Team

Find out more about the REALab team.

Dr Raquel Nogueira Arjona

I am a Clinical Psychologist and co-director of the Sussex Addictions Research and Intervention Centre. I earned my PhD in Psychology from the University of Malaga, where I investigated the impact of treating comorbid conditions on therapy effectiveness for children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Following this, I completed postdoctoral training in addiction research at Dalhousie University. My research focuses on understanding and addressing the shared risk factors between addictions and emotional problems throughout the lifespan. By employing diverse methodologies, such as experimental paradigms and ecological momentary assessment, I explore these critical risk factors and their interactions within relational contexts. My goal is to develop innovative psychological treatments that effectively respond to individual vulnerabilities and the complex social environments in which they arise.

Email: r.nogueira-arjona@sussex.ac.uk

Dr Pablo Romero Sanchiz

I am a Clinical Psychologist specializing in anxiety-related disorders and addictions, with a strong focus on both clinical practice and research. I earned my PhD from the University of Málaga, where I studied the differences between obsessions, worries, and health concerns under Prof Aurora Gavino. I furthered my research at the Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga, exploring neuroscience and the immune system's role in mental health, supported by a Río Hortega Fellowship. At Dalhousie University, I conducted research on PTSD and addictions using experimental methodologies and fMRI in Prof Sherry Stewart's lab.

Email: p.romero-sanchiz@sussex.ac.uk

Robyn Scharte

I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at Leiden University in the Netherlands, with a minor in Criminology. During my degree, I developed a strong interest in clinical psychology and neuroscience. I completed a placement in the Clinical Neuropsychology Department at the University Hospital in Bonn, Germany. In my bachelor’s dissertation I investigated neurophysiological markers of depression.

Email: r.scharte@sussex.ac.uk

Jacqueline Carhoun

I hold a BA in Psychology and Education from the University of Victoria, Canada and an MSc in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health from King’s College London, UK. My experience includes teaching at elementary and university levels, conducting independent research, and supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. I have worked in harm reduction facilities and completed a counselling internship in an elementary school. My research interests are centred on using qualitative methods with public and patient involvement to understand the needs and experiences of those who are affected by various mental health disorders like addictions, eating disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Email: j.carhoun@sussex.ac.uk

Meyra Jackson

Currently, I am a doctoral researcher at the University of Sussex, where I will focus on adapting attention-based intervention methods for patients displaying comorbid PTSD and substance use issues. After completing my Bachelor's at the Maastricht Science Programme, focusing on biology and neuroscience, I earned my MSc in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, specialization Neuropsychology, at Maastricht University. As part of my Master's program, I spent nearly a year as a research trainee at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine - Department of Neurology, investigating the effects of right hemisphere stroke on receptive prosody and its underlying white matter architecture. Other former research projects include investigating the effects of sleep deprivation on pattern separation in healthy adults (Maastricht University), as well as exploring the effects of tDCS on value-based decision making using fMRI (TU Dresden/FU Berlin).

Email: meyra.jackson@sussex.ac.uk