National Award for Dementia PhD student

Catherine is a cyberpsychologist, currently in her final year as a PhD student at the University of Exeter Medical School. For her work, she has received the Rising Researcher award from the Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group (PsyPAG).

She collected the award and presented the findings of her thesis at the PsyPAG conference 25^th July 2019 at Sheffield Hallam University.

Catherine said: “To have won this award is incredible. I can’t thank the team that I have worked with enough, especially my fantastic supervisors. This award tops off what has been a great three years working in such an interesting area of research. Thank you to everyone who has helped me to reach this point in my career and receive such a prestigious award.”

Her research investigated the use of Twitter by people with dementia and how it may benefit them. She worked with The Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health (REACH) to carry out interviews with people with dementia and allow their voices to be heard.Catherine also takes part in both the British Psychological Society South West Branch as a committee member and PsyPAG as vice chair.

Dr Siobhan O’Dwyer, Senior Lecturer in Ageing & Family Care and Catherine’s primary supervisor said: “I am so proud of this amazing woman and so honoured to be part of her journey. This is a well-deserved win and the beginning of a stellar research career.”

Cyberpsychologist Catherine originally graduated from the University of Bath in Psychology, before joining the University of Exeter for her three year PhD which she is due to finish this year.

For more information about postgraduate study, visit the study webpages.