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Researcher spotlight #19 - Malene Damholdt

In this edition of spotlight Malene Damholdt tells us about her background and research.

Hi Malene, what is your background and job role at AU?

I have an MSc in psychology and have done both my masters and PhD at the Department of Psychology and Behavioural Science. I am a Dane born and bred. 

I am in more than one department. I am an Assistant prof at the Department of Psychology and Behavioural Science and at the Department of Clinical Medicine. I am also affiliated with the Research Unit for Robophilosophy

What are your main areas of research?

I have several different research interests and overall a very interdisciplinary focus with collaborations both locally across different AU departments and internationally. One of my research interests is Parkinson’s disease and neurobehavioral and cognitive symptoms- but also health psychology in the broader sense. Another main research area for me is human-technology interaction and specifically how individual differences influence how we interact with technology.   

Are you involved with any teaching at the moment?

This semester I teach medicine students in patient centered communication and peer supervision at the Department of Clinical Medicine. I also teach test-and assessment methods for master students at the Department of of Psychology and Behavioural Science. Then of course I supervise masters medicine- and psychology students. And I do a few “guest-performances” at different colleague’s seminars.   

How did you hear about Cognition and Behavior Lab?

To be honest I cannot remember exactly how. I think I initially came across it because I was searching for a place where we could borrow a BIOPAC.

Have you used the Lab? If so, what are the benefits for researchers?

We have used the lab for experiments where participants engage with different technologies and also for studies on social cognition in a broader sense. My co-researcher Christina Vestergaard who has a background in anthropology has also conducted a great number of qualitative interviews with the participants. The main benefits for us have been the different facilities: neutral rooms, the SONA participant pool, help from Trine and Dan, tablets etc.

Is there a particular recommendation you would like to pass on to other researchers? Something you wish you had known before you started, or just a useful trick.

I find that near-neurotic preparation and a detailed research protocol is very important. Also Christina and I found that keeping a detailed log-book of the experiment is very beneficial. In one of our studies we needed participants to come in pairs which made the research design really sensitive to no-shows. Hence this is something that we should have taken into account when planning. 

Could you recommend one academic book to fellow colleagues that you think is of great interest?

I mainly read journal articles and rarely find myself with a book that I would say is of more general interest. Rather I have found that being in a cross-disciplinary and rapidly changing field I gain much new insight from participating in some of all the workshops available at AU (also some through COBE lab) and sign up for various research unit newsletters.

Away from your research, what do you enjoy doing?

With the risk of sounding slightly weird I collect, buy and sell LEGO. I also enjoy making papier-mâché ornaments (such as massive aliens or dragon heads etc.). Most importantly I enjoy spending time with family and friends.  

Finally, which Associated Researcher would you like to see under 'Spotlight' next time?

Linda Greve