WHERE ARE YOU AT THE MOMENT? 

I resumed my duty as a lecturer at University of Nigeria, Nsukka where I lead and collaborate research with other academics. I also mentor high school students in conducting research projects and publishing their papers.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge University is reputed for its strong academic and research excellence and since my time at undergraduate program at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, I have always wished that one day, I could study at this prestigious institution. I did my masters’ program in Neuroimaging at King’s College London and our cohort toured one of the MRC units at University of Cambridge where we visited some amazing research facilities including some MEG and MRI  facilities. My master’s project supervisor at King’s who also studied at the same department in Cambridge University, had very nice memories of the institution.

 Prior to my PhD program, I had conducted research on the adversity exposed children, including institutionalised children both during my masters program at King’s and as a lecturer at University of Nigeria. In applying to a PhD place at University of Cambridge, I wanted to build on this research knowledge. I was very delighted and indeed, a dream come true, when I received the admission and funding offer to study at Cambridge.   

 My Cambridge experience started very great and my research progressed quite well. However, mid-way through my first year, my supervisor left the United Kingdom and covid unexpectedly struck, affecting so many academic and social life. This meant that I had to complete the remaining part of my PhD, working from home and without a formal supervisor. Fortunately, I was able to form collaboration with other academics outside Cambridge, such as Dr Jamie Hanson who provided me with feedback on my projects and assisted as I published all my thesis chapters in academic journals. Although our ability to gather for social events was restricted for much of the time I spent at the University, support provided by different societies helped ensure survival. I enjoyed playing regular tennis with members of the University and College (St Edmund’s) tennis clubs, and also cherished the social meetings with members of African Society of Cambridge University and Cambridge African scholars etc.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SINCE LEAVING THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

ALUMNI WISDOM (what can you tell current Cambridge-Africa PhD scholars)

Publications 

1. Nweze, T., Banaschewski, T., Ajaelu, C., Okoye, C., Ezenwa, M., Whelan, R., ... & IMAGEN Consortium. (2023). Trajectories of cortical structures associated with stress across adolescence: a bivariate latent change score approach. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
2. Nweze, T., Ezenwa, M., Ajaelu, C., & Okoye, C. (2023). Childhood mental health difficulties mediate the long‐term association between early‐life adversity at age 3 and poorer cognitive functioning at ages 11 and 14. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64(6), 952-965.
3. Nweze, T., Ezenwa, M., Ajaelu, C., Hanson, J. L., & Okoye, C. (2023). Cognitive variations following exposure to childhood adversity: Evidence from a pre-registered, longitudinal study. Eclinicalmedicine, 56.
4. Nweze, T., Nwoke, M. B., Nwufo, J. I., Aniekwu, R. I., & Lange, F. (2021). Working for the future: Parentally deprived Nigerian children have enhanced working memory ability. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 62(3), 280-288.
5. Nweze, T., Agu, E., & Lange, F. (2020). Risky decision making and cognitive flexibility among online sports bettors in Nigeria. International Journal of Psychology, 55(6), 995-1002.
6. Zeigler-Hill, V., Martinez, J. L., Vrabel, J. K., Ezenwa, M. O., Oraetue, H., Nweze, T., ... & Kenny, B. (2020). The darker angels of our nature: Do social worldviews mediate the associations that dark personality features have with ideological attitudes?. Personality and Individual Differences, 160, 109920.
7. Ezenwa, M., Orjiakor, T., Ukwuma, M., Oraetue, H., Ude, E., & Nweze, T. (2020). Tracking opiate routes in Nigeria: Identifying trafficking routes via dealers and users of tramadol and codeine.
8. Nweze, T., & Nwani, W. (2020). Contributions of working memory and inhibition to cognitive flexibility in Nigerian adolescents. Developmental neuropsychology, 45(3), 118-128.
9. Nweze, T., Eze, C.C., & Lange, F. (2020) "Perseverative responding in Nigerian chronic alcohol and marijuana users." Substance use & misuse 55.7, 1199-1202.
10. Nwufo, J. I., Nweze, T., Ugwoke, E., Odo, V. O., & Chukwuorji, J. C. (2021). Substance abuse and media violence exposure as factors in acceptance of dating violence among in-school adolescents. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 31(8), 1040-1053.