Andria Shimi
About my current job
I’m a tenure-track Lecturer in School Psychology at the Department of Psychology of the University of Cyprus, in Nicosia. As a University faculty member, I divide my time between teaching and research. I teach undergraduate and graduate courses that relate to my expertise in Cognitive/Developmental Neuroscience and School Psychology. In terms of research, I supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students who carry out research in my laboratory, the Memory and Attention Development lab.
Something important I learned during my time at EP
EP has taught me several things that I treasure to date. One thing that I keep close to my heart as a researcher is to value more the quality rather than the quantity of scientific publications. In the frantic academic world where “publish or perish” seems to be the default, maintaining one’s focus on the quality of research is sometimes difficult. I have also learned that I should pursue research questions that are meaningful, yet realistic, and allow time for developing good research hypotheses and methods to pursue them. And I’ve learned to be careful with how I analyse and interpret my results. Overall, at EP I have learned to always aim for research excellence and to pursue novel questions that contribute to the literature while adhering to high ethical research standards. Most importantly though, I have learned from my mentors at EP that patience and perseverance are key qualities in academia and collaborations with the right people allow one to be productive and have fun at the same time.
How did my education influence my career path?
My education at EP has been instrumental to my career path. The education and training I received at EP made me fall in love with research and steered my career towards academia. At EP, I learned how valuable good experimental research is and how useful behavioural and neuroscience techniques can be for acquiring knowledge about both typically-developing children and children with neurodevelopmental disorders. I also learned the importance of having a strong background in statistics, which allows me now to examine my research hypotheses appropriately and to approach critically research findings from other scientists. Beyond helping my academic career as a Developmental Cognitive Neuroscientist, the knowledge I gained at EP from my graduate course work, research, and departmental seminars/workshops I attended, has made me an even better applied School Psychologist with regards to my clinical evaluations, case conceptualization and interventions in children with neurodevelopmental and genetic syndromes.
Did you have a favourite tutor/lecturer/prof, and how did they inspire you?
My favourite professor at EP has been my PhD supervisor, and later postdoc advisor, Professor Gaia Scerif. Gaia has been a role model for me, both as a scientist and as a person, and has definitely shaped me as an academic and as a future young supervisor. Self-confident, always motivated to learn new things herself and engaging in state-of-the art research, Gaia helped me build confidence and encouraged my own drive for continuous learning. She taught me how to carry out research with high standards, while at the same time giving me the freedom to pursue research questions that were of interest to me (fortunately, we have many common research interests!) and supporting me to develop my own research identity. She always treated me and my labmates with respect and demonstrated that no matter what one’s career level and achievements are, being humble and respectful to others is an important personality characteristic. She showed me that a good supervisor is one that pushes you to try harder in order to reach your full potential while at the same time is always there for you when you need help and cares enough to celebrate your happiness and empathise with your sad moments in life. Importantly, she shows by example that women can be top scientists in their field!
Other reflections
Gestalt Psychology argues that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Indeed, life at EP is made of distinctive small moments at Oxford that together provide a unique life experience. That is, lunch breaks in the green landscapes of University Park, long walks at the meadows, punting in the river, picnics in the parks, drinks in old pubs, formal dinners at the historical colleges dressed in gowns (as if being part of a Harry Potter movie), cycling through the picturesque alleys, all add up to a wonderful experience. Also, EP at Oxford University is an exciting place to be, one that fosters diversity and equality, empowers women, and provides opportunities that one may never imagine. At Oxford, I have created truly amazing memories that will stay with me forever.
