Background

Since completing my PhD, I have undertaken a range of post-doctoral research positions.  I worked at Stirling University investigating the effect of make-up on attraction and self-confidence.  Following this I was employed by Edinburgh Napier University to set up a state of the art 4D imaging lab which is used to investigate the production and recognition of facial expressions and emotions.  Most recently, I was employed by the Institute of Neuroscience at Newcastle University where I was investigating the effects of current state (hunger) and developmental history (deprivation) on behaviours such as impulsivity in humans.

I have been a member of the Centre for Behaviour and Evolution at Newcastle University since 2016 and my broad research interests lie in the application of evolutionary theory to understanding human behaviour.  I will be teaching on the Psychology BSc (Honours) programme for which I will be supervising undergraduate and masters level projects, and I am happy to hear from students who share my research interests and would like to work with me.

Qualifications:

PhD University of Stirling, titled 'The artificially scented ape: Investigating the role of fragrances and body odours in human interactions'

BSc Psychology (international. Hons) University of Leeds

 

Previous positions:

2016-2018 Research Associate, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University

2016 Research Assistant, Edinburgh Napier University

2015-2016 Research Assistant, University of Stirling

Teaching

Newcastle University (current), Undergraduate Psychology programme:

Undergraduate final year project supervision 

Undergraduate Psychology placement supervision

MSc project supervision

MSc research placement supervision

PSY1006 Instinct, Learning, and Motivation,  Module Leader

PSY3043 Making sense of scents: Investigating olfactory perception, Module Leader

PSY3001 Evolution and Behaviour, Module Leader

PSY1007 History of Psychology, Seminar Leader

University of Stirling (2012-2016), Undergraduate Psychology programme:

1. Introductory Psychology I, First Year: Demonstrator & Marker
2. Introductory Psychology II, First Year: Demonstrator & Marker
3. The Social Mind, Second Year: Lecturer, Demonstrator, Marker
4. Research Methods, Second Year: Demonstrator, Marker
5. Animal Behaviour, Second Year: Demonstrator, Marker
6. Developmental Psychology, Third Year: Project supervisor
7. Individual Differences, Third Year: Demonstrator, Marker
8. Cognition, Third Year: Project supervisor, Marker
9. Quantitative Analysis, MSc: Lecturer, Demonstrator, Stats Clinic, Marker
10. The Psychology of Smell, Final year elective: Module coordinator, Lecturer, Marker
11. Lab Placement, MSc: Supervisor 
12. Undergraduate dissertation supervision
13. MSc dissertation supervision

 

Publications

• Allen C, Havlicek J, Williams K, Roberts SC. Evidence for odour-mediated assortative mating in humans: The impact of hormonal contraception and artificial fragrances. Physiology & Behavior 2019, epub ahead of print.
• Allen C, Nettle D. Hunger and socioeconomic background additively predict impulsivity in humans. Current Psychology 2019, Epub ahead of print.
• Allen C, Cobey KD, Havlicek J, Singleton FP, Hahn AC, Moran CN, Roberts SC. Preparation for fatherhood: A role for olfactory communication during human pregnancy?. Physiology and Behavior 2019, 206, 175-180.
• Allen C, Havlicek J, Williams K, Roberts SC. Perfume experts' perceptions of body odors: Toward a new lexicon for body odor description. Journal of Sensory Studies 2018, 33(2), e12314.
• Allen C. A Highland fling to remember: A short report on the XXIII biennial congress on Human Ethology in Stirling, Scotland. Human Ethology Bulletin 2017, 32(1), 1-5.
• Allen C, Cobey KD, Havlicek J, Roberts SC. The impact of artificial fragrances on the assessment of mate quality cues in body odor. Evolution and Human Behavior 2016, 37(6), 481-489.
• Allen C, Havlicek J, Roberts SC. Effect of fragrance use on discrimination of individual body odour. Frontiers in Psychology 2015, 6, 1115.