ProfNiall Pender

Prof Pender is Professor of Psychology and Head of Department of Health Psychology in the School of Population Health. He is a Chartered Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychologist. He was previously Principal Clinical Neuropsychologist and founding Head of the Department of Psychology at Beaumont Hospital for over 20 years. Prior to his current appointment Prof Pender was Associate Professor (Neuropsychology) in the Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) through which he founded Ireland's first MSc in Applied Clinical Neuropsychology. He is an adjunct Professor in the School of Medicine TCD.

Having completed an undergraduate (BA hons) degree in Psychology at University College Dublin (1991) he then completed an MSc in Experimental & Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Wales, Swansea (1992). He obtained his professional training in clinical psychology (MSc) at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London (1996) before completing his PhD in Neuropsychology at the Institute of Psychiatry (2005). He was also awarded a Post-Qualification Diploma in Clinical Neuropsychology from King's College London (1997).

Upon qualification Prof Pender was employed as Clinical Neuropsychologist at the Lishman Brain Injury Unit, Maudsley Hospital London. He was then employed as Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Department of Psychology, Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, London through which he provided services to the Profound Brain Injury Unit, Huntington's Disease Unit and the Neurobehavioural Rehabilitation Unit (NRU). He was made Consultant Neuropsychologist in 2000 having previously held the role of Clinical Team Lead for the NRU. During this time, he was visiting lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry where his research focused on the neuropsychology of Huntington’s disease.

Prof. Pender is a past President of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and founding member of the Division of Neuropsychology through which he is a Chartered Clinical Neuropsychologist. In addition to his academic roles, he works as a clinical neuropsychologist with people who have suffered neurological/neurosurgical injuries and illness with a special interest in the cognitive, emotional and behavioural changes seen in neurodegenerative diseases and acquired brain injuries. He works as an Expert Witness in cases of brain injury within civil and criminal cases.

Prof Pender is a Fellow of the Psychological Society of Ireland and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He is a member of the British Neuropsychological Society,  the International Neuropsychological Society and the Medico-Legal Society of Ireland.