Associate Professor Michelle Downes, Lab Director
Michelle is an Associate Professor and Ad Astra Fellow at UCD School of Psychology. Before joining UCD, Michelle completed her PhD in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London and further training in London and Boston. Her research has primarily focused on brain and cognitive development in typically developing children and paediatric patient populations.
Michelle established the UCD Babylab to investigate the impact of disease-related and environmental factors, such as sleep, digital technology and family function, on executive function and learning development in infants and young children.
Some of Assoc. Prof Downes’ recent publications can be found here!
Abby O’ Connell, PhD Student and Lab Member
Abby is a PhD candidate with the School of Psychology at UCD under the supervision of Assoc. Prof Michelle Downes. She is a graduate of the BSc Psychology from UCD and the MSc in Clinical Neuroscience from the University of Galway.
Abby is interested in research in developmental neuropsychology and working with young children. This interest has progressed from her undergraduate studies to now, having represented the University of Galway's School of Neuroscience at primary school workshops, to joining the UCD BabyLab.
Abby is conducting her PhD work as part of the ECHO project, investigating the neurocognitive development of infants exposed to e-cigarettes. She is also contributing to the FACTS Study.
Tobias Constien, PhD Student and Lab Member
Tobias is a PhD candidate with the School of Psychology at UCD under the supervision of Assoc. Prof Michelle Downes. He is a trained dramatherapist (Nürtingen-Geislingen University) and a graduate from the Psychology Conversion Course at Trinity College Dublin and the Master of Psychological Science at UCD.
Tobias is interested in the multifaceted benefits of play and imagination to children’s development and health, which has brought him from his work in dramatherapy to Psychology and ultimately to the UCD Babylab. His PhD is titled the TEDDY project, and is focused on the association of children’s pretend play and their cognitive development, specifically executive functions, in the toddlerhood period.
Thea Coroliuc, MSc Student
Thea is an MSc student in Behavioural Neuroscience with the School of Psychology at UCD, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof Michelle Downes. She previously completed a BSc in Psychology at UCD, where she developed an interest in neuropsychology.
Thea is interested in neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically ADHD in children and its impact on cognitive, emotional, and behavioural development. Aspiring to pursue doctoral studies in clinical psychology, Thea would like to specialise in working with children in the field of neuropsychology.
Thea is working on the FACTS Study, examining screen-use, technoference, and executive function in toddlers.
Ella Byrne, MSc Student
Ella is a master’s student in the MSc Behavioural Neuroscience at University College Dublin. She completed her undergraduate studies at the South East Technological University Waterford.
Ella has a keen interest in developmental and child psychology and aspires to work with children in the future.
Ella is working on the FACTS Study, examining fantastical cartoons and executive function in toddlers, using eye-tracking technology.
Joanna Kelly, MSc Student
Joanna is an MSc Psychological Science student at the UCD School of Psychology under the supervision of Associate Professor Michelle Downes. She holds a BSc in Social Science from Maynooth University and has completed a HDip in Psychology at UCD. Joanna has also completed Child Bereavement studies with the Royal College of Surgeons and the Irish Hospice Foundation to support children on their grief journey.
Joanna is interested in educational psychology and early childhood development. She currently works in the field of early intervention, supporting children with ASD. Joanna is passionate about advocating for and supporting a child’s educational, social, emotional and behavioural development. Joanna is currently completing research regarding the critical role of play in developing executive functions during toddlerhood.
Dr Áine Ní Choisdealbha, Lab Member
Áine is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellow at University College Dublin. Áine undertook her PhD in Psychology at Lancaster University, using behavioural and neuroscience methods to study infants’ social and motor development. She has held postdoctoral positions at the Centre for Neuroscience in Education (University of Cambridge) and the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (University of Washington), as well as at the ESRI. Her main research interest is in how motor development helps infants to interact with the social and physical worlds around them.
Áine’s work at UCD is part of the Perception and Motor Cognition Group. She is currently investigating how motor processes in the baby’s brain help them to learn about what other people are doing, and how these processes change as infants grow older and learn new motor skills. You can find out more here!
Florencia Sandoval Gomez, MSc Student
Florencia is a master’s student in Behavioural Neuroscience at University College Dublin (UCD). She completed her BSc in Applied Psychology at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT).
Florencia is currently exploring how motor processes in the infant brain support social development, focusing on how these processes evolve as infants acquire new motor skills. Beyond her research, she has a strong interest in neuropsychology, particularly in understanding how different brain areas influence cognition and behaviour. Her long-term goal is to contribute to the field by investigating the intricate links between brain function and behaviour, with aspirations to work in both research and clinical settings.
Past Lab Members
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Nabil Hasshim, currently lecturer at University of Salford
PhD Students
Dr. Jennifer Keating, currently research associate at Cardiff University
Dr. Lisa Keenan, currently research associate at Dublin City University
Dr. Clara Sherlock, currently researcher at CHI Temple Street
Alice Bazzurro, currently PhD student at University of Genoa
Interns
Rosie Rogers
Basak Ozkara
Anna Collins
Kathy Trinh
Tom Herrnsdorf
Clinical Doctorate
Dr. Rebecca Gaffney
Research Assistants
Sarah Conroy
Maria Dinca
Emma Cullen
Students
Maisie Flynn, MPsychSc
Olivia Wynne, MPsychSc
Michelle Nevin, MPsychSc
Marion Gildea, Undergraduate
Ibak Baky, Undergraduate