Research Team

Matthew ThompsonMatthew investigates human perceptual expertise. He is a Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University following research fellowships at The University of California, The University of Queensland, and Harvard Medical School. He is working to reduce error in safety-critical decision making in forensics, medicine, and defence, and to better understand the nature and development of perceptual expertise. He has received over $1.4 million in research funding, and currently holds an ARC Linkage Grant and Department of Defence grant. He provides training to the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA Police Force, and WA Department of Health, and serves on the early-career brain science panel at the National Academy of Science.

Matthew Thompson

Matthew investigates human perceptual expertise. He is a Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University following research fellowships at The University of California, The University of Queensland, and Harvard Medical School. He is working to reduce error in safety-critical decision making in forensics, medicine, and defence, and to better understand the nature and development of perceptual expertise. He has received over $1.4 million in research funding, and currently holds an ARC Linkage Grant and Department of Defence grant. He provides training to the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA Police Force, and WA Department of Health, and serves on the early-career brain science panel at the National Academy of Science.

Varun GandhiVarun completed his BSc (Psychology) at Murdoch University in 2019 and completed his Honours under Dr Thompson in 2020, focusing on people’s ability to visually discriminate between marine species. Varun is currently completing his PhD under the supervision of Dr Thompson and Associate Professor Guillermo Campitelli. Broadly, Varun is interested in the biases and heuristics that we consciously and unconsciously use to make sense of the world. The world around us does not exist as we perceive it – studying and understanding this phenomenon can allow us to improve the decisions that we make. Eventually, Varun hopes to use this to improve decision making across industry and government.

Varun Gandhi

Varun completed his BSc (Psychology) at Murdoch University in 2019 and completed his Honours under Dr Thompson in 2020, focusing on people’s ability to visually discriminate between marine species. Varun commenced his PhD in 2021, under the supervision of Dr Thompson and Associate Professor Guillermo Campitelli. Varun's PhD focuses on the perception of time and the conditions under which time perception is distorted. Varun is particularly interested in investigating the impact of perceptual expertise on time perception - that is, do experts perceive time differently?
More broadly, Varun is interested in the biases and heuristics that we consciously and unconsciously use to make sense of the world.

Shalini VijeyaendraShalini is currently completing her Honours in a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) degree at Murdoch University, supervised by Dr. Matthew Thompson. She has a strong interest in cognition, perception and expertise.  More specifically, the effect that perception and cognition have on an individual’s behaviour in daily life, and on experts in various domains. Shalini has previously completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and practiced for 13 years prior to having a family and commencing her Psychology degree.  Her main areas of practice were Family Law and Estate Planning. In addition to her studies, Shalini is working as a Research Assistant to Dr. Matthew Thompson in the Perceptual Expertise Advanced Research Lab and as a tutor in the PSY173: Introduction to Psychological Research Methods unit.  Shalini also volunteers her time as the Deputy Chair of the Shelley Primary School Board and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Shelley Primary School P&C Committee

Shalini Vijeyaendra

Shalini is currently completing her Honours in a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) degree at Murdoch University, supervised by Dr. Matthew Thompson. She has a strong interest in cognition, perception and expertise.  More specifically, the effect that perception and cognition have on an individual’s behaviour in daily life, and on experts in various domains.
Shalini has previously completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and practiced for 13 years prior to having a family and commencing her Psychology degree.  Her main areas of practice were Family Law and Estate Planning.
In addition to her studies, Shalini is working as a Research Assistant to Dr. Matthew Thompson in the Perceptual Expertise Advanced Research Lab.  Shalini also volunteers her time as the Deputy Chair of the Shelley Primary School Board and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Shelley Primary School P&C Committee

Chloe Smith

Chloe completed her Psychology Honours at Murdoch University in 2018, investigating right-hemisphere contributions to language comprehension using ERP measures. She has since worked as a research assistant in the PEARL lab and contributed to research projects and publications that seek to apply evidence and methods from cognitive science to the problem of developing expertise in high stakes decision-making and mission critical domains, including forensic sciences, fire and emergency services, and military operations. Her interests in psychological theory span learning, individual differences, mental representation, categorisation, motivation, and evolutionary perspectives. She also enjoys teaching undergraduate psychology students, reading, roller-blading, cinnamon scrolls, picking mulberries, and forgetting to take socks off when getting in the shower. Chloe is impassioned when engaging in all aspects of research, and she is eager to enlist the knowledge and skills that she has gained in the PEARL to clinical psychology research and practice.

Alexandra NaylerAlexandra is in her final semester of her BA in Psychology at Murdoch University and hopes to complete her honours in 2021.  Alexandra has a strong interest in cognitive and social psychology and how perception shapes the way we think and behave in the world.  Alexandra currently volunteers for The Samaritans Crisis Support line and strongly values compassion and kindness which has played a key role in why she has chosen to study psychology.

Alexandra Richardson-Newton

Alexandra completed her BA (Psychology) at Murdoch University in 2020 and completed her Honours under the supervision of Dr Matthew Thompson in 2021.  Since completing her Honours, Alexandra has been working as a Research Assistant in the Perceptual Expertise Advanced Research Lab to Dr Thompson. Alexandra has a strong interest in cognitive and social psychology and how perception shapes the way we think and behave in the world.  Alexandra currently volunteers for The Samaritans Crisis Support line and strongly values compassion and kindness which has played a key role in why she has chosen to study psychology.

Alecia WoodAlecia is currently completing her 3rd year of a double degree at Murdoch University, studying a double degree with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology (Criminal Behaviour) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Currently assisting in the Perceptual Expertise Advanced Research Lab (PEARL) as part of a research unit, she is excited to gain more insight into how research is conducted in psychology. Alecia’s interests within psychology are extensive, including (but not limited to), differences in human perception, evolutionary psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and sexuality. Due to graduate mid-2022, Alecia plans to dedicate six months to herself before starting a further journey into higher education, hoping to complete both honours’ and masters’ degrees.  In the future, she hopes to gain accreditation as a Clinical Psychologist and support those struggling with difficulties in their mental health.

Alecia Wood

Alecia is currently completing her 3rd year of a double degree at Murdoch University, studying a double degree with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology (Criminal Behaviour) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Currently assisting in the Perceptual Expertise Advanced Research Lab (PEARL) as part of a research unit, she is excited to gain more insight into how research is conducted in psychology.
Alecia’s interests within psychology are extensive, including (but not limited to), differences in human perception, evolutionary psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and sexuality. Due to graduate mid-2022, Alecia plans to dedicate six months to herself before starting a further journey into higher education, hoping to complete both honours’ and masters’ degrees. 
In the future, she hopes to gain accreditation as a Clinical Psychologist and support those struggling with difficulties in their mental health.

Brierly Matson

Brierly is in her final year of a Bachelor of Science with a double major in psychology and criminal behaviour. Brierly hopes to pursue honours in 2023. Brierly's main areas of interest include cognitive science and neuropsychology. Specifically, she loves the challenge of understanding how the brain's objective processes can create such subjective experiences. This encompasses fascinations with mental illness, trauma, perceptual expertise and control, intelligence, and mental endurance, to name a few. In understanding the brain's physiology and resulting psychology, Brierly wishes to apply such knowledge to manipulating the brain for perceptual and cognitive advancement. While endeavouring to keep her options open, Brierly believes she will pursue a pathway where she can explore her fascination in cognitive science whilst providing to those who need to be prioritised, whether at the individual or industry level.

Ayomide Fadahunsi

Ayo is currently enrolled as a student at Murdoch University, undergoing a graduate diploma in Psychology. She has just completed a double major in Psychology (BA) at the University of Western Australia.
Future plans for Ayo involve the possibility of obtaining a Masters in either Forensic, Clinical Psychology or a Juris Doctor. Ayo is passionate about closing the gap and exploring disparities with race in mental health, physical health and incarceration.
In her spare time, however, you can find Ayo binge watching a decent tv series or tuning in to one of her favourite albums. 

Mereline Yogusa

Mereline completed a BA in psychology in 2021 and is now a 4th-year student studying the Graduate diploma in psychology and anticipates finishing it in mid-2023. Mereline is interested in several psychological areas such as social, cognitive, occupational, evolutionary and perceptual psychology. She will contribute to the Perceptual Expertise Advanced Research Lab (PEARL) for her thesis. Specifically, Mereline will focus on the difference between experts and novices in fingerprint analysis. Mereline hopes to become an organisational psychologist or a similar role as she is interested in how people's minds, emotions and behaviours influence their performance at work. She is also interested in the conditions that promote better performance in workers and create culturally and socially safe working environments.

Molly Zalmstra

Molly is currently in her 3rd year of a double degree at Murdoch University, studying a Bachelor of Criminology (Crime Science) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Molly's plans for the future include obtaining an honours degree, followed by a Masters in Clinical or Forensic Psychology.  She is passionate about closing the gap and reducing the stigma around rehabilitation while incarcerated and the appropriate reintegration of offenders into the community.

Jenna Simkiss

Jenna is currently completing a double degree in Criminology and Psychology at Murdoch University. After completing her Undergraduate degree, she wants to take her studies into the community and help people who may not have access to support services. She has a passion for art and joy and wants everyone to have the knowledge and ability to live fulfilling lives.

David Jones

David is currently a 4th-year honours student working on his thesis under the supervision of Dr Matthew Thompson. David is currently also the manager & producer at Fremantle Recording Studios where he spends the other half of his time mostly recording, mixing and songwriting with musicians. Domains of interest within psychology that perk David's interest are Buddhist mindfulness and meditation with the added focus upon cultivating positive mental states and qualities which enhance one's mental and emotional wellbeing. After completing his study, David seeks to apply this knowledge and the best of evidence-based psychological research to help clinical populations with mental illness and use this knowledge to live a wiser, calmer and kinder life. 

 

PEARL Alumni

  • Jack Hayman - Psychological Research Placement

  • Jasmine Robinson - Psychological Research Placement

  • Jeanne Du Toit - Graduate Diploma in Psychology

  • Kaitlyn Parcell - Psychological Research Placement

  • Kate Stynes - Psychology Honours, Psychological Research Placement

  • Kelly Tartano - Psychology Honours, Psychological Research Placement

  • Kortnee Evans - Psychological Research Placement

  • Larissa Moga - Psychological Research Placement

  • Laura Toose - Psychological Research Placement

  • Lisa Munday - Psychology Honours

  • Madeleine Graham - Research Assistant, Psychology Honours

  • Michaela Neunborn - Psychological Research Placement

  • Rebecca Ware - Psychology Honours, Psychological Research Placement

  • Rosie Moss - Psychological Research Placement

  • Shalini Vijeyaendra - Psychological Research Placement

  • Varun Gandhi - Psychology Honours, Psychological Research Placement

  • Alecia Wood - Psychological Research Placement

  • Alexandra Richardson-Newton - Psychology Honours, Psychological Research Placement

  • Andrew Frank - Graduate Diploma in Psychology

  • Anthony Nguyen - Psychology Honours

  • Ashleigh Helm - Graduate Diploma in Psychology

  • Brantley-Marie Philpot - Psychology Honours

  • Brierly Matson - Psychological Research Placement

  • Carmen Cox - Graduate Diploma in Psychology

  • Clare Wallwork - Psychological Research Placement

  • Danika Douglas - Psychological Research Placement

  • Dorothee Creuzot - Psychology Honours

  • Eileen Gillard - Psychology Honours

  • Elliot Cottrill - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  • Heather Edmonds - Psychological Research Placement

  • Jared Knott - Psychological Research Placement