Overview

Niamh Kennedy is a cognitive neuroscientist,her research interest is in neuroplasticity and neuro-rehabiltation 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. Working collaboratively with Allied Health Professionals, Neuroscientists, Psychologists and charities.

Niamh’s PhD concentrated on the exploitation of neuroplasticity through rehabilitation or non-invasive methods of stimulation techniques, to enhance the recovery of function in the upper limbs.

Niamh sits on a number of key-stroke committees including:

• James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership
• UK Stroke forum scientific committee and steering group
• Deputy Chairperson N.Ireland Multidisciplinary Stroke Association (NIMAST)

She has received funding from a range of funders including:

• Wolfson Foundation
• British Academy/Newton Fund
• Stroke Association
• Northern Ireland Chest
• Heart and Stroke
• MS Society
• Department for the Economy and industrial partnerships

She is actively involved in public communication of science including a variety of outreach activities and Science festival events.

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). During this time she was involved in 2 large Medical Research Council (MRC) funded stroke rehabilitation trials, including neurophysiological lead for FAST INdICATE Trial (£1.4million) investigating upper limb stroke rehabilitation using non-invasive brain stimulation.

Since 2017 she has worked as Lecturer in School of Psychology, Ulster University, where she is joint lead of the Cognitive Neuroscience lab.

Her research interests include the capitalising of neuroplasticity using non-invasive methods of stimulation. She works with stroke survivors to investigate the interaction between motor, sensory and cognitive aspects of long term recovery from stroke.

Education/Academic qualification

• Master, University of East Anglia - Award Date: 7 December 2015
• Bachelor, Queen's University, Belfast - Award Date: 7 July 2005
• PhD, Queen's University, Belfast (2006-2011)

External positions

• Board Member, The Stroke Association (2020-2023)
• Associate Editor (from 2019)
• Honorary Lectureship, University of East Anglia (2017 - 2020)

Research Opportunities