Liam Jordan
Psychology PhD Researcher (In Progress) & Independent Software Developer
Research Profile
I am an ESRC-funded PhD researcher at the University of Leicester, working in the Vision and Time Lab under the supervision of Dr Aurelio Bruno and Dr Neil Roach. My research examines individual differences in socially relevant timing: the brief sub-second intervals that shape how we perceive and interpret gaze, facial dynamics, and other rapid social cues. I use psychophysics, eye-tracking, and computational modelling to investigate how timing sensitivity varies across individuals and tasks, with an emphasis on understanding the latent structure of temporal processing. Alongside my doctoral work, I am the sole developer of ProtocolDock, a full-stack research operations platform with an integrated LaTeX editor.
Education
Oct 2025 –
In Progress
ESRC PhD Researcher in Psychology
University of Leicester | Vision and Time Lab ESRC-funded doctoral research examining individual differences in socially relevant timing, with a focus on the brief sub-second intervals that shape gaze perception, facial dynamics, and rapid social cues. The project uses psychophysics, eye-tracking, experimental task design, and computational modelling to investigate whether timing sensitivity reflects a single general mechanism or a more structured set of duration-specific processes.
Current work develops behavioural paradigms for measuring gaze-duration perception and comparing individual-differences structure across social and non-social timing tasks. The project is designed as a rolling multi-experiment programme, combining online psychophysical testing with planned laboratory-based eye-tracking work to examine performance, order effects, task structure, and latent timing architecture.
Supervisors: Dr Aurelio Bruno, Prof Neil Roach and Dr Richard Leadbeater.
In ProgressESRC Funded
2023 –
2025
MRes in Psychology (Research Methods)
University of Leicester Modules: Advanced Research Methods (PS7601); Professional Research Skills (PS7602); MRes Project (PS7603). Project: Simulating the effect of visual instability on reading skill.
Sept 2021 –
Dec 2021
PGCert in Research Training
University of Derby
2018 –
2021
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience — First Class
University of Leicester Project: Renewal of Overexpectation in Humans.
Centenary Scholar Award.
First ClassCentenary Scholar
2017 –
2018
Access to HE Diploma in Social Sciences
Further Education 45 credits at Distinction.
Distinction
Research Experience
Oct 2025 –
Present
ESRC PhD Researcher
University of Leicester — Vision and Time Lab Psychophysics and eye-tracking research into individual differences in socially relevant timing.
2024 –
2026
Impact of Intra-Saccadic Displacements on Reading Performance
Department of Psychology and Vision Sciences University of Leicester Simulated visual instability research to identify behavioural strategies employed to compensate.
MRes
May 2019 –
Mar 2021
Research Assistant
University of Leicester Aversive learning and avoidance behaviour in aquatic flatworms. Conditioned Place Avoidance protocol.
Software & Technical Projects
Sept 2024 –
Present
ProtocolDock
Sole Developer | Research Software and Infrastructure | protocoldock.com Designed, built, and continue to develop ProtocolDock, a full-stack research operations platform for behavioural, psychological, and applied research. The platform brings together study setup, participant management, booking workflows, ethics and consent documentation, researcher dashboards, LaTeX writing and compilation tools, task-building support, analysis utilities, template management, version history, and institutional account structures.
The project demonstrates end-to-end research software development, including system architecture, database design, authentication, role-based access control, frontend and backend implementation, email workflows, admin tooling, UX/UI design, deployment planning, and governance-focused workflow design. Features include study lifecycle tracking, ethics approval records, versioned consent materials, audit-style logging, participant/contact separation, data export controls, and structured support for research documentation.
Built using React 18, Vite, Tailwind, Node.js, Express, Prisma, PostgreSQL, and LaTeX compilation tooling. Developed as a live research infrastructure platform alongside doctoral work, with direct relevance to research governance, reproducible documentation, participant workflow management, and academic writing infrastructure.
Sole DeveloperFull-StackResearch SoftwareResearch InfrastructureLive PlatformActive Development
Independent software project A media player for Windows, Android TV, Raspberry Pi and Linux, with linked playlists and tools for everyday viewing. Playback recovery, local library caching, device linking, diagnostics and signed licensing bring interface design, network behaviour and product delivery into one application. Status: Released · active development.
PythonQt / QMLFFmpegPHPMariaDB
Independent software project A subject-aware notebook connecting modules, reading, concepts, assignments, revision and dissertation work. One application supports distinct subject workspaces, specialist browser tools, teaching material, data export and subscription access. Built with vanilla JavaScript, PHP and relational data. Status: Live platform · active development.
JavaScriptPHPMariaDB / MySQLBrowser APIsStripe
Independent software project A read-only utility explaining why Windows refused a file or folder operation, using plain-English findings and technical evidence. Separates permission failures from live locks, security-control evidence and storage conditions. Uses focused native Windows API queries, bounded background work and redacted support reports. Status: Released · free utility.
Windows APIsFile diagnosticsBackground queriesRelease verification
Independent software project A medieval settlement simulation linking work priorities, construction, food, production and survival. Connected systems make labour, materials, seasons and settlement layout affect one another. The project page links to the playable build and development log. Status: Playable browser build · active development.
Browser gameSimulationWork schedulingProduction systems
Independent software project A transport and logistics project built around cargo economies, growing towns and connected networks. Development is organised in phases covering the world foundation, road and rail, water and air, stations and later release work. The project page distinguishes progress from planned scope. Status: In development.
LogisticsEconomy designTransport networksSimulation
Independent software project An isometric logistics concept exploring covert supply routes, inspection risk and network exposure. Design work explores how local decisions create wider vulnerabilities in a distribution network. Development is currently on hold. Status: On hold · game concept.
GodotGame designRisk systemsLogistics
Industry Experience
2022 –
2024
Research & Development Manager
Amazon Textiles Group Dyeing and printing protocol development, safety and performance validation, laboratory testing.
2022 –
2024
Senior Colourist
Approved Amazon Screen Printers Colour accuracy, consistency assurance, and quality control across substrates.
Grants & Awards
2025
ESRC Midlands Graduate School DTP Studentship
Economic and Social Research Council Full-funded PhD studentship, University of Leicester.
Centenary Scholar Award
University of Leicester Awarded for academic excellence during undergraduate study.
Professional Memberships
Student Member
British Psychological Society (BPS)
2025 –
Present
ESRC Midlands Graduate School DTP
Economic and Social Research Council Funded doctoral researcher within the ESRC Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Partnership.
2025 –
Present
Applied Vision Association
(AVA) Lifetime member of the Applied Vision Association
Conference Attendance
April 2026
Applied Vision Association (AVA) Spring Meeting
University of Leicester, UK Presented poster: The effects of saccade-contingent visual instability on reading (Jordan, Paterson & Souto).
Poster Presenter
August 2025
European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP)
Mainz, Germany Presented poster: Simulating the effect of visual instability on reading skill (Jordan, Paterson & Souto).
Poster Presenter
References
Dr Aurelio Bruno
Lecturer, School of Psychology & Vision Sciences, University of Leicester Primary PhD Supervisor. Contact via the University of Leicester School of Psychology & Vision Sciences.
Primary Supervisor
Dr Neil Roach
Professor, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham PhD Co-Supervisor. Contact via the University of Leicester School of Psychology & Vision Sciences.
Co-Supervisor
Dr David Souto
Lecturer, School of Psychology & Vision Sciences, University of Leicester MRes project supervisor and collaborator on visual instability and reading research (ECVP 2025, AVA 2026).
MRes Supervisor
Technical Skills
Programming and analysis: Python, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, R, MATLAB
Web applications: React, Node.js, Express, Vanilla JavaScript, Browser APIs
Data and delivery: PostgreSQL, MariaDB / MySQL, Prisma, Git, Docker, Stripe integration
Desktop and media: Qt / QML, FFmpeg, Windows API diagnostics, Cross-platform delivery
Research methods: Psychophysics, Eye-tracking, Experimental task design, Computational modelling, LaTeX
Further writing: Degree Margins coursebooks and teaching resources; The Departure fiction series. Details: liamjordan.co.uk/writing.php.
Publications & Presentations
Journal Articles
Jordan, L., Alcala, J. A., Urcelay, G. P., & Prados, J. (2023). Conditioned place avoidance in the planaria Schmidtea mediterranea: A pre-clinical invertebrate model of anxiety-related disorders. Behavioural Processes. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104894
Conference Presentations
Jordan, L., Aurelio, Bruno., Neil, Roach., Richard, Leadbeater., (2026). One Clock, or Many? Probing the Latent Architecture of Gaze-Duration Perception via Individual Differences.. University of Leicester Post Graduate Research Conference, School of Psychology and Vision Sciences.
Jordan, L., Paterson, K. B., & Souto, D. (2026). The effects of saccade-contingent visual instability on reading. Applied Vision Association (AVA) Spring Meeting, University of Leicester, UK. 16 April 2026..
Jordan, L., Paterson, K. B., & Souto, D. (2025). Simulating the effect of visual instability on reading skill. European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Mainz, Germany.