Staff Profile

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.

Currently I work as a Lecturer in the School of Psychology. 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 teach on the Psychology BSc (Honours) programme, and I supervise UG and MSc, and PhD 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

Newcastle University, School of Psychology:

Undergraduate final year project supervision 

Undergraduate Psychology placement supervision

MSc project supervision

MSc research placement supervision

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

PSY2020 Introduction to Comparative Cognition and Behaviour, previous Module Leader, current Lecturer

PSY1015 Principles of Evolution, Genetics and Behavioural Development, previous Module Leader, current Lecturer

Past:

PSY1006 Instinct, Learning, and Motivation,  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

• Articles

  • Neal C, Pepper GV, Shannon OM, Allen C, Bateson M, Nettle D. The daily experience of hunger in UK females with and without food insecurity. Appetite 2025, 204, 107732.
  • Neal C, Pepper GV, Allen C, Shannon OM, Nettle D. No Effect of Hunger on the Memory of Food Images and Prices. Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology 2024, 10, 303-323.
  • Neal C, Pepper GV, Allen C, Nettle D. No effect of hunger on attentional capture by food cues: Two replication studies. Appetite 2023, 191, 107065.
  • Allen C, Nettle D. Hunger and socioeconomic background additively predict impulsivity in humans. Current Psychology 2021, 40, 2275-2289.
  • Shah SIA, Wilson HCP, Abel DP, Wassersug RJ, Trebicky V, Trebicka Fialova J, Allen C, Adomat HH, Bell RH, Tomlinson Guns ES, Roberts SC. Gonadal suppression alters axillary steroid secretions in men, but does that affect olfactory social signaling?. Journal of Men's Health 2021, 17(3), 69-76.
  • 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. Evidence for odour-mediated assortative mating in humans: The impact of hormonal contraception and artificial fragrances. Physiology & Behavior 2019, 210, 112541.
  • 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.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Allen C, Havlicek J, Roberts SC. The Effects of Artificial Fragrances on Human Olfactory Communication. In: Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 14. 2017, Cardiff, Wales: Springer.

• Review

  • Alanazi W, Allen C, Geary N, Marsh A, Brunstrom JM, Rogers PJ, Mattes RD, Berthoud H-R, Provenza F, Leng G, Schatzker M, Lewis S, Holliday A, Brandt K. How Micronutrient Status May Affect Eating Behavior—Hypothesis and Perspectives. Nutrients 2026, 18(4), 594.