Associate Professor Darren Burke
I am interested in a distractingly wide range of research questions, but what unites them is adopting a broadly biological approach. I am convinced that there is no psychological question that cannot be better understood by incorporating insights from neuroscience, genetics, and endocrinology, and that they can all be united by understanding the way in which evolution has shaped up our psychological mechanisms.
I have a BSc (hons) from The University of Sydney, in which I was able to major in both psychology and biology, and then gained a PhD in Psychology (also from USyd), studying the mechanisms of 2-dimensional motion perception in the visual system, under the supervision of Professor Peter Wenderoth.
Before coming to the University of Newcastle, more than 10 years ago now, I held academic positions at Griffith University, University of Wollongong and Macquarie University.
Current PhD students
Peter Marshall
PhD investigating the evolutionary origins of sexual dimorphism in human faces, especially the role that height differences might have made.
Johanne Knowles
PhD taking a life history theory approach to investigating how early life adversity might impact on adult decision making, from simple perceptual judgements to romantic and lifestyle choices.
Carly Tredway
PhD investigating the roles of sleep, exercise, diet and hormones on adolescent depression, especially its sharp increase in girls at around puberty.
Ashlea Tullipan
PhD investigating visuo-haptic (eye-hand) integration and interactions in the perception of object shape, size and surface texture.
Ryan Capirion
PhD taking a life history theory approach to investigating the role of early life experiences in determining face shape and preferences and mating preferences.
Student wanted...
PhD student
Lab Alumni
PhD graduate from Macquarie University, now academic staff member at Charles Sturt University
PhD graduate from UoN/Charles Sturt University, now a veterinary nurse at the Animal Medical Centre in Launceston Tasmania
PhD graduate from UoN, now
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, and Clinical Neuropsychologist
Alumni co-supervised in the lab
PhD graduate from Macquarie University, now academic staff member at La Trobe University
PhD graduate from Macquarie University, now academic staff member at SUNY, Empire State College
PhD graduate from Macquarie University, now academic staff member at Australian Catholic University
PhD graduate from Western Sydney University, now academic staff member at Brunel University, London
PhD graduate from Western Sydney University, now teacher and casual academic staff member at Western Sydney University