Shazia Akhtar

Dr. Shazia Akhtar is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography at the University of Hertfordshire, School of Life and Medical Sciences. She specializes in cognitive neuropsychology with a focus on human memory mechanisms. Her research spans three core areas: priming false memories in older adults and Alzheimer’s patients, theoretical aspects of autobiographical memory structure, and applications of memory research in legal contexts like false memory detection and juror decision-making. She also advocates for best practices in psychological research methodologies.

Education & Career:

• PhD in Psychology from University of Leeds (supervised by Prof Chris Moulin)
• Postdoctoral research at City University London (with Prof Martin Conway and Prof Mark Howe)
• Senior Research Associate at University of Bradford (with Prof Catriona Morrison)

Research Themes:

• Memory distortion in clinical populations
• Cognitive neuroscience of autobiographical memory
• Memory-law interface including trauma recall and courtroom evidence
• Methodological rigor in psychological studies

Affiliations: Applied Psychology Research Group & Clinical Psychology Research Group. Collaborates internationally on topics like paranormal belief systems and neuropsychological assessment tools.