Dr Pam Birtill (she/her)

Profile

I studied Natural Sciences at King's College, Cambridge. I specialised in Psychology in my final year and developed an interest in brain mechanisms of reward. I studied for my PhD at the University of York, under Simon Killcross and Geoff Hall. I was appointed a lecturer in Psychology at the University of Leeds in 2003, and was promoted in 2015 to Associate Professor. 

I was previously known as Pam Blundell and publish under Blundell-Birtill.

Responsibilities

• TEF Lead

Research interests

I am interested in food, the experiences of eating and the ways in which we can influence people's behaviour to eat more healthily.

With Professor Marion Hetherington, I examine eating in children, and how to encourage children and adolescents to have a more healthy diet. I have supervised both MSc and PhD students, and collaborate with colleagues in Healthcare and Food Sciences.

With Professor Aaron Meskin (School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science) I have been conducting research examining the effects of ethical information of expectation and experience of tastes of food.

I am also interested in researching Student Education. I work with Dr Richard Harris and Miss Madeleine Pownall evaluating teaching methods, and implementation of Global Citizenship in a Psychology degree.

Qualifications

• DPhil (York) Psychology
• MA (Cantab) Natural Sciences
• FHEA

Professional memberships

• Experimental Psychology Society
• Academy HE

Student education

My teaching is generally about learning theory, and the application of learning theory to real life issues. 

Current postgraduate researchers

• Nicholas Reimann
• Liam Chawner