Dr Ailsa Millen

Lecturer in Psychology

Psychology University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Ailsa Millen

Contact details

About me

I am a Cognitive Psychologist and Lecturer in Psychology (Assistant Professor). My interdisciplinary research advances theoretical models of cognition to address societal and operational challenges at the cutting-edge of psychology, law, criminology, computer science, and ethics. My research spans three areas: (1) novel methods for identifying deceptive eyewitnesses; (2) perceptions of technology in the criminal justice system; (3) neurodiversity and memory/credibility assessment. My core research interests are in face recognition, deception, memory/credibility assessment, and neurodiversity. My work examines memory and cognition across forensic and clinical settings.

I have a PhD in Cognitive Psychology on 'The Effect of Deception on Fixation-Based Measures of Memory' (University of Portsmouth, 2015). I joined the University of Stirling in 2016 as a Research and Teaching Fellow during which time I secured an ESRC grant ‘Identifying Novel Markers of Concealed Face Recognition' (2018-2022). I led this grant, developing innovative approaches for identifying novel markers to expose deceptive eyewitnesses. In this work, I employed a multi-method approach to identify objective evidence of face recognition in individuals who denied recognising someone they knew, advancing our understanding of how the brain processes and recognises faces. I was appointed as a Lecturer in Psychology in 2021. I am PI on the following projects: 'Public Perceptions on the Use of Technology in the Criminal Justice System' and 'Neurodiversity and Psychological Veracity Assessment.' My work is funded by ESRC, BPS, Brain, and the UK Government.

I am a Research Group Leader for the 'Cognition in Complex Environments Research Group'. I am a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) where I am registered with the cognitive psychology, defense and security psychology and psycholobiology sections. I am a member of the Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System Network (NICJSN).

I am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) and have been repeatedly nominated for Research and Teaching Awards for leadership, EDI and mentorship, culminating in a Research Culture Hall of Fame Award.

I have a special interest in face recognition and develop novel methods for detecting concealed recognition (e.g., when someone hides knowledge of something or someone they know). I am particularly focused on individual differences in neurodivergent populations and the potential of neurocomputing technologies to model interactions between brain signals related to memory and deception.

My broader research spans:

Forensic memory detection

Clinical memory assessment

Recognition memory (faces, objects, scenes)

Associative and episodic memory

Visual attention and perception

Deception, memory confidence, and metacognition

Cognitive neuroscience and neurocomputing

Human learning and developmental psychology

Award

Inspirational Women Awards (Students Union)

Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence (RATE) Awards - Most Inspiring Tutor

Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence (RATE) Awards - Outstanding Academic Mentorship (2)

Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence (RATE) Awards - Teacher of the Year (Natural Sciences) (3)

Research Culture Awards - Best Early Career Researcher

Research Culture Awards - Hall of Fame Award for multiple and repeated nominations since 2020.

Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Activity dedicated to Enhancing Research Culture (RGL Cognition Group) (1)

Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Early Career Researcher HIGHLY COMMENDED (1)

Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Mentor

Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Mentor HIGHLY COMMENDED (2)

Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Research Activity dedicated to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (1)

Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Research Leadership (1)

Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Research Leadership (1)

Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Research Leadership HIGHLY COMMENDED (3)

Divisional / Faculty Contribution

Psychology Equality Diversity Inclusion Committee

Psychology Research Committee

Research Group Leader Cognition (Joint)

Event / Presentation

Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2017). Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition. Invited talk at The National Research Institute of Police Science (NRIPS). Chiba, Japan, September 4. International Stakeholder Engagement.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2017). Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition. Invited talk at The National Research Institute of Police Science (NRIPS). Chiba, Japan, September 4.

Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2017). Tracking the truth: Using eye tracking to expose recognition of familiar faces during lies. Invited talk at the International CIT Meeting in Fukuyama: Verification of New Indices on CIT. Fukuyama, Japan, August 26-27.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2017). Tracking the truth: Using eye tracking to expose recognition of familiar faces during lies. Invited talk at the International CIT Meeting in Fukuyama: Verification of New Indices on CIT. Fukuyama, Japan, August 26-27.

Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2018). Detecting concealed face recognition with blurred faces. Invited symposium paper at the European Association of Psychology and Law. Turku, June, August 26-29.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2018). Detecting concealed face recognition with blurred faces. Invited symposium paper at the European Association of Psychology and Law. Turku, June, August 26-29.

Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2019). Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition. Invited research talk at Huddersfield University, UK, December 11.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2019). Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition. Invited research talk at Huddersfield University, UK, December 11.

Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2023). Remote detection of concealed information. Invited Symposium at The Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC XIV). Nagoya, August 9-12.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2023). Remote detection of concealed information. Invited Symposium at The Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC XIV). Nagoya, August 9-12.

Millen, A.E. (2017). Using eye tracking to expose recognition of familiar faces. Invited talk at Kyoto University, August 18.
Millen, A.E. (2017). Using eye tracking to expose recognition of familiar faces. Invited talk at Kyoto University, August 18. International Academic Knoledge Exchange Engagement.

Millen, A.E. (2022). Challenges of detecting concealed face recognition. Invited research talk at Deception Research Society, Lies and Allies Meeting, online, March 1.
Millen, A.E. (2022). Challenges of detecting concealed face recognition. Invited research talk at Deception Research Society, Lies and Allies Meeting, online, March 1.

Millen, A.E. (2022). Detecting concealed face recognition: a remote multimodal approach. Invited research talk at 16th Neuroinformatics Seminar, NK-UK, online, May 17.
Millen, A.E. (2022). Detecting concealed face recognition: a remote multimodal approach. Invited research talk at 16th Neuroinformatics Seminar, NK-UK, online, May 17.

Millen, A.E. (2022). Eye tracking as an implicit research method for understanding cognition during face processing, face recognition and concealed recognition. Invited research talk at Human Ethology Seminar, Charles University, Prague, online, June 8.
Charles University in Prague
Millen, A.E. (2022). Eye tracking as an implicit research method for understanding cognition during face processing, face recognition and concealed recognition. Invited research talk at Human Ethology Seminar, Charles University, Prague, online, June 8.

Millen, A.E. (2023). Detecting concealed face recognition: A review of CIT methods. Paper presented at Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security (BASS23). Bath, July 11-13.
Millen, A.E. (2023). Detecting concealed face recognition: A review of CIT methods. Paper presented at Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security (BASS23). Bath, July 11-13.

Millen, A.E. (2023). Detecting concealed recognition. Invited talk at Legal Psychology – cross cultural collaborations ( with international experts and the National Research Institute of Police Science (NRIPS). Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, August 4.
Millen, A.E. (2023). Detecting concealed recognition. Invited talk at Legal Psychology – cross cultural collaborations ( with international experts and the National Research Institute of Police Science (NRIPS). Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, August 4.

Millen, A.E. (2024). A community philosophy (CP) approach to understanding public perceptions on the use of technology in the criminal justice system. The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group. National Stakeholder engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). A community philosophy (CP) approach to understanding public perceptions on the use of technology in the criminal justice system. The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group.

Millen, A.E. (2024). Best procedures and practice for detecting concealed face recognition. Invited research presentation at The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group. National Stakeholder engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). Best procedures and practice for detecting concealed face recognition. The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group.

Millen, A.E. (2024). EPS Workshop: Perspectives on human and computer face identification. University of Stirling, 25-26th July 2024. International Academic engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). EPS Workshop: Perspectives on human and computer face identification. University of Stirling, 25-26th July 2024

Millen, A.E. (2024). Neurodivergence and credibility assessment. Invited paper presented at The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group. National stakeholder engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). Neurodivergence and credibility assessment. The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group (attendees as above).

Millen, A.E. (2024). Public perceptions of technology in the criminal justice system. Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security (BASS24). St Andrews, July 16-18. International Academic-Stakeholder engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). Public perceptions of technology in the criminal justice system. Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security (BASS24). St Andrews, July 16-18.

Millen, A.E. (2025). Emerging Technologies for Future Policing. SIPR Applied Psychology in Policing Conference, Aberdeen, 16th April 2025.

Millen, A.E. (2026). Neurodiversity and Psychophysiological Veracity Assessment. BASS26, CREST’s Fifth International Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security Conference

Millen, A.E., Brock, S., & Hancock, P.J.B. (2019). Shining a spotlight on face recognition: mouse-path dynamics detect recognition of familiar faces. Invited symposium paper at the European Association of Psychology and Law (EAPL19). Santiago de Compostela, July 17-20.
Millen, A.E., Brock, S., & Hancock, P.J.B. (2019). Shining a spotlight on face recognition: mouse-path dynamics detect recognition of familiar faces. Invited symposium paper at the European Association of Psychology and Law (EAPL19). Santiago de Compostela, July 17-20.

Other Project

Brain Travel Grant Award (PI). £1000
University of Stirling
BRAIN travel grant for research.

British Psychological Society Study Visits Scheme Award (PI). £1200
University of Stirling
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Concelaed Information Test Meeting in Japan at Fukuyama University (Invited Visiting Researcher and Speaker) and National Research Institute of Police Science (Invited Keynote).

Crucible Interdisciplinary Seed Grant (Co-I) £3947 - Surveillance, period. Reproductive Health Data.
Surveillance, period: Exploring knowledge, attitudes and beliefs around the use of reproductive health data. Funded value. £3946.35. Collaborators: Hannah Durand (PI), Vanicka Arora, Diana Miranda, Ashley Rogers, Kay Sidebottom.

Crucible Interdisciplinary Seed Grant (PI) £3647 - Public Perceptions of Technology in the Criminal Justice System
University of Stirling
A community philosophy approach to understanding social, ethical, and legal issues around the use of technology in the criminal justice system. Funded value. £3647. Collaborators: Kay Sidebottom, Vanicka Arora, Ben Matthews.

Faculty Networking Award (PI) £1200
Faculty Networking Award for travel to Japan.

HMG Polygraph Award (PI). £1000.

Professional qualification

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

University Contribution

Health and Wellbeing Champion

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Group

Research projects (1)

Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition
PI: Dr Ailsa Millen
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
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Outputs (18)

Article

Many Labs 5: Testing Pre-Data-Collection Peer Review as an Intervention to Increase Replicability

Ebersole CR, Mathur MB, Baranski E, Bart-Plange D, Buttrick NR, Chartier CR, Corker KS, Corley M, Hartshorne JK, IJzerman H, Lazarevic LB, Rabagliati H, Dering B, Hancock PJB & Millen A (2020) Many Labs 5: Testing Pre-Data-Collection Peer Review as an Intervention to Increase Replicability. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 3 (3), pp. 309-331. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245920958687

Article

A multilab registered replication of the attentional SNARC effect.

Colling LJ, Szűcs D, De Marco D, Cipora K, Ulrich R, Nuerk H, Soltanlou M, Bryce D, Chen S, Schroeder PA, Henare DT, Chrystall CK, Hancock PJB, Millen AE & Langton SR (2020) A multilab registered replication of the attentional SNARC effect. [Registered Replication Report on Fischer, Castel, Dodd, and Pratt (2003).]. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 3 (2), pp. 143-162. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245920903079

Teaching

I contribute to learning, teaching, and the student experience across undergraduate and postgraduate modules.

PSYU918 (UG4 Combined Honours Research Projects) - lecturer, supervisor and module coordinator

PSYU917/RP (UG4 Psychology Honours Dissertation) - supervisor

PSYU9E7/8 (UG4 Advanced Research Topics) - lecturer and topic leader

PSYU9A7 (UG4 Psychology in Context) - conference and assessment

PSYU901/2 (UG1 Psychology Communities) - study skills and personal tutor

PSYDIP/PRMP145 (PGT MSc dissertation project) - supervisor

PSYDIP/PRMP145 (PGT MSc research placement) - supervisor

PRMP131 (PGT MSc Research Methods) - lecturer

I also supervise postgraduate research students at MSc and PhD level.

Research programmes

Research centres/groups

Research themes