Data Champions Search

Alexandra Gushurst-Moore is the Research & Impact Coordinator of the Fitzwilliam Museum and Coordinator of Cambridge Visual Culture. Her doctoral thesis, entitled “The Making of Modern Fantasy in the Visual Arts of England, ca. 1850–1920”, was supervised by Elizabeth Prettejohn at the University of York. She holds an MA(Hons) from the University of Edinburgh and an MSt from the University of Oxford. Beyond her research, she has professional experience of and interest in British educational policy, the strategy and operation of HEIs and the facilitation of inclusive and supportive research cultures.

After completing my undergraduate degree in psychology, I spent several years working within the NHS and the charity sector, before moving into clinical research (Department of Oncology) in 2011. During this tenure I worked as a research assistant and latterly senior data manager, working across a variety of research and clinical systems (including OpenClinica, Achiever Medical and EDGE), gaining valuable experience in data approaches to research and governance. During this time I also completed a MSc in Psychological Research Methods. My knowledge and understanding of NHS systems was furthered during a secondment to the eHospital team, which facilitated the transition of Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust to a fully electronic medical health record system (EPIC), the first of its kind in the UK.
   
   I joined the Department of Clinical Neurosciences in 2020, bringing a wealth of experience in the collection and management of clinical data from my time in Oncology. I currently work with the clinical and laboratory teams and external stakeholders to design, create and deliver streamlined methods for the prospective collection of high quality clinical and sample data.

My current work combines neurobehavioral observation, fMRI and EEG in patients with Disorders of Consciousness. In particular, my research investigates which factors might predict patient performance, which technique (or combination of techniques), might be most sensitive in detecting residual conscious awareness, and which pattern of performance best classifies conscious state. 
I am also interested in the role of attentional mechanisms in conscious perception; specifically, I have been studying which temporal and spatial factors influence divided attention when stimuli in different sensory modalities compete for conscious access, leading to integration or interference. 
I strongly believe in the importance of open access and data sharing. I joined the Data Champions initiative at the University of Cambridge, aiming to increase awareness of the importance and benefits of sharing data, and to providing support within my department on how to share data through the university repository.

Additional areas of expertise:

Attentional cognitive processes, disorder of consciousness.