Personal statement

Mary is a Chartered Psychologist who specialises in addiction. She has worked as a lecturer in both higher education and further education, specialising in online teaching. She has worked in various research-related posts at the University of Liverpool, University of Bath, and King's College London

Her PhD Problematic Internet Use, is it time to be taken seriously? Physiological and behavioural markers of Problematic Internet Use with reference to established addictions examined physiological and behavioural markers of problematic internet use (such as social networking), with an emphasis on cognitive processes of decision-making, attentional bias and inhibitory control.

Mary has a strong experimental background and has conducted experiments combining neuropsychological assessments with physiological measurements such as skin conductance responses and eye-movements measurements with an eye-tracker methodology. Mary has substantial experience as an experimental officer supporting research design and analysis. She is also a member of The Society for Studies of Addiction (SSA).

Academic qualifications

  • MPhil/PhD in Psychology, University of Bath, 2011–2015, thesis entitled: Problematic Internet Use, is it time to be taken seriously? Physiological and behavioural markers of Problematic Internet Use with reference to established addictions
  • MSc Addictive Behaviours, University of Liverpool, 2007–2008, thesis entitled: Affect Misattribution in smokers: the effects of nicotine deprivation
  • MA Psychology, University of Dundee, 2003–2007
  • Associate Fellow Higher Education (AFHEA).

Professional memberships

  • Nicotine Research Group King’s College London, 2022–present
  • Society for Studies of Addiction (SSA) Graduate Membership, 2019–present
  • British Psychological Society Graduate Membership, 2007–present
  • British Psychological Society Chartered Membership, 2022–present.

Teaching specialism

  • Introduction to Research Methods (2)
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Psychological Science for Student Success
  • Biological and Social Psychology
  • Individual differences.

Mary's research interests lie broadly within the field of addiction, addictive behaviours, social media, health psychology and mental health.

Conference talks

  • Nikolaidou, M., Hinvest, N., and Stanton-Fraser, D. 'Attentional bias in problematic Social Networking Sites internet users'. 21st Annual CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy & Social Networking Conference (CYPSY21), 27 June 2016-29 June 2016, Dublin. Oral presentation.
  • Nikolaidou, M., Hinvest, N., and Stanton-Fraser, D.' Underlying physiological mechanisms related to decision-making processes in problematic internet use'. In 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP), 8 July 2014 - 13 July 2014, Paris. Oral presentation.
  • Nikolaidou, M., Hinvest, N., and Stanton-Fraser, D. 'Underlying physiological mechanisms related to decision-making processes in problematic internet use'. The first Annual Psychology Department PhD Conference, May 2014, Bath, UK.