Laura Hammond is a Senior Lecturer in Forensic and Investigative Psychology and Director of the Crime and Society Research Centre at Birmingham City University. Her work emphasizes real-world impact through collaboration with police forces, victim support charities, and national organizations like the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. She focuses on investigative processes, victim experiences, and evidence-based policy.
Dr. Francisco Pérez Fernández is a Professor at Camilo José Cela University (UCJC) in both Psychology and Criminology & Security departments, and holds a PhD in Philosophy & Education Sciences from Complutense University of Madrid (1997). He serves as coordinator of Criminology Degrees (2018-present), former Criminology Department Coordinator (2008-2013), and has been Academic Mentor Accreditation holder since 2008. His international collaborations include Evidentia University (Florida, USA) since 2022. PhD in Philosophy & Education Sciences (UCM, 1997) Postgraduate in Cognitive Sciences, Emotion & Stress (UCM) Accredited Academic Mentor (Spanish Mentoring Network) Civil & Commercial Mediator (UCJC) His research focuses on intersections between History of Psychology , Criminal Psychology , and Cultural Criminology , particularly examining: Crime-cultural system interactions Penitentiary system evolution Popular culture's role in criminal narratives Forensic science historical development Collective psychological phenomena Scientific contributions include establishing the Psychological Autopsy as investigative technology and developing the Method VERA behavioral analysis framework. His publications span: 15+ peer-reviewed articles (2019-2024) 6 book chapters on cultural anthropology 2 edited volumes on violence phenomena 1 book on vampire psychology 1 book on Batman's cultural origins Scientific recognition includes: 2015 In Memoriam Prof. Orozco Acquaviva Award 2016 Real Colegio de Médicos de Sevilla Award 2023 SECCIF Gold Insignia As academic leader, he has: Directed 60+ academic committees Mentored numerous doctoral candidates Coordinated postgraduate programs (2015-2016) Co-edited EduPsykhé journal Reviewed for 10+ international publications Current affiliations: Secretary of Spanish Society for the History of Psychology (SEHP, 2016-present) Member of American Psychological Association (APA) Full member of Spanish Society of Criminology and Forensic Sciences (SECCIF) Editor-in-Chief of EduPsykhé. Journal of Psychology and Education
Professor Jessica Woodhams is a chartered psychologist and HCPC-registered forensic psychologist at the University of Birmingham's School of Psychology, where she serves as Head of Research. She specializes in policing strategies, sexual offending, and crime linkage analysis, co-producing research with international practitioners. Her leadership roles include founding the C-LINK network, co-directing the Centre for Crime, Justice and Policing, and leading work streams on transnational crime. She holds a PhD from the University of Leicester, an MSc from Kent, and a BSc from Southampton. Her research focuses on informing police decision-making through crime linkage methodologies, evaluating interventions, and addressing the wellbeing of criminal justice professionals. She has secured over £5 million in grants, including a £1.74M project on internet-facilitated child sexual offending. Her work emphasizes collaboration with agencies like the Home Office, National Crime Agency, and international police forces. Recent publications explore secondary traumatic stress in analytical roles, face recognition neuroscience, and pandemic impacts on sex offenses. She advises on high-profile cases and develops AI-driven decision tools for law enforcement. Supervising over 100 students, her mentorship spans PhD candidates, ForenPsyD/ClinPsyD trainees, and MSc students.
Meghan Sacks is an Associate Professor of Criminology at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), where she serves as the Internship Program Director. She teaches courses such as Introduction to Criminology , Women and Crime , Serial Killers , and Probation and Parole Policy Analysis . BA, University of Rhode Island MA, John Jay College of Criminal Justice PhD, CUNY Graduate Center Her research focuses on bail reform , plea bargaining , sentencing policy , corrections , sex offender policies , parole , and wrongful convictions . She actively contributes to public discourse through co-hosting two true crime podcasts: Women and Crime and Direct Appeal . Meghan previously worked as a United States Probation Officer in the Southern District of New York before transitioning to academia.
Mark Winton, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida, part of the College of Community Innovation and Education. He joined the department in 2001 and holds certifications as a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Forensic Counselor, and National Certified Counselor. Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Connecticut M.A. in Applied Sociology, University of Central Florida M.A. in Counseling, Rollins College B.A. in Psychology, University of Central Florida Dr. Winton's research focuses on the intersection of criminal justice, sociology, and mental health, particularly examining topics such as genocide , serial murder , sex crimes , and mental disorders in criminal behavior . His teaching portfolio includes courses on Criminal Profiling, Terrorism, and Hate Crimes. His publications span journals like Homicide Studies , Aggression and Violent Behavior , and Child Abuse and Neglect , emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding violent crimes and their societal impacts. Notably, he co-authored two books and contributed to the documentary Why They Kill: The Creation of Dangerous Violent Criminals .
Andrea Gimenez-Salinas Framis is a Professor of Criminology at the Pontifical University of Comillas , affiliated with the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences and Department of Sociology and Social Work. She also serves as President of the Foundation for Applied Research in Crime and Security (FIADyS) and holds a PhD in Law and Criminology from the University of Castilla-La Mancha. Education: PhD in Law and Criminology (University of Castilla-La Mancha), Master's in Criminology (University of Montreal), Law Degree (University of Barcelona) Her research focuses on organized crime , human trafficking for sexual exploitation, sexual offending , and crime prevention . Recent publications analyze offender treatment attrition, hate crime judicial decisions, and dark web drug markets. Her work employs empirical methods and comparative criminology frameworks. Key scientific awards include the Order of Merit of the Civil Guard (2016) , the Medal of Penitentiary Social Merit (2011, 2023) , and a Leonardo Grant from BBVA Foundation (2017) . She has participated in over 30 national and European research projects and serves on the Scientific Committee of the International PhD in Criminology at Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Milan). Professional affiliations include associate researcher at the Center for Comparative Criminology (University of Montreal), member of the Global Initiative Network on Transnational Organized Crime, and co-director of the Criminology Collection at Síntesis Editorial. She has held research residencies at CNRS (France), University of Buenos Aires, and Rutgers University.
Dr. Wayne Petherick is an Associate Professor at Bond University's Faculty of Society & Design. He is a criminologist specializing in criminal profiling, statement analysis, and victimology, with a focus on decision-making in applied crime analysis and neurological correlates of offending. His work contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education and academic qualification. PhD in Law and Criminal Profiling Masters in Criminology Research Interests: Expands on statement analysis, examining satisficing hypotheses, victim precipitation, self-esteem in crime, and neurological factors. Develops applied crime analysis frameworks to address investigative and legal questions systematically. Recent Publications: Explore serial murder definitions, case linkage in rape, criminal profiling methodologies, Australian homicide trends, and female-perpetrated stalking. Keywords span criminology, forensic science, victimology, and behavioral analysis. Scientific Contributions: Supervised doctoral research on homicide solvability, staged crime scenes, and victim factors. Actively mentors HDR students in statement analysis, criminal profiling, and stalking.
Dr. Chelsea Slater is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Course Leader for the MSc in Forensic and Investigative Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton, within the School of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Health & Wellbeing. She has been with the university since 2016 and previously served as a Teaching Fellow and researcher at the University of Birmingham. Education: PhD in Forensic Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK (2016) B.A. in Psychology with Honours and Distinction, University of Michigan, USA (2010) Her research centers on investigative forensic psychology, particularly crime linkage, offender profiling, serial and sexual offenses, and statistical methodologies in criminal investigations. She explores behavioral consistency across crimes and the psychological underpinnings of criminal punishment and gender bias. Her recent publications reflect a strong focus on the empirical validation of crime linkage techniques, behavioral distinctions between serial and one-off offenders, and the application of psychological principles to real-world investigative challenges. These works are published in journals such as Behavioral Sciences and the Law and Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology , and presented at international conferences including the International Conference of Investigative Psychology. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Chartered Psychologist (Cpsychol) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) Dr. Slater actively contributes to academic mentoring and curriculum development. She has not listed any advisees in the provided text. She is involved in research projects related to offender behavior and investigative decision-making. There is no mention of external grants, but her work suggests collaboration with academic and possibly law enforcement partners. She is associated with the School of Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton, which supports research in forensic and investigative domains. While no specific lab or research team is named, her collaborative publications indicate active participation in research groups focused on forensic behavioral analysis.
Antonia Abbey is a distinguished professor in the Department of Psychology at Wayne State University, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is a member of the WSU Academy of Scholars and has held editorial roles, including Editor of Psychology of Violence (2018–2024). Her research focuses on social psychology, particularly women's health, prevention of violence against women, and the role of alcohol in sexual aggression. She has led major NIH-funded studies since the late 1990s, investigating the psychosocial and contextual factors influencing sexual violence perpetration and victimization. Education : Ph.D. in Social Psychology, Northwestern University (1982) M.A. in Social Psychology, Northwestern University (1980) B.A. in Psychology, University of Michigan (1975) Research Interests : Abbey integrates social psychology, alcohol studies, and criminology to explore questions such as: Why do some men become sexually aggressive? How does alcohol interact with personality and past experiences to increase aggression? What factors hinder women's recovery from sexual assault? Her work addresses alcohol’s role in sexual risk-taking, sexual assault measurement, and interventions. Recent projects include virtual reality simulations to study sexual aggression dynamics. Awards : 2020: Elected to Wayne State University Academy of Honors 2016: Bonnie R. Strickland Distinguished Mentoring Award 2015: Board of Governors Distinguished Faculty Fellow Teaching : Undergraduate courses include Psychology of Gender and Health Psychology . Graduate courses cover advanced topics like Health Psychology I and Social Psychological Theory on Close Relationships . Grants & Grantsmanship : Recent funding includes NIH grants (2021–2026) for virtual reality studies on alcohol’s effects in dating scenarios and prior grants examining alcohol’s role in sexual assault etiology (2007–2011). She has advised national initiatives, including the Department of Defense’s 2014–2016 sexual assault prevention strategy. Labs/Teams : Abbey’s research group uses experimental and survey methods, collaborating on projects like the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES-V) validation and virtual reality simulations to study perpetrator behavior.
John Foubert, Ph.D., serves as Dean of the College of Education at Union University and teaches in their Higher Education Ed.D. program. He also holds the position of Highly Qualified Expert for Sexual Assault Prevention with the U.S. Army, regularly consulting at the Pentagon. In 1998, he founded the national nonprofit One in Four , which operated for 20 years to combat sexual violence on campuses and in the military. Education: Ph.D. in College Student Personnel Administration (University of Maryland), MA in Psychology (University of Richmond), BS in Psychology and Sociology (College of William and Mary) As an interdisciplinary scholar with 50+ peer-reviewed publications and 11 books , his research focuses on: Sexual Assault Prevention Bystander Intervention Training Pornography's Psychological Effects Trauma-Informed Practices Higher Education Administration His recent publications analyze pornography reduction programs, internet addiction impacts on academics, and sexual violence patterns across institutions. Media outlets like CNN, NPR, The New York Times , and Washington Post have featured his work. He has delivered 300+ professional presentations and testified before Congress on rape prevention strategies. Advising: No formal student list provided Grants: U.S. Army collaborations He maintains John D. Foubert, LLC consulting practice and partners with organizations including the White House , University of Georgia , and Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault .
Dr Marie Cahillane is a Reader in Applied Cognitive Psychology at Cranfield Defence and Security, Cranfield University, where she has held progressive academic roles since 2008, including Research Fellow, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Reader. She leads the Applied Psychology Group and serves as Deputy Head of the Integrated Cyber, Cognition and Digital Systems Group. She is also Deputy Academic Lead for the CDS Doctoral Community and a member of the Cranfield University Research Ethics and Integrity Committee (CUREIC). Her research focuses on human cognition in defence contexts, particularly skill acquisition and retention, cognitive vulnerabilities, disinformation, and team performance. Funded by Dstl, MOD, US DoD, and DASA, her work addresses real-world challenges in military and security operations. The recent publication trends highlight her expertise in cognitive psychology applied to autonomous systems, disinformation, e-learning, and military training. Her work bridges cognitive science with defence technology, focusing on human factors in AI, skill decay models, and metacognitive support in complex decision-making. She frequently collaborates with researchers like Victoria Smy and Piers MacLean. Dr Cahillane supervises PhD and MSc research, including topics on complex cognitive skills retention and disinformation in CBRN contexts. She has led 17 research projects as Principal Investigator and contributed to 15 as Co-Investigator, with funding from major defence stakeholders. She contributes to research-led teaching in quantitative methods, heuristics and bias, and psychological aspects of sensing. She also works closely with defence clients such as Dstl, BAE Systems, and the British Army to apply cognitive psychology to operational challenges.
Christophe Vandeviver is a Research Professor of Criminology (Ghent University Research Council BOFZAP) at the Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University, Belgium. He also serves as an International Research Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) and was previously Co-President (2021-2023) and Fellow (2019-2024) of the Young Academy of Belgium. His academic journey includes a PhD, Master's and Bachelor's degree in Criminology from Ghent University, and a Master of Science in Quantitative Analysis in the Social Sciences from KUB-HUBrussel. His research interests span geography of crime and crime control, crime science, sexual violence, and quantitative research methods. Vandeviver applies computational and quantitative approaches to criminological questions, with particular focus on spatial patterns of crime, criminal networks, police patrol strategies, and forensic intelligence systems. His work bridges theoretical criminology with practical applications for law enforcement and crime prevention. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on network analysis in criminology, exploring co-offending patterns, spatial dynamics of crime, and the application of computational methods to understand criminal behavior. He has produced significant work on police-citizen interactions, sexual violence prevention, and the impact of environmental factors on crime patterns, showing consistent methodological rigor across diverse research areas. 2024 Knack 'Jong Talent' Laureaat van de Academie 2024 Open Science Award 2023 Promotor Proximus of UGent Doctor Honoris Causa of Prof. P. Jeffrey Brantingham (UCLA) 2021 Voorzitter van de Jonge Academie 2020 Ghent University Research Council Research Professor (BOFZAP) Vandeviver has supervised numerous doctoral students across diverse criminological topics including co-offending networks, police violence, sexual assault prevention, and corruption analysis. His grant portfolio includes multiple FWO-funded projects, European framework programs, and international collaborations with institutions in the Philippines, Ecuador, and China. He leads the Computational and Quantitative Criminology lab at Ghent University and is deeply involved in the Ghent University Crime Lab and Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy. His current research focuses on developing forensic intelligence tools, studying wildlife crime in Ethiopia, and analyzing corruption tolerance in educational sectors.
Tom Pakkanen is a Researcher at Åbo Akademi University's Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, affiliated with the Psychology Solutions for Health department. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals focused on justice and safety. His research explores forensic psychology, criminal behavior analysis, and child interviews in legal contexts. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminology, Åbo Akademi University, 2021 Research Interests: Serial homicide analysis, recidivism rates, juvenile sex offenders, and evidence-based forensic methodologies. He emphasizes ecologically valid approaches to criminal investigations and legal processes. Collaborations: Active in international projects like the European Association of Psychology and Law's White Paper on forensic child interviewing. His work bridges academia and legal practice, aiming to improve investigative techniques and courtroom procedures. Grants/Advising: No formal advisees listed, but leads collaborative research projects on crime linking and child interview protocols.
Meritxell Pérez Ramírez is a Researcher at the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences at Universidad Pontificia Comillas. She holds a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Barcelona and a Master’s in Cognitive-Social Therapy. Her academic roles include serving as President of the Spanish Society of Criminological Research (SEIC) since 2024 and Secretary General of the Foundation for Applied Research in Crime and Security (FIADYS). She has conducted research stints at the University of Cambridge (2013) and Birmingham (2022). Dr. Pérez Ramírez’s research focuses on penal psychology, violence against women, and risk assessment. She has led programs for offenders in Spain, including coordination of treatment for gender violence perpetrators (2010-2014) and development of hate crime offender profiles. Her work bridges criminology with psychological intervention, emphasizing rehabilitation and policy implications. Education: PhD in Psychology (University of Barcelona), Licenciatura in Criminology (University of Barcelona), Master’s in Multivariate Statistics Professional Roles: President SEIC (2024-), SEIC Board Member (2013-2016), ANECA Certified University Lecturer (2023) Research Groups: Penal Law & Criminology, Clinical Psychology & Health Key Projects: Studies on hate crime offenders, serial rapists, and multi-perpetrator sexual assaults Her publications analyze criminal behavior patterns and rehabilitation efficacy, with recent focuses on predicting treatment attrition and recidivism in domestic violence cases. She advises on penal policy and conducts empirical studies for Spain’s prison institutions.
Associate Professor Amber McKinley is a Clinical and Forensic Victimologist at Charles Sturt University's Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security. She lectures in courses including Theoretical, Applied and Forensic Victimology , Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective , and Professionalism and Resilience in Public Safety . As Higher Degree Research Coordinator , she bridges academia with practical policing and security applications. Bachelor of Liberal Studies (University of Western Sydney) Master of Criminal Justice (Monash University) PhD in Criminology (Bond University) Her research focuses on homicide trends , femicide patterns , human trafficking , and police-involved shootings , with projects tracing gender dynamics in serial homicide and vicarious trauma in military personnel . Her 2025 article Reframing harm explores pornography's role in intimate partner violence. Scientific awards include the Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence (2022) and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Australian Federal Police (2024) . She advises on UN Sustainable Development Goals for education and security, and her 25+ publications span victimology, serial homicide analysis, and transnational crime prevention.
