHO obstetric research team.
Previous Lab Members
Dr Nail Hasshim-Postdoctoral researcher (currently lecturer at University of Salford)
Dr Jennifer Keating- PhD student (currently research associate at Cardiff University)
Dr Lisa Keenan - PhD student (currently research associate at Dublin City University)
Dr Clara Sherlock - PhD student (currently researcher at CHI Temple Street)
Dr Rebecca Gaffney- Clinical Doctorate
Sarah Conroy-Research Assistant
Anna Collins-Intern
Maria Dinca- Research Assistant
Emma Cullen-Research Assistant
Basak Ozkara - Intern
Kathy Trinh - Intern
Tom Herrnsdorf - Intern
Michelle Nevin - MPsychSc Student
Marion Gildea - Undergraduate Student
Ibak Baky - Undergraduate Student