Dr Ailsa Strathie

Professional biography

I am a Senior Lecturer and Head of Discipline in the School of Psychology and Counselling at the Open University.  I took up a lectureship in 2016, after joining the school as a researcher to work with other members of the Forensic Cognition Research Group (FCRG) on a Centre for Policing Research and Learning project. Prior to this I was based at Heriot-Watt University, where I worked on a number of interdisciplinary research projects.

Research interests

My research interests lie mainly in the application of psychology to 'real world' issues at the interface of psychology and law. Much of my work focuses on theoretical and applied aspects of face recognition (CCTV identification, familiarity, face learning), and I am conducting research on these topics in collaboration with Dr Sarah Laurence.

Other areas of interest are forensic facial image comparison, the communication of expert evidence in court, cybercrime, the role of human factors in transportation accidents, and synaesthesia.

I am a member of the Forensic Cognition Research Group and, with Lara Frumkin, represented the group as a strand lead within the Open Psychology Research Centre between 2021 and 2024. I am currently one of the Postgraduate Research Convenors in the School.

Teaching interests

Module Production

I recently co-chaired production of the new level 1 module, D120 Encountering Psychology in Context, which launched in 2023. I was previously part of the production team for the PG module, DD802 Investigating Forensic Psychology, and chaired the midlife update for the level 2 module, DD210 Living Psychology: from the Everyday to the extraordinary.

Presentation

I was chair of presentation for D120 Encountering Psychology in Context in 23J. From 2019 - 2021 I was chair of presentation and midlife production for DD210, as well as qualification lead for Q82 Forensic Psychology. Prior to this I chaired presentation of the level 1 module DE100 Investigating Psychology 1.