Danielle Hewitt

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Oxford University Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (OxCIN), based in the Pain and Aversive Learning group led by Prof. Ben Seymour.

My research is dedicated to understanding how somatosensory perception — particularly pain and touch — is dynamically shaped by sensory, cognitive, and contextual factors. I use multimodal neuroimaging and neurophysiology techniques (EEG, fMRI) to investigate these processes in both healthy volunteers and clinical populations. Recent work examines how anticipatory processes shapes threat perception during sustained pain, using immersive virtual reality environments.

Before joining OxCIN, I completed a PhD at the University of Liverpool under the supervision of Dr Andrej Stancak, Dr Nick Fallon and Dr Christopher Brown. My doctoral research investigated the neural changes associated with spinal cord stimulation and external peripheral nerve stimulation for neuropathic pain.

I am committed to rigorous, inclusive, and interdisciplinary science, and to translating research insights into improved understanding of pain and somatosensory processing with meaningful impact across diverse settings.

Beyond research, I have served as co-chair of the Clinical Neurosciences Society since April 2023, supporting academic, charitable and social initiatives aimed at fostering community within NDCN. I also sit on the Nominations Committee for the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Early Career Network (ECN). In this role, I contribute to the organisation of nomination and voting process for IASP ECN leadership positions, working to ensure that early career researchers are well represented and supported as future leaders in pain research and management worldwide.