Kelly, Dr Michelle

Associate Professor

01 449 8787

michelle.kelly@ncirl.ie

Biography

Dr Michelle Kelly graduated from Maynooth University with a BA Hons degree in Psychology in 2006; and with a doctorate in Psychological Science (Applied Behaviour Analysis and Therapy) in 2011. She completed a postdoc with the NEIL Programme in Trinity College’s Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN) and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (2011-2014), where she was responsible for the research and development of evidence-based brain health interventions for older adults and people with dementia. Michelle took up a lecturing post in psychology and behaviour analysis in Maynooth University from 2014-2017, before subsequently moving to the National College of Ireland (NCI). Michelle is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department in NCI and co-directs the ProBrain Research Lab. She is a PI on research projects funded by the Irish Research Council (IRC) and the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, and contributes to research and clinical placement supervision in Trinity College Dublin, Galway University, Maynooth University, and the International CST Centre in University College London. Michelle is the Chair of the NCI Psychology Ethics Subcommittee, Chair of the Psychological Society of Ireland’s (PSI) Division of Behaviour Analysis (DBA), a member of the PSI Undergraduate and Postgraduate Accreditation Committees, and an editorial board member for Behaviour Analysis in Practice.

Key Responsibilities at NCI

  • Module Coordinator and Associate Professor:
    • Cognitive Psychology (1st Years)
    • Final Year Project Seminars (3rd Years)
    • Applied Developmental Psychology (3rd Years)
  • Dissertation Supervisor for Undergraduate and Masters students

Education / Qualifications

  • Board Certified Behaviour Analyst© Doctoral level (BCBA-D) - Behaviour Analyst Certification Board, Littleton, Colorado. 
  • Doctorate in Psychological Science (Behaviour Analysis and Therapy) - Maynooth University. 
  • B.A. Honours Degree (1:1) in Psychology - Maynooth University. 
  • FETAC Level 5 Award in Sport and Recreation - Moate Business College. 

Academic Experience

  • Lecturer in Psychology, National College of Ireland (2017 - present)
  • Lecturer in Psychology, Maynooth University (2015-2017)
  • Assistant Lecturer in Psychology, Maynooth University (2014-2015)
  • Early Intervention Research Coordinator, Trinity College Dublin and Alzheimer Society of Ireland (2011-2014)
  • Classroom Supervisor and Applied Behaviour (ABA) Instructor, ABACAS School for Children with Autism (2007-2011)

Esteem

  • Editorial Board Member Behaviour Analysis in Practice (2017 - present)
  • Recipient of the University of Cambridge's Insights for Impact Award for High impact contribution to the field of cognition and neuroscience for the paper The Impact of Exercise on the Cognitive Functioning of Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis published in Aging Research Reviews. 
  • Recipient of the Health Research Board (HRB) Award for Best Poster Presentation at the Annual Cochrane in Ireland Conference, Dublin City University. 
  • Recipient of the W.J. Smyth Prize awarded for the Highest Academic Standing in Final Year Psychology (B.A. Hons.), Maynooth University. 
  • Recipient of a 'Highly Commended' Award at the Annual Psychology Student Congress, Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI): received for Excellent Thesis Presentation, and Outstanding Research and Communication. 
  • Recipient of the Prize for Best Overall Academic Performance in 2nd Year Psychology (B.A. Hons.), Maynooth University. 

Committee Membership

  • Chairperson - Psychological Society of Ireland's (PSI) Division of Behaviour Analysis
  • Member of the PSI Undergraduate Accreditation Committee
  • Member of the PSI Postgraduate Accreditation Committee
  • Scientific Advisory Panel member - Alzheimer Society of Ireland

Research Grants

  • The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Dementia Research Award (2023)A pilot and evaluation of a University-placement model within Memory Clinics to increase the availability of Cognitive RehabilitationPrincipal Investigator with Co-PI Dr Caoimhe Hannigan. Co-applicants: Tallaght University Hospital. €38k

  • Irish Research Council (IRC) New Foundations (2022/2023)FAB-CST: To examine facilitators and barriers to the implementation of evidence-based interventions for dementiaPrincipal Investigator. €10,920.81

  • Maynooth University Conference & Workshop Fund (2015). Funding to organise an academic workshop with a US speaker, Dr Jacob Daar. Lead applicant, co-applicant was Dr Carol Murphy, MU. €500

  • The Ireland Funds: Promising Ireland Campaign (2014-2015). Early Cognitive Interventions for Older People in the Community (developing training materials and awareness campaign for Cognitive Rehabilitation). Co-applicant with the ASI. €5,219

  • Pobal SSNO: Community and Voluntary Sector (2014). To pilot and evaluate community-based Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for people with dementia. Co-applicant with the ASI. €3,500. 

  • The Coca Cola ‘Thank You Fund’ (2012). Supporting an Innovative Approach to the Promotion of Active Lifestyles in Irish Communities: “Active Body, Active Brain”. Principal Investigator. Co-applicants included the ASI and the NEIL Programme. €10,000

  • Grundtvig Europe and Leargas LLP (2012). Funding for travel, accommodation, and expenses to attend a 7-day training course on designing cognitive interventions. Individual application. €1,560

  • HRB 2-day Cochrane Training Fellowship (2012). Awarded fees to attend a 2-day Cochrane Systematic Review Course. Individual application. €200

Doctoral Research Supervision 

PhD Research (ongoing):

  • Colm Lannon-Boran: Investigating the Effects of Mindfulness Practice on Older Adults' Cognitive Function and Sleep Quality. Collaboration with Dr Caoimhe Hannigan and Dr Joanna McHugh-Power. Ongoing. 

Doctoral Research (Completed June 2017):

  • Barnard, Marthinius: PEAK Relational Training System: Exploring the Practical Implementation of the Generalization Training and Direct Training Modules. 
  • Callaghan, Ruth: 'Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure Examination of Attitudes towards Alcohol'.
  • Cleary, Louise Maria: Investigating the Impact of Brief Cognitive Defusion Intervention on State Anxiety and Psychological Inflexibility/Avoidance.
  • Curtis, Aisling Bridget: Using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) to explore implicit versus self-report attitudes toward bullying with student at post-primary and university level. 
  • Dennehy, June: Behavioural Methodologies to Teach Relational Responding to Preschool Children with Diagnosed Autism. 
  • Fawcett, Emma: Combining PEAK (Promoting the Emergence of Advances Knowledge) with Other Teaching Methodologies with children with and without Learning Delays. 
  • Gallagher, Roisin: Developing the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a Measure of Bias toward Pupils with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Hines, Roberta: The Impact of Teaching the PEAK Relational Training System within a Pre-School Setting. 
  • Murphy, Rachel: Using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure to Examine Implicit Beauty-Bias in the Context of Employability Evaluations. 
  • Nolan, Conor: Using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure to Investigate Teachers' Attitudes towards Students with ADHD and Anxiety. 
  • O'Halloran, Orla: An Investigation into Implicit and Explicit Attitudes toward Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) versus Typically Developing Children. 

Research Publications

Published International Journal Articles

Manuscripts in Preparation

Published Reports

Conference Presentations

Invited Presentations

Conference Organising

  • Member of the organising committee of the DNNI (Dementia and Neurodegeneration Network Ireland) Conference on "Building Platforms for Sustainable Research in Dementia and Neurodegeneration" held in King's Inns, Dublin on Thursday 30th November 2017. (This meeting included 8 national and international speakers and approximately 80 delegates). 
  • The Division of Behaviour Analysis (DBA) Conference 2017: Lead organiser, 40th Anniversary Conference of the DBA. 11th-13th May 2017, Trinity College Dublin. 
  • The DBA Conference 2016: Lead organiser, Tenth Annual Conference of the DBA, 10th-11th June 2016. Maynooth University. 
  • Workshop, Yvonne O'Connor (Institute of Child Education and Psychology Europe): Lead organiser, one-day workshop for Psychologists and clinicians, 24th June 2017, PSI HQ Dublin. 
  • Workshop, Dr Jacob Daar (University of Illinois, California): Lead organiser, one-day workshop on interventions for children with autism, 3rd November 2016, Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth. 

Research Interests

  • Lifestyle interventions to promote healthy cognitive ageing; early interventions for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia; behavioural gerontology, Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and behaviour therapy; Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and derived relational responding. 

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