Kyriaki Nikolaou

Kyriaki Nikolaou serves as Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Sussex's School of Psychology, where she conducts research on the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol addiction. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Psychology from Goldsmiths University of London, an MSc in Clinical Neuroscience from UCL, and a BSc in Psychology from Goldsmiths.

Her research focuses on cognitive biases toward alcohol-related stimuli, the effects of stress and pharmacological interventions on addiction processes, and the neural mechanisms of cognitive control in substance use disorders. Utilizing cognitive/behavioral approaches, neuroimaging, and pharmacological manipulations, her work has significantly contributed to understanding how genetic variations, stress responses, and noradrenergic systems influence addiction pathways.

Nikolaou's publication record demonstrates consistent expertise in alcohol addiction neuroscience, with recent work examining pain perception in binge drinkers, cognitive bias modification techniques, and genetic influences on adolescent reward processing. Her research trajectory shows evolution from fundamental neurocognitive mechanisms to translational applications including pharmacological interventions like Atomoxetine for Alcohol Use Disorders.

As an educator, she convenes Biological Psychology and Cognitive Psychology modules while co-convening Psychobiology. Her teaching responsibilities include Cognition in Clinical Contexts and regular student consultation hours. Nikolaou maintains an active research profile through collaborations with the IMAGEN consortium and European Commission Horizon 2020 projects, particularly the Systems biology of Alcohol Addiction initiative.