Dr Niamh Kennedy

Overview

Niamh is  a Senior Lecturer in School of Psychology, she has worked at Ulster University since 2017.

Dr Kennedy completed her BSc in Psychology from Queens University Belfast (QUB) in 2005, following this she was awarded Helen Ramsey Turtle Scholarship to complete a research internship in Harvard University and Boston University in Neuropsychology. She conducted a PhD in QUB with Professor Richard Carson into the use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to utilise neuroplasticity in the upper limbs.

After her PhD in 2010 she worked for 7 years as a Lecturer in Rehabilitation Neuroscience as a member of the Acquired Brain Injury Alliance in University of East Anglia (UEA).

Research Focus

Niamh Kennedy is a cognitive neuroscientist, her research interest is in neuroplasticity and neurorehabiltation following stroke and brain injury. She works with stroke survivors to investigate the interaction between motor, psychosocial and cognitive aspects of long term recovery from stroke. Niamh uses a variety of research methodologies including experimental neuroscience, non-invasive brain stimulation and mixed methods. Niamh uses a variety of research methodologies, including experimental neuroscience, non-invasive brain stimulation and mixed methods. Working collaboratively with Allied Health Professionals, Neuroscientists, Psychologists and charities.

Research Interests

Niamh has received funding from a range of funders, and has worked collaboratively within and outside the university.

Recent Funding

2022; CI. Higher Education Research Capital Fund. SPORTLAB: Sporting Performance Optimised through Research and Technology Living Lab. £364,801

2022 PI Cedar Foundation ABI Choices Evaluation £10,000

2021; CIEnhancing Caregivers Wellbeing: UK Community Renewal Fund, £743,352

2021 PI Cumulus Neuroscience Impaired Cognition Study, £15,000

2020 CI Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Research (NICHS) PREP-plus, 104,595

2019 P1 Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke An independent inquiry into the identification and management of AF to reduce stroke risk, £10,000

2018 CI Department for the Economy Psychological Science Laboratory HERC Funding

2018 PI Long term effects of stroke in Northern Ireland Stroke Association

2018 Beyond Words: An evaluation of stroke training for staff in Four Seasons Residential Homes Stroke Association, £3000

Research Awards

• Ulster University Impact Award nominee 2019;
• Ulster University communication award nominee 2018;
• British Academy/Newton Fund Acquired Neurorehabilitation Fellow 2016;
• Magstim TMS Young Investigator 2011;
• Helen Ramsey Turtle Memorial travel scholarship Queens University Belfast 2005

Niamh has won a variety of conference presentations, poster and travel prizes including annual British Psychological Society (BPS); TMS annual conference; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Group; Stroke Association travel fund, Neuropsychology conference prize; Neuroscience RRG International Travel Scholarship

Discipline & Research Leadership Positions

Discipline leadership

Niamh is a trustee of the Stroke association board and the chair of the Northern Ireland stroke association advisory committee. Niamh has also sat on a number of key brain injury committees includingJames Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, UK Stroke forum scientific committee/steering group and asDeputy Chairperson N.Ireland Multidisciplinary Stroke Association (NIMAST).

• Honorary Lectureship University of East Anglia 2017-current
• Associate Editor role Frontiers in Neuro-rehabilitation
• Editorial Board Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma
• Editorial Board Cogent Psychology

Within the university Niamh is Research theme lead for Health and Aging in School of Psychology, Athena swan lead for Psychology and lead of the Cognitive Neuroscience lab.

Teaching

• PSY309 Cognitive Psychology- Module coordinator (UG Psychology)
• PSY719 Bio-behavioural mechanisms underlying health (MSc health) Module coordinator
• PSY111 Cognitive Psychology lectures
• PTH703 Neuroplasticity in Neurodisability across the lifespan (MSc)

Research Supervision

Niamh supervises in the broad area of neuroscience and experimental methods.

Current PhD students

• Niamh has a number of current PhD researchers:
• Oisin Cleary - The impact of younger stroke on cognition.
• Claire Mc Feeters - Physical Activity and Exercise post Stroke
• Philip Donaghy -  Discovering and understanding speech-derived vocal biomarker patterns related to mental health sciences
• Aoife Talbot - Understanding how best to measure sleep outcomes in parents of children with a chronic or life-limiting condition

Recently Graduated PhD Students

Rebekah Rees - The effects of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity on cognitive function in stroke survivors

In previous institutions:

Neurophysiological correlates of fatigue and the feasibility of progressive resistance exercise for fatigue symptoms in people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Investigation of Virtual Reality as a new model of delivery for evidence-based stroke rehabilitation.

Investigation of Upper limb Kinematics and Corticospinal Pathway Activity Early after Stroke

Administrative Roles and Memberships

Athena Swan Champion for the School of Psychology and as such is responsible for working through action plan points, organising meetings and planning Athena Swan activities. Sits on the faculty Athena swan committee, the University Carers Fund committee and the University Athena swan committee. Awarded UU seed funding £3000 to run Insight into Psychology for male pupils 2019 & 2020. Niamh sits on the Psychology UG ethics committee and manages the UU Psychology Twitter account.

National Teaching Fellow

Chartered Psychologist British psychology Society(BPS)

Community Impact

She is actively involved in public communication of science including a variety of outreach activities and Science festival events including Re-wiring your brain, Neuromusicology.

Niamh has worked with a number of local charities including Cedar Foundation, Stroke Association, Tiny Life and Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke.

Research Opportunities