Dr Marie Frances Dunnion BA (Hons), DipPsych, MSc, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPsS

Dr Marie Frances Dunnion

CENTRE-UB Research Fellow

Contact details

Address
School of Psychology

Dr Marie Dunnion is a CENTRE-UB Research Fellow with the Cerebra Network, which aims to improve health and well-being outcomes for neurodivergent children and children with rare genetic syndromes. Marie’s project focuses on the network’s research impact on children and families.

Qualifications

  • British Psychological Society Associate Fellow (AFBPsS), 2024
  • British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), 2018
  • PhD Organisational Psychology, University of Worcester, 2016
  • MSc Work Psychology and Business, Aston University, 2008
  • Graduate Diploma in Psychology, University of Wolverhampton, 2004
  • BA (Hons) English, University of Birmingham, 2003

Biography

Marie completed her first degree in English at the University of Birmingham and then followed this with a series of qualifications which all incorporated the study of psychology. Marie’s PhD, in the area of Organisational Psychology, focused on a form of unethical work behaviour known as 'organisational charlatanism' or 'false performance.' She was awarded her PhD at the University of Worcester, where she has also worked as an Associate Lecturer in Business Psychology BSc (Hons).

Marie returned to the University of Birmingham in 2022 where she worked as an IMPACT Facilitator for the IMPACT Centre. Marie was hosted by Leicester City Council and her IMPACT project aimed to better understand the experience of Direct Payments in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. Marie’s role involved translating the meaningful value of peoples’ lived experiences to help better support individual choice and control of support and social care services.

In 2023, Marie started a new role as a Research Associate / Impact Lead with the Cerebra Network which consists of four leading institutions which aim to deliver greater insight into neurodivergent children and children with rare and complex syndromes. Their research specialises in four key areas of autism, mental health, sleep, and behaviours that challenge. Marie’s role was mainly focused on impact and ensuring that the research conducted in the Network had a significant impact for children and families.

Remaining with the Cerebra Network, in 2024, Marie commenced a CENTRE-UB Early Career Research Fellowship on a project titled, ‘Delivering National and International Impact on Practice for the Cerebra Network.’ The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) promotes translating research into real-world benefit and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, including experts by experience and a non-academic partner organisation mentor. Marie is currently working with the NHS to co-develop a number of impactful Cerebra Network resources, including a novel Cerebra Network podcast.

Since becoming a parent carer to a young autistic child, Marie’s research interests have increasingly included neurodiversity. Drawing on her lived experience, for the past three years, Marie has worked with Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS on a project designing sensory-friendly environments for autistic patients in GP surgeries. As an NHS Lived Experience Partner, Marie has conducted in-person assessments of GP surgeries, co-delivered autism training to GP surgery staff, and co-written an NHS Project Evaluation.

As well as links to healthcare and a demonstrated work history in higher education, Marie has also worked for charitable organisations (e.g. Worcestershire Association of Carers) and in trade union/professional association environments. She also has experience of being self-employed and applying entrepreneurial skills.

Marie is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (CPsychol). She was also recently invited to become a British Psychological Society Associate Fellow (AFBPsS) to reflect her many years in the professional application of psychology, psychological research, and dissemination of knowledge.

Research

  • Neurodevelopmental conditions and rare genetic syndromes
  • Neurodiversity
  • Autism
  • Reasonable adjustments
  • Health inequalities
  • Qualitative research methods
  • Organisational behaviour
  • Unethical work behaviour
  • Job performance
  • Human Resource Management (HRM)

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Dunnion, MF, Gbadamosi, G & Francis-Smythe, J 2024, 'The Illusion of Competence: A Qualitative Deep Dive into Workplace False Performance', Behavioral Sciences, vol. 14, no. 11, 985. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14110985

View all publications in research portal