Dr Claire Rostron

Professional biography

I joined the Department of Life Health and Chemical Sciences at the Open University in April 2007.

I did my BPS accredited undergraduate Psychology degree at the University of Strathclyde and went on to study for a Behavioural Neuroscience PhD with Professor Philip Winn at the University of St Andrews.  The research I was involved in aimed to understand the role of the brainstem pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus in higher order (or executive) cognitive processes.  I then moved on to the University of Aberdeen to work with Dr John Ross on a large multidisciplinary HSE funded research project to investigate the long term health effects of occupational diving.  My role on this project was to set-up and conduct neuropsychological testing and to organise MRI scanning of the brain.  After this postdoctoral post I returned to work with Professor Winn investigating attentional functions of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus before moving to the University of Abertay to gain some teaching experience.  Here I taught 2nd year undergraduate Biological Psychology and honours year Neuropsychopharamcology.

Research interests

My research interests lie primarily in Behavioural Neuroscience/Biological Psychology.  I am interested in understanding the brain mechanisms supporting cognition, particularly attention during goal directed behaviour whereby salient cues in our environment that predict reward come to capture attention and automatically drive behaviour.  My research work has included investigating goal directed behaviour in a model of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and I am now moving these interests towards investigating the motivation of food choices in type 2 diabetes. I have also conducted some research in the field of Sports Psychology Education as PhD supervisor to Open University colleague Caroline Heaney.

Teaching interests

Health Sciences, Mental Health, Biological Psychology, Neuroscience, Neuropsychology

My teaching roles have included Qualification Director for the Health Sciences curriculum, and I have been extensively involved in the production of new modules during my years with the university. Many of the modules that I have produced have been cross disciplinary and incorporated into a number of accredited practice based profession degrees including paramedic practice, mental health nursing and counselling.

I have worked as an Academic Conduct Officer within STEM upholding the university's plagiarism policy.

I have worked on SDK100 Science and Health: An Evidence Based Approach producing module material online for Topic 3 Pain and Topic 6 Alcohol and I am now the SDK100 (J) presentation module team chair.

I was a production module team member for SK190 Human Biology, covering the Neuroscience and Hormone topics.

I have been involved with S350 'Evaluating contemporary science', which develops professional scientist skills in readiness for the capstone project module at level 3 (SXL390). I was involved in planning the digital student science conference section of this module and also wrote a project topic on antibiotic resistance.

I was production module team chair for SDK228/SKYN228, The science of the mind: investigating mental health and continued into presentation as module team chair and award board chair. I then worked as a Topic author for the replacement module SK298 Brain, Mind and Mental Health.

I have written a project guide on Aging and overseen a project guide on Autism for SXL390 our Health Sciences and Biology capstone dissertation project module, and most recently have converted some research data into a project on Addiction.

I have also worked as production team chair for SXL288 Attention and the Brain which converted my research interests directly into a practical science teaching topic.  I continued to work as a topic specialist during presentation of this module supporting students and tutors.

I have worked as production module team member for SD329 Signals and Perception, with lead responsibility for updating the Somatosensation material. I have also worked as a production team member for SDK100 Science and health, an evidence based approach where I authored material on 'Pain' and 'Alcohol'.

I have been a presentation module team member for (now redundant) modules SD226 Biological Psychology and SD805 Issues In Brain & Behaviour (Addiction and Neural Ageing).

In addition to this I currently hold 3 Associate Lecturer posts one each for: SK298, SDK100 and SXH390. In the past I have held AL posts for SDK228, SDK125, SD226 and SD329 and have worked regularly as a scriptmarker across modules at all levels.

I have been involved in producing supporting OpenLearn material for modules SK298, SDK228 and SDK100, as well as supporting content related to the BBC programme 'Count Down to Life: The Extraordinary Making of You' that aired in September 2015, and recently 'The Human Body: Secrets of your Life Revealed' which aired in September 2017.

Impact and engagement

I have worked as a distance learning Psychology education consultant for RDI (Resource Development International) and for Altura Learining (Anxiety for Health Professionals).

I have worked as a consultant to the BBC for the programme 'Countdown to life: The extraordinary making of you', and am currently working on 'The Human Body: Secrets of your Life Revealed'.

I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and hold Associate Fellow and Chartered Psychologist status with the British Psychological Society.

I am a member of several editorial boards for academic journals.

I have worked as a STEM ambassador for Northants region.

External collaborations

I have been an external examiner for Bath Spa University MSc Principles of Applied Neuropsychology, and London Metropolitan University Undergraduate and Postgraduate Psychology and am currently starting appointments as EE for Cardiff Metropolitan and Leicester DeMontfort University, including their Dubai provision, (Psychology).