Jennifer MacRitchie

Dr. Jennifer MacRitchie is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield's Department of Music, affiliated with the School of Languages, Arts and Societies. She holds an M.Eng in Electronics with Music from the University of Glasgow and a PhD in Science and Music Research from the same institution. Previously, she held roles at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana and Western Sydney University as a Research Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow.

Her research focuses on the intersection of music, technology, and health, particularly designing assistive technologies for older adults with dementia and their carers. Key collaborations include work with Prof. Renee Timmers, Prof. Luc de Witte, and Prof. Andrew McPherson. She co-supervises PhD students exploring topics like dementia-friendly musical interfaces and notation systems.

Research interests span music performance neuroscience, technology-enhanced music education, and interdisciplinary methods combining engineering, psychology, and healthcare. Notable projects include the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship-funded initiative to develop new musical technologies for dementia care and the Active Minds Music Ensemble study.

Grants include a £1.18M UKRI Fellowship and an Australian Research Council Discovery Project. Her work has appeared in journals like Alzheimer's & Dementia, Music & Science, and Frontiers in Psychology. Awards include prestigious fellowships and grants supporting her innovative research.