About
Dr. Farah Akthar is a Chartered Psychologist and Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscientist whose research and teaching span the intersection of vision, neuroscience, and clinical health. She lectures across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including the MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience, and leads the Clinical & Cognitive Neuropsychology of Vision module (PSYC329). Within the Institute of Population Health, she serves as the Early Career Academic Lead and as the Department’s Open Day and Recruitment Lead. She also oversees assessment for Brain and Cognition (Year 1) and Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience (Year 2) modules and supervises a wide range of research projects at both undergraduate and MSc levels.
Dr. Akthar is an active member of both the Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Group and the VISION Group at the University of Liverpool. Her research focuses on the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying eye diseases, including macular degeneration, with a particular emphasis on developing novel rehabilitation and assistive technologies for individuals with central vision loss. Her work bridges basic neuroscience with applied clinical research and includes interdisciplinary collaborations in ophthalmology and COVID-19-related cognition.
Beyond her research and teaching, Dr. Akthar contributes to academic governance as a member of the Curriculum Board and a trained Ethics Reviewer, reflecting her commitment to maintaining high standards in education and research integrity.
Her academic interests encompass clinical and cognitive neuroscience, vision science, neuropsychological disorders, and age-related brain and eye diseases, including dementia, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Akthar is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has received multiple awards and nominations recognising her excellence in teaching, mentorship, and research, including:
Elaine Funnell Prize in Cognitive Neuroscience (2018) – Royal Holloway, University of London
Best Feedback Provider Award – University of Liverpool (student-voted)
Nominated Lecturer of the Year (2024, 2025) – University of Liverpool
Nominated Best Feedback Provider (2024) – University of Liverpool
Nominated Most Dedicated Member of Staff (2025) – University of Liverpool
Nominated Academic Advisor of the Year (2025) – University of Liverpool
Dr. Akthar is a Co-Investigator on the David Foster Wicks Grant.