Profile
Chloe Tasker
Can't believe my time in the Psychology Zone is over! I've enjoyed chatting to you this month. Thanks to the students for asking great questions, and moderators for keeping us on track! <3
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About Me:
I am a PhD student at the University of Essex studying Psychology🧠. I live in Colchester, Essex with my partner. Our house is full of lots of plants🪴! I love listening to The 1975 and Paramore🎵, and I love to collect different earrings (I’m currently wearing some frog earrings!🐸).
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I’m currently in the first year of my PhD at the University of Essex, and I also studied my undergraduate degree and my Master’s degree there👩🎓! I love the university here as we have a very diverse mix of people, and it’s so interesting to hear the stories of everyone you meet!
As well as working on my PhD, I’m currently invigilating exams at the University. I have to keep an eye out in case anybody is trying to cheat🤫!
I am also President for the Women in STEM Society at the university👩🔬. Our society focuses on bringing together women from all different backgrounds studying different areas of STEM. I have been a part of the society for 3 years now, and it’s been really fun!
Outside of university, I love to collect houseplants, earrings, and boardgames! I also love butterflies, I even have one tattooed on myself!
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My pronouns are:
She/Her or They/Them – I don’t mind which you use!
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My Work:
My PhD research involves using pupil dilation👁 to measure the emotions of different people. As part of my research, I run a lab at the University👩🏻⚕️! A lot of my time is also spent writing and researching for my PhD thesis✍🏻.
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I research the emotions of individuals using pupil dilation. Pupil dilation is when the black part in the centre of your eye (your pupil) expands so that it is larger than normal👁. Pupil dilation can occur when somebody is interested or excited, or even scared😮! We measure the response of people’s pupils in the lab to different videos using a cool camera that is able to track the participant’s pupil (see in the picture below!).
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My Typical Day:
I wake up around 7am, and go to my lab at 9am🥱. I usually have participants booked in before lunch. After lunch, every day is different! I like to spend most of my day on campus in my office, but sometimes I work from home. I usually head home at 5-6pm.
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I usually test 2 participants before lunch, but at the moment it is exam season, so I’ve been getting to campus for 8am to invigilate morning exams. I always go for a walk around the campus at lunchtime (if it’s sunny!)🌞. After lunch, every day is different, sometimes I have meetings with my supervisor, or with my society, sometimes I test more participants, write, or look at data✍🏼. I have my own desk in a shared office, so I spend most of the day there! I usually head home at 5-6pm and watch YouTube or play a board game in the evening 🎬 .
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What I'd do with the prize money:
If I won the prize money, I would love to put it into the Women in STEM Society! Our society is all about diversity and inclusion in STEM, especially encouraging young adults with minority demographics (non-white, female, LGBTQ+, disabled, from low socioeconomic backgrounds, etc) to pursue degrees/careers in STEM. Something I would love to do is set up a scheme where we can come to local schools and teach a science lesson, or perform a science experiment👩🔬! As a psychologist, I would love to run some Psychology experiments with students, but people from many different fields of STEM are a part of our society, meaning we could do all sorts of experiments from robots🤖 to chemistry🧪!
Our society is pretty awesome – we’ve even been runners up for two national awards this year! To find out more about us, click here.
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Education:
2018-2021 – University of Essex, BSc Psychology with Cognitive NeuroscienceI decided to take a psychology and neuroscience degree as I had really enjoyed neuroscience at A Level. During my degree, I worked in a lab that helped people getting over their fear of spiders, and another lab looking at body sensations and the brain.2021-2022 – University of Essex, MSc Research Methods in PsychologyI undertook this Master’s to prepare me for my PhD!2022-2025 – University of Essex, PhD PsychologyI’m now in the first year of my PhD, with another two years to go! -
Qualifications:
11 GCSE’s (9 A grades, and 2 B grades) – Including French, Food Technology, History, ICT
3 A Levels – Psychology (B), History (C), Biology (C)
BSc Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (First Class)
MSc Research Methods in Psychology (First Class)
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Work History:
May 2021-Jan 2022 – University of Essex, Research Assistant
During this time period I conducted research in the Human Sexuality Lab.
Nov 2019-Apr 2020 – University of Essex, Frontrunner
This is a role at the university were you work as a research assistant for a few months. During this placement I conducted research in a cognition and emotion psychology lab.
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Current Job:
I am currently a PhD Researcher in Psychology at the University of Essex. I work part-time as an exam invigilator.
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Employer:
University of Essex
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
bubbly curious psychologist
What did you want to be after you left school?
A forensic psychologist🕵️
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I may have skipped class once... or twice😱
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Probably a school teacher!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Paramore!
What's your favourite food?
Hmm tough decision... either pasta or cake🎂
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1. To pass my PhD! 2. To get a pet cat🐈 3. To have along and happy life
Tell us a joke.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell? No, but it does make my mouth water!
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