Rate My Professor Vincent Reid

Professor Vincent Reid is Head of the School of Psychological and Social Sciences and Professor of Psychology at the University of Waikato. As a developmental cognitive neuroscientist, he focuses on the development of human brains and sensory systems, particularly during prenatal stages. His pioneering research examines fetal perception, including visual and auditory processing in utero, using advanced techniques such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy and eye-tracking. This work elucidates early social cognition and has profound implications for understanding the origins of psychological development. Reid's contributions extend to leading Marsden Fund projects, including investigations into the human visual system in utero (2020) and the impact of childhood development support (2024).

Reid holds a BA and MA from the University of Auckland, a Postgraduate Certificate from Durham University, and a PhD from Birkbeck, University of London. His career includes roles at Durham University from 2006 to 2012 and at Lancaster University from 2012, where he rose to Professor of Psychology, prior to his appointment at Waikato. With over 4,275 citations on Google Scholar, key publications include 'The Human Fetus Preferentially Engages with Face-like Visual Stimuli' (Current Biology, 2017) and 'The functional foetal brain: A systematic review and meta-analysis' (Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 2025). Honors include Fellowship of the Association for Psychological Science (2021), University of Waikato Research Excellence Award (2025), and the George Butterworth Young Scientist Award (2005). Reid supervises PhD research on fetal visual studies and uterine auditory environments, fostering the next generation of researchers in developmental science.