Profile

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Jessica Rea

My CV

  • Education:

    • PHD in Psychology from Royal Holloway, University of London
    • MSc in Applied Social Psychology from Royal Holloway, University of London
    • BA in Psychology (Industrial and Organisational Psychology Major), University of South Africa

    I went to high school in South Africa which has a slightly different education system so popping the years in for comparison. Thought it would be useful to show my full high school studies as I studied specialist programmes in both Art and Drama – creative/artistic types can make really solid scientists too! 🙂

    • Year 11 and 12 Fine Art, Parktown College
    • Year 10, Fourways High
    • Year 8 and 9 Drama, National School of the Arts

  • Work History:

    From most to least recent….

    • Teaching Associate, RHUL
    • People and Culture Manager, Woods Bagot Architecture
    • Global HR Business Partner, Barclays Wealth
    • HR Business Partner, Lloyds Banking Group
    • Learning and Development Manager, HBOS
    • HR Advisor / PA, Haines Watts
    • Tour Guide, Contiki Holidays
    • Business Manager, Drums & Rhythm Team Building Company
    • Account Executive, Beetle Productions (Digital Marketing Agency)

  • Current Job:

    • Associate Lecturer, UCL

    I lecture and mark in various psychology related topics including statistics, moral cognition and, behaviour and attitude change.

    • Visiting Fellow, LSE

    I’m running a series of projects looking at the affects of socioeconomic status on psychological and cultural processes.  I am presently managing a team of 12 research assistants who are helping in the delivery of these projects.

    • About Me:

      I live in London with my husband and two children.  My favourite things to do are spending time with my family, walking in the nature, swimming and riding on rollercoasters!

    • Read more

      I live in London with my husband and two children.  My favourite things to do are spending time with my family, walking in the nature, swimming and riding on rollercoasters!

      I have done loads of different types of jobs in my life including being a London tour guide, teaching people how to do African Drumming, teaching yoga and giving people aromatherapy massages.

    • Read more

      I am a Visiting Fellow at London School of Economics and Associate Lecturer at University College London.

      Like most of us, my husband and I have spent over a year working from home together so the picture of my office would be our dining room table covered in paper, computers, ninja turtles, children’s artwork and a wooden helicopter toy!

      Usually, I do writing, marking and preparation in an office.  When it is time to teach, I do so in seminar rooms.  Some of my work involves going to shelters for people experiencing homelessness and foodbanks, and asking people questions about what they think about the world, was is important to them, and how this has changed as a result of their experiences.

       

    • My Typical Day:

      I tend to wake up pretty early, have breakfast with my family and get everyone out the door and off to school. I then spend a lot of time sitting in silence thinking and writing, talking through ideas with colleagues, training research assistants and teaching students about psychology.

    • Read more

      It is a very odd thing to have a job that primarily involves thinking.   I often do some of my best work when I am away from my computer and just taking a walk.  Sometimes I dream about something and wake up with an idea or will be reflecting on something while I’m getting ready in the morning.

      The rest of the time is spent formulating those thoughts and ideas into theories that can be tested.   A lot of the work that I do is used to inform things like European and UK government policies.  It also forms the foundations of what people studying psychology in school and university will learn about.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      Donate it to a local school for STEM resources.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        fun inquisitive human

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        Someone that made a positive impact in other people's lives.

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        I really was....

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Cesária Évora

        What's your favourite food?

        Dark chocolate

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        breathe underwater, fly, make others happy

        Tell us a joke.

        What do you get hanging off orange trees?....sore arms!

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