Alison Pike

Prof Alison Pike is a Professor of Child & Family Psychology and Interim Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on family relationships, particularly siblings and differential child experiences within families, employing cross-cultural, family, and twin study designs. She has contributed to BAFTA-nominated documentaries exploring childhood dynamics. She leads the Nurture Lab and oversees the School’s academic and strategic direction. Her work addresses family dynamics in diverse contexts, including armed conflict zones and adoptive families.

Prof Pike has secured grants from institutions like the British Academy and the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, funding projects on parenting, child development, and family resilience. Her research emphasizes the interplay between family systems and broader societal contexts, such as culture and conflict, on child well-being. She has advised on research funding for ESRC and Leverhulme Trust initiatives.

Her teaching contributions include modules in Developmental Psychology and the Psychology of Childhood, though she is not convening any in 2024-25. She actively engages in public scholarship through media appearances and accessible outreach. Professional activities include institutional review roles and collaborative work with international networks like iNeo on neonatal care comparisons.