Briana Kennedy

Briana Kennedy is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychological Science at the University of Western Australia (UWA) and Director of the PECAN Lab. Her research focuses on cognitive processes including attention, memory, emotion, and aging, particularly exploring the positivity effect and neural mechanisms underlying these phenomena. She teaches courses such as Cognitive Neuroscience (PSYC2217) and Psychology: Mind and Brain (PSYC1101), and has held roles like Unit Coordinator for multiple programs.

• PhD in Psychology from UNSW Sydney (advisor: Steve Most)
• Postdoctoral research at the University of Southern California (advisor: Mara Mather)

Her research interests include emotion-cognition interactions, aging-related cognitive changes, and the role of arousal in cognition. The PECAN Lab investigates topics like attentional bias in eating disorders and age differences in emotional processing.

Service roles include Deputy Chair of the Undergraduate Education Committee (2025), Unit Equivalence Advisor (2023 & 2025), and roles in UWA’s Inclusion & Diversity Committee and Research Committee.