I co-direct the Body Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab, researching sensory motor control and imitation with a particular focus on autism in adulthood. Much of my research is co-produced with the autistic community (autistic adults and parents of autistic children), facilitated by the network Autism@Manchester which i co-chair. Inititiaves include expert by experience advisory groups, newsletters, co-production of research and public events.

I teach on the BSc (Hons) Optometry and Pscyhology degrees as well as supervising Undergraduate and Masters Psychology and Neuroscience students. My current administrative roles include Co-lead for the Psychology Placement programme. 

Current and previous funding includes ESRC, MRC, NIHR, The Wellcome Trust and The University of Manchester. I am a member of the following professional associations: Applied Vision Association (AVA), British Neuroscience Association (BNA), Experimental Psychological Society (EPS), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Please visit our BEAM or Autism@Manchester website for more details on my research and recent findings:

https://blogs.manchester.ac.uk/beamlab/

http://www.autism.manchester.ac.uk/

I am a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health within the Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience. I qualified as an Orthoptist from The University of Liverpool in 1998, following which I worked at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and undertook an MSc in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at The University of Manchester. I completed my PhD with Professor Richard Abadi in 2003 at University Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST - before merger into The University of Manchester). Shortly afterwards, I joined Professor Chris Miall at the department of psychology, Birmingham University. In September 2006, I took up a Lectureship at The University of Manchester was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2014, then Professor in 2025.  Together with Professor Ellen Poliakoff, I direct the Body, Eye and Movement (BEAM) lab, researching sensory motor control, imitation and autism and am Co-Chair of Autism@Manchester.

I am interested in how the brain uses sensory information such as vision and touch to program and control motor movements (e.g. picking up objects or balancing). Much of my research involves looking at sensory and motor control in autistic adults who frequently experience sensory issues such as feeling overwhelmed by different sensory information and also tend to have poorer motor skills. 

I use a range of research techniques including eye tracking, motion tracking, Psychophysics, Qualtiative techniques and Electroencephalography (EEG). I follow a participatory approach where I work collaboratively with autistic people to develop research ideas, conduct experiments and write up and dissminate findings.

Please visit the BEAM lab or Autism@Manchester websites for more details about my research:

https://blogs.manchester.ac.uk/beamlab/

http://www.autism.manchester.ac.uk/

I teach an Autism unit to Psychology students and also supervise undergraduate and Masters project students on topics relating to sensory motor control and autism.