Specialization
Gambling Disorder, Gambling Harm, Compulsive behaviour, Risk behaviour, Decision-Making, Confidence,
Focus of research
I am a cognitive neuroscientist specializing in compulsive disorders, with a focus on gambling-related harm as a model system for understanding maladaptive behavior more broadly. My research examines the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying compulsivity, particularly decision-making, reward processing, and metacognition, with a specific emphasis on decision confidence as a key computational driver of persistent, maladaptive choices. This framework extends to related behavioral and technology-mediated domains.
I lead national projects, including What Makes Them Tick? and GamblingLess, which identify risk factors and develop scalable early interventions for young people with gambling harm. I am also a principal investigator in CODE (Confidence in Decision-Making), a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network funded by Horizon Europe, investigating how disrupted confidence contributes to compulsive behavior across contexts.
My work integrates experimental neuroscience, computational approaches, and real-world data to advance translational models of addiction and inform prevention, intervention, and public policy. I collaborate extensively with international partners and contribute to national initiatives addressing gambling harms and digital risk environments in vulnerable populations.
I am committed to bridging neuroscience with clinical practice, public health, and policy through research, teaching, and stakeholder engagement.