Dr Liam Chawner

Biography

My research spans behavioural, developmental, and biological psychology, investigating anything related to the development of eating behaviours and food preferences throughout childhood. In particular, I am interested in increasing dietary variety in children (including vegetable intake) and promoting healthy eating habits through play and learning techniques. I am also interested in the development of appetite self-regulation and associated behaviours (e.g. eating in the absence of hunger, emotional eating), as well as parenting practices. I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at Brunel University London. I then went on to complete a 1+3 (MA Social research + PhD) ESRC funded studentship at the University of Leeds, supervised by Prof. Marion Hetherington and Dr. Pam Birtill. During my PhD, I studied how experiential learning techniques could be used to improve the amount of vegetables children eat at mealtimes. I then did a postdoc at the University of Essex, exploring the behavioural and cognitive mechanisms that influence the development of emotional eating in infancy. I joined the Department of Psychology at the University of Essex as a lecturer in January 2024. I would very much like to be contacted by anyone that shares my interests in research. Specifically, I would like to hear from educators, clinicians, and charities, as well as other researchers and potential students.

Qualifications

• PhD in Psychology University of Leeds, (2022)

Appointments

University of Essex

• Lecturer in Psychology, University of Essex (1/1/2024 - present)