Mairead is a third year PhD student at the department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, supervised by Professors Trevor Robbins and Zoe Kourtzi. As part of her PhD research Mairead aims to better understand the nature of cognitive flexibility and how it relates to compulsivity. Mairead uses neuroimaging techniques (MRS & fMRI) and computational modelling to investigate the neurocognitive underpinnings of these constructs and the implications for neuropsychiatric disorders. Her PhD is jointly funded by the MRC-DTP and Vice Chancellor’s Award. 

Before starting her PhD, Mairead was employed as a Research Assistant at the department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford under the supervision of Professors Kate Watkins and Dorothy Bishop. Mairead worked on a research study which provided a characterisation of structural and functional alterations in the brains of a large population of children aged 10-15, both with and without language difficulties.  Before moving to the UK, Mairead completed a BSc degree in Psychology from the University of Maynooth, Ireland. 

Outside of work Mairead enjoys playing basketball, reading, and watching interior design shows.