William Penny

William Penny is a Professor in Psychology at the University of East Anglia (UEA), School of Psychology. He joined UEA in 2017 after serving as a Professor at University College London (UCL). His research focuses on brain imaging methodologies, particularly analyzing fMRI and EEG data using Bayesian Inference, Dynamical Systems, and Probabilistic Machine Learning. He holds a BEng in Electrical Engineering (Nottingham University, 1988), MSc in Communication Engineering (Imperial College, 1989), and PhD in Artificial Neural Networks (Brunel University, 1993).

He has led projects including a Wellcome Trust-funded initiative on brain imaging (2019–2024) and a study on brain function during perimenopause with Braincare Limited (2025–2026). His work spans collaborations in neuroimaging analysis, cognitive modeling, and translational neuroscience. His research outputs emphasize Bayesian methods, dynamic causal models, and computational neuroscience, with 84+ peer-reviewed articles.

Key areas include cortical degeneration in Huntington’s disease, diet-cognition links, and neural mechanisms of decision-making. His lab, the UEA Brain Imaging Centre (UBIC), advances multimodal neuroimaging techniques. Professional affiliations include the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Neuroimaging at UCL and international collaborations. No specific awards are listed, but his contributions to neuroimaging methodology are widely recognized.