Pierce Veitch has joined the group this month as a PhD student, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). We caught up with Pierce to find out how he progressed from being a curious undergraduate student at Kent to a full-time researcher.
Prior to starting your PhD. What did you study as an undergraduate and what inspired you to choose that subject?
In 2020, I began my undergraduate studies in psychology at the University of Kent, driven by an interest in using scientific principles to help people in clinical settings. However, as I progressed through my degree, I realised that psychology encompassed a much broader range of topics than I had initially anticipated. It was during this time that I discovered a passion for political and moral psychology. I became fascinated by how psychological science could provide insights into issues of injustice, morality, and political behaviour, which inspired me to delve deeper into these areas. This newfound focus ultimately led me to write my final year project on moral emotions, and I haven’t looked back since. During my undergraduate degree I held three research assistant positions for both Kent Business School and the School of Psychology.
What did you study for your Masters degree?
In 2023, I started my MSc in social psychology to delve deeper into a wide range of topics. For my MSc thesis, I chose to research trust in policy-making AI to explore how the public prioritises ethical AI in these contexts. This project serves as a great launch pad into my future PhD work. Alongside my MSc work, I managed two research assistant roles.
What are you looking forward to most about the PhD?
As I enter my PhD, I am surrounded by a great team. I am looking forward to soaking up as much knowledge as possible (like some kind of knowledge sponge) from both my colleagues and the AI ethics literature. Importantly, I want to answer the “big questions” about public perceptions of AI in our political institutions and of course, I hope to have some fun on the way.
How do you unwind from the pressures of doing a PhD?
To unwind I like to turn to my hobbies such as martial arts (I am currently getting back into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). If I need a more relaxing break, I can always turn to an audiobook.
What one piece of advice would you give to a new student about to study psychology?
My advice to an aspiring psychology student would be to remain open-minded. I found in my personal experience people tend to have a particularly narrow focus when pursuing psychology, but the possibilities are truly endless. Psychology is such a multi-faceted tool which can be used to address a diverse range of topics. When I started my psychology journey, I could never have guessed that I would be studying trust in AI, but here I am.