Copy
Welcome to the newsletter of the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. You have received this as someone who has registered through psych.unimelb.edu.au or as a student or member of staff.
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences Logo

May 2014

Hello,

Welcome to the May edition of the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences newsletter! 

This newsletter sees the launch of a new initiative: the May Lectures series. These lectures are an exciting way for members of the public to engage with psychology at the University of Melbourne. Feel free to invite friends, relatives, and colleagues! See "Upcoming Events" to register!

1. Second Semester Subjects
Semester 2 is just around the corner so it's time to enrol in subjects! Please note that the last date to add Semester 2 subjects to your enrolment via my.unimelb is 8th August. New students are encouraged to attend the Psychology session at Academic Advice Day on the 23rd of July to find out about the requirements for a major and the content and assessment of particular subjects.

Second Year Subjects


Mental processes such as attention, memory, language, and problem solving form the basis of our creative human cognitive abilities. An understanding of these cognitive abilities and the methods used by cognitive psychologists to study them provides an essential foundation for ongoing study in psychology. Read more...


This subject examines human individuality and relatedness, the core themes of personality and social psychology. Its focus is on how we are unique individuals but also connected to others. Read more...

Third Year Subjects


This subject draws on the experience of leading experts in Developmental Behavioural Neuropsychology, Developmental Cognitive Psychology, Children's Mathematical Development, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and social and emotional development.Read more...


This subject covers phenomena such as hallucinations and delusions, anxiety, somatisation, depression, dissociation, and changes in memory and cognition, and places them in the context of everyday experiences.Read more...



This subject provides students with a basic understanding of the nature of sleep and  covers a variety of topics relevant to the biological bases of emotions. Read more...


This subject provides students with an overview of theories, principles, methods, and findings in applied psychology, with a focus on domains such as health and well-being, education, work, and consumer behaviour.Read more...


This subject discusses major contemporary issues in the study of personality and extends the understandings gained in the first two level of the undergraduate program to consider more advanced theoretical and empirical work in the areas of individual, interpersonal and group processes. Read more...



This subject draws together students' undergraduate experiences in psychology by emphasising links between the science and practice of psychology in contemporary life (the science-practioner model). Read more...
View outstanding posters from last year's Capstone students.


2. Farewell to staff
The School will be bidding farewell to the following staff during the month of May. We wish our colleagues all the very best. 
  • Sarah Drew, Professional Programs Coordinator, leaving to take up a new career as a train driver. Farewell morning tea on Thursday 15th May at 10.30am.
  • Professor Nick Allen, soon to take up a position at the University of Oregon. Farewell morning tea on Friday 23rd May at 10.00am.
  • Professor Pip Pattison, leaving to take up a position at the University of Sydney as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education. Farewell morning team on Friday 30th May at 10.00am. 
All farewells will take place in the 12th Floor kitchen of the Redmond Barry Building. Cards and contribution envelopes will be made available at the 12th floor reception desk.

3. PhD Scholarship Awardee Profiles
                               
      From left: Maggie Webb, Hannah Korrel, Monika Raniti.
The following students have reflected on their interest in pursuing psychological research, and shared their advice for PhD scholarship hopefuls.
4. Staff & Student Achievements
Congratulations to the following staff for their recent achievements!
  • Dr Amy Jordan and colleagues published a seminar on adult Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in The Lancet, a prestigious general medical journal with an impact factor of 39.06! Read more...
  • Dr Steve Loughnan has won the 2014 Early Career Award from the Society of Australasian Social Psychologists in recognition of his significant research contributions. Read more...
  • A/Prof Jenny Boldero along with Dr Ilona McNeill have been awarded a large research grant funded by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre. Read more... 

5. Research Project in Focus - Dr Daniel Upton
The current focus of my postdoctoral research is on error learning processes in substance dependent individuals; a population characterised by impaired motivational learning and error processing. The aim is to determine whether substance dependent individuals show a tendency to repeat their errors because 1) errors don’t trigger dACC activation in the way observed in healthy people, or 2) the dACC is triggered normally by errors, but it fails to enhance encoding of the target stimulus in the hippocampus. Read more...
6. Yale Review Taking Undergraduate Submissions
The Yale Review of Undergraduate Research in Psychology, a student publication of Yale College, is now accepting submissions from undergraduates for the 2014 edition. Submission deadline: 9th May 2014. Read more...
7. Job & Research Opportunities
Looking for employment? The MSPS website is now listing job opportunities and careers advice for students. Positions can be advertised by submitting a news item

8. Recent Publications & Conference Presentations
The most recent publications of each of our academics can usually be found on their personal web page. For a historic list of all publications, please refer to our Research Reports

Personality Processes Lab
  • Cooper, A. J., Duke, E., Pickering, A. D., & Smillie, L. D. (2014). Individual differences in reward prediction error: contrasting relations between feedback-related negativity and trait measures of reward sensitivity, impulsivity and extraversion. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

9. External Events

10. Interested in Studying Abroad? 
Studying abroad is a great way to expand your horizons, challenge yourself and learn about other countries and cultures.
To find out more visit the Melbourne Global Mobility webpage. Students who plan on completing psychology subjects abroad as part of their APAC accredited psychology major will also need to submit a direct application to the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences.

AIESEC
Present in over 113 countries and territories, AIESEC is the world’s largest youth-run organization. Focused on providing a platform for youth leadership development, AIESEC offers young people the opportunity to participate in international volunteering programs to gain personal development while contributing to societal change. Visit us at: 
aiesecaustralia.org/melbourne or facebook.com/AIESECMelbourne

 


11. Careers Resources for Psychology Students
A broad range of careers information for undergraduate students is now available on the website including potential pathways after graduation and further study options.

12. Occupational Health & Safety Training
Occupational Health & Safety is the responsibility of all staff and students. All those with a desk in either the Redmond Barry Building or Psychology Clinic are required to undertake the minimum training requirements of General OHSE and Manual Handling (details below). Those with additional requirements will be aware of these via our intranet and communications from professional staff.
Upcoming Events

The May Lectures
6:30pm, Elizabeth Murdoch Theatre A

• 8th May. "What were you thinking?" The teenage brain, self-control and mental health. By Prof Nick Allen.

• 15th May. 
Hidden Costs: Gender and the Economic-Social Capital Trade-off in Negotiation. By Prof Mara Olekalns. 

• 22nd May. The science of sin. By Dr Simon Laham. 

• 29th May. “Networks are everywhere”: how our lives are dominated by social networks. By Prof Garry Robins.

May 

• 8th May. GRIPS afternoon tea. 4pm, 12th Floor Tea Room, RBB. Cost: Gold coin donation for baked goods.

• 15th May. The role of newsprint media in encouraging men to seek help for depression or anxiety. By Dr Kylie King. 12:30pm, Rm 410, 207

Bouverie St.
MSPS Colloquia

May
•  The control of visual information processing by the prefrontal cortex. By A/Prof Tirin Moore. 7th May, 4-5pm, Kenneth Myer Auditorium, Melbourne Brain Centre.

Towards a functional architecture for gaze perception, by Prof Colin Clifford. 20th May, 12-1pm, Rm 1120 Redmond Barry.
Seminar Series
8th May, 1-2pm
Rm 312 & 313, 615 St Kilda Rd


• Can a telephone-based peer support program for female carriers of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation reduce psychological distress: findings from an RCT. By Vicki White.

• Finding the keys to successful public health campaigns promoting healthy weight and lifestyle to adults: Quantitative audience testing research. By Helen Dixon.

• Finding the keys to successful public health campaigns promoting healthy weight and lifestyle to adults: Qualitative research. By Michael Murphy.


Read more about these presentations...
Caring for Traumatised Military

26th May, 6pm-8:30pm
Lv 10, 123 Lonsdale St


Psychologists Damien Hadfield and Dr Carolyn Deans will discuss trauma and support during the different phases of military service and operational deployments. Read more... or register now.

$30 non-APS/$25 APS members/$15 students

MDHS Research Notices

(University IT username and password required)
Stay informed about the latest funding and awards, scholarships, events, and training opportunities via the MDHS Research Notices. 

Missed a Newsletter?

Previous editions of the newsletter may be viewed online. View the April 2014March 2014February 2014,or earlier editions.
Know someone who might be interested in the MSPS newsletter? Forward them a copy and invite them to subscribe on our homepage.
Copyright © 2014 Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, All rights reserved.