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Staff Profile

Joanna Ciafone

Research Associate

  • Email: joanna.ciafone@ncl.ac.uk
  • Address: Translational and Clinical Research Institute
    Henry Wellcome Building
    Framlington Place
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 4HH
    U.K.
Background
I am a recent PhD graduate with a focus on the neuropsychology of neurodegenerative disorders, including Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). I am currently completing post-doctoral work in DLB, late-life depression, and Huntington's disease (HD) with Dr Peter Gallagher.
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Qualifications:

  • PhD, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University
  • MRes in Neuroscience, Newcastle University
  • MSc in Psychology, Northumbria University
  • B.A., Biology, Cinema Studies, University of Pennsylvania
Awards
  • Laird S. Cermak Award for “the best research presented in the area of memory or memory disorders,” International Neuropsychological Society Mid-Year Meeting, July 2018.
  • Post-Submission Scholarship, Newcastle University Faculty of Medical Sciences, 2018.
  • Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership Supplementary Award, 2018.
  • Newcastle University Overseas Research Scholarship, 2014-2018.
  • Northumbria University Academic Scholarship, 2013.
Professional Memberships and Other Activities
Research

My research utilises a variety of approaches to investigate cognition in mood disorders and neurodegenerative disease. My PhD work used a cognitive psychological framework to determine a hierarchy of the cognitive deficits of Mild Cognitive Impairment with Lewy body disease. Other interests include statistical modelling of intra-individual variability in reaction time, visuospatial memory and white matter integrity analysis using diffusion tensor imaging.  

Teaching
  • Previous demonstrator for the School of Psychology, Newcastle University.
Publications