Team

Dr Raquel Nogueira Arjona

I am a Clinical Psychologist and co-director of the Sussex Addictions Research and Intervention Centre. I earned my PhD in Psychology from the University of Malaga, where I investigated the impact of treating comorbid conditions on therapy effectiveness for children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Following this, I completed postdoctoral training in addiction research at Dalhousie University. My research focuses on understanding and addressing the shared risk factors between addictions and emotional problems throughout the lifespan. By employing diverse methodologies, such as experimental paradigms and ecological momentary assessment, I explore these critical risk factors and their interactions within relational contexts. My goal is to develop innovative psychological treatments that effectively respond to individual vulnerabilities and the complex social environments in which they arise. 

Email: r.nogueira-arjona@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Raquel

Dr Pablo Romero Sanchiz

I am a Clinical Psychologist specializing in anxiety-related disorders and addictions, with a strong focus on both clinical practice and research. I earned my PhD from the University of Málaga, where I studied the differences between obsessions, worries, and health concerns under Prof Aurora Gavino. I furthered my research at the Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga, exploring neuroscience and the immune system's role in mental health, supported by a Río Hortega Fellowship. At Dalhousie University, I conducted research on PTSD and addictions using experimental methodologies and fMRI in Prof Sherry Stewart's lab.

Email: p.romero-sanchiz@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Pablo

Robyn Scharte

I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at Leiden University in the Netherlands, with a minor in Criminology. During my degree, I developed a strong interest in clinical psychology and neuroscience. I completed a placement in the Clinical Neuropsychology Department at the University Hospital in Bonn, Germany. In my bachelor’s dissertation I investigated neurophysiological markers of depression.

Email: r.scharte@sussex.ac.uk

Meyra Jackson

Currently, I am a doctoral researcher at the University of Sussex, where I will focus on adapting attention-based intervention methods for patients displaying comorbid PTSD and substance use issues. After completing my Bachelor's at the Maastricht Science Programme, focusing on biology and neuroscience, I earned my MSc in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, specialization Neuropsychology, at Maastricht University. As part of my Master's program, I spent nearly a year as a research trainee at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine - Department of Neurology, investigating the effects of right hemisphere stroke on receptive prosody and its underlying white matter architecture. Other former research projects include investigating the effects of sleep deprivation on pattern separation in healthy adults (Maastricht University), as well as exploring the effects of tDCS on value-based decision making using fMRI (TU Dresden/FU Berlin).

Email: meyra.jackson@sussex.ac.uk

Pia Rodway

I am a doctoral student at the University of Sussex, where my PhD explores how autistic sensory and attentional processes shape responses to personal stressors, and how these may relate to using substances to cope. I previously completed a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Foundations of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sussex. During this time, I also worked as a research assistant on projects exploring autism and cognition. My wider research interests include neurodiversity, trauma and addiction, with a particular focus on neuroaffirmative and trauma-informed approaches to support.

Email: pr265@sussex.ac.uk

Emmi Mason

I am a Psychology with Clinical Approaches (BSc) student at the University of Sussex, currently undertaking my placement year as a research assistant. I am passionate about pursuing a career in clinical psychology and contributing to research relating to emotional disorders, mental health and addiction.

Email: eem31@sussex.ac.uk

Robin Teggin

I am a psychology student at the University of Sussex currently doing a research placement at the REALab, where I aspire to learn more about the psychology behind addictions and effective interventions as I aspire to be a clinical psychologist in the future. Alongside my degree I have been studying BSL and am involved in the art society at Sussex.

Email: rat26@sussex.ac.uk

Sara Tokarz

I am a research assistant at the University of Sussex. I earned my MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at University of Sussex during which I conducted research imaging transverse sections of rat neuroanatomical subsites, looking into the formation of fear memory engrams and fear memory extinction within the hippocampus. I earned my BSc in Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Leicester, where my research focused on anxiety within the student cohort and how we can use eye tracking to gain further insight into the mechanisms guiding attention. During my undergraduate degree I spent a year at Leiden University in the Netherlands completing modules ranging from Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, and Sexology to the Psychological and Neurobiological Consequences of Child Abuse.

Email: S.Tokarz@sussex.ac.uk

Beth Matthews

I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience at the University of Leeds, where I became interested in the cognitive aspects of Neuroscience. This led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. For my master’s research dissertation, I investigated the role of perceived emotion regulation effort on facial affect and interpersonal facial expression synchrony during face-to-face interactions between dyads. This project highlighted the importance of emotion regulation in how we interact with others and the factors that may impact our emotion regulation. I am currently a Volunteer Research Assistant at the REALab, assisting with the lab's range of very exciting and important research projects. In the future, I aim to pursue a PhD and conduct my own impactful research.

Email: bm487@sussex.ac.uk

Shakira Kinza Ciesay

I am an MRes student at the University of Sussex, pursuing my master's in Psychological Research Methods. I have a background in Cultural Psychology, having done an MSc at the University of Amsterdam. As part of my BSc in Psychology at Vrije University, Amsterdam, I undertook a minor in Gender and Diversity and have skills in multidisciplinary research across the social sciences. I have joined the REALab as a research assistant, and I am involved in the study of wellbeing and substance use among university students. In my research, I tend to focus on issues of mental health, social support and the cross-cultural experiences of LGBT individuals.

Email: S.Ciesay@sussex.ac.uk