Staff profile

I’m an Assistant Professor at Durham University where my work explores how people make decisions in legal contexts. With a background in forensic psychology, I’m particularly interested in how psychological insights can enhance fairness, understanding and decision making within the justice system.

As an education-focused academic, I’m passionate about work-based learning, active pedagogy and creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect theory with real-world practice. I believe learning has its greatest impact when it’s lived, through hands-on experience, critical reflection and genuine collaboration with professional communities.

Before joining Durham, I was a Lecturer in Forensic Psychology at Newcastle University and I completed my PhD at the University of Sheffield where my research centred on legal decision making.

Journal Article

• Perceived advantages and disadvantages of taking a psychology professional placement year
  
  St Clair-Thompson, H., & Chivers, C. (2019). Perceived advantages and disadvantages of taking a psychology professional placement year. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1108/heswbl-06-2018-0065
• Characteristics of students who consider taking a psychology placement year
  
  St Clair-Thompson, H., & Chivers, C. (2019). Characteristics of students who consider taking a psychology placement year. Studies in Higher Education, 44(11). https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1466113