PhD Student
Contact Details
Email: aghooc01@student.bbk.ac.uk
Supervisors
Primary Supervisor: Prof Adam Tierney (Birkbeck, University of London)
Secondary Supervisor: Talia Isaacs (UCL)
Research Interests
My research is in cognitive neuroscience and psycholinguistics, with a particular focus on second language acquisition. I use behavioural techniques and neuroimaging methods, including EEG, to explore how people acquire and process a second language. More specifically, my focus is on individual differences in accented speech perception.
Central to my work is the idea that communication in multilingual societies should not rely solely on the second language speaker to adapt. By shifting focus to the listener’s role, I aim to enhance mutual understanding and reduce the pressure placed on L2 speakers in everyday interactions.
I also look at the social challenges of L2 speakers of English from both sides of the conversation — the listener’s auditory processing and the linguistic difficulties that affect how comprehensible English is produced. By improving the interaction as a whole, L2 speakers can benefit too, which helps reduce language barriers and supports their success in workplace and academic settings and promotes integration.
Education
PhD in Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London (2025–ongoing)
MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology, Birkbeck, University of London (2023–2024), Distinction
BSc in Psychology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran (2019–2024), First Class (19.70/20)
Awards & Funding
ESRC UBEL DTP PhD Scholarship
Kenway Legacy Scholarship 2023, MSc full tuition fees
Teaching
Demonstrator, Research Skills in Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck