Kate Watkins and Bernhard Staresina awarded major European Research Council Advanced Grants
Kate and Bernhard were two of fourteen researchers at the University of Oxford to be awarded Advanced Grants from the European Research Council (ERC), each worth up to €2.5 million over a period of five years.
Find out moreFROM OUR HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
At the Oxford Department of Experimental Psychology, our mission is to conduct world-leading experimental research to understand the psychological and neural mechanisms relevant to human behaviour. Wherever appropriate, we translate our findings into evidence-based public benefits in mental health and wellbeing, education, industry, and policy. We aim to provide our students with an inspiring and immersive scientific education, and to train the next generation of outstanding researchers with theoretical rigour and cutting-edge methodologies in an inclusive, diverse, and international environment. We are committed to helping individuals thrive in a community that is free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying; and in which people treat one another with respect and dignity in a mutually supportive manner.
Our Research
Clinical Psychology, Mental Health & Wellbeing
Human Potential: Development & Learning across the Lifespan
Social Minds: Emotions, Relationships & Society
Intelligent Minds: Neuroscience & Computational Models of Cognition and Behaviour
Perception, Attention, & Action: From Sensing to Thinking & Doing
About the Department of Experimental Psychology
Our teaching
Undergraduate Teaching
Graduate Teaching
DClinPsych
Our community
What's new
Robin Dunbar awarded 2026 International Cosmos Prize
11 August 2026
Emeritus Professor Robin Dunbar has been awarded the 2026 International Cosmos Prize for his work in understanding of the relationship between nature and humankind.
Virtual reality therapy offers new hope for teenagers with needle phobia
15 July 2026
A ground-breaking study led by the University of Oxford has shown that an automated virtual reality (VR) therapy can substantially reduce needle fears in adolescents, offering a scalable solution to a problem that affects millions of young people and undermines vaccination programmes.
Kate Watkins and Bernhard Staresina awarded major European Research Council Advanced Grants
23 June 2026
Kate and Bernhard were two of fourteen researchers at the University of Oxford to be awarded Advanced Grants from the European Research Council (ERC), each worth up to €2.5 million over a period of five years.
Oxford joins major new Educational Neuroscience centre to shape government policy
8 June 2026
Professor Gaia Scerif from the Department of Experimental Psychology is a key partner in a newly announced research centre that will help shape education policy across England.
Professor Masud Husain elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
27 May 2026
Professor Husain was one of twelve renowned Oxford researchers to be elected Fellows of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences, in recognition of their exceptional contributions to advancing scientific knowledge.
Participate in our research
We are always looking for participants to take part in our research. Here you will find a list of studies you might be able to take part in.
