Fiona joined the LINAS Doctoral Training Programme in October 2024 from a background in Speech and Language Therapy and Registered Intermediary work.  Her research will explore the use of AI enhanced VR in training police officers to better identify and interact with people who have speech, language and/or communication needs (SLCN), aiming to enhance the fairness and effectiveness of their interactions with both offenders and victims.

Fiona will be supervised by Dr John Taggart (Law) and Professor Karen Rafferty

Fiona stated “As an experienced SLT, I am convinced that this role holds vital significance as partners in the Criminal Justice System. I am excited to explore how AI and VR can be utilised to explore research-based solutions to improve the experience for people with communication difficulties when engaging with police

Dr Taggart said “Fiona's work can play a crucial role in better understanding how law enforcement engages with individuals with SLCN and, crucially, how we might improve standards. The potential use of AI and VR in this space is genuinely groundbreaking and LINAS offers the perfect support network for this research.”

 

 

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We welcome PhD applications from prospective students. Further details on how to apply can be found at

https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofLaw/study/postgraduate-research/