Rachel Zajac
{{Short description|New Zealand forensic psychologist and academic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Rachel Zajac
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| fields = Forensic psychology
| workplaces = University of Otago
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| alma_mater = University of Otago
| thesis1_title = The effect of cross-examination on the reliability and credibility of children's testimony
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| thesis1_year = 2002
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| known_for = Memory and cross-examination of children
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| awards = National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award (2016)
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Rachel Zajac is a New Zealand forensic psychologist and professor at the University of Otago in Dunedin.
Academic career
Zajac graduated from the University of Otago in 2002 with a PhD titled "The effect of cross-examination on the reliability and credibility of children's testimony".{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Psychology PhD Graduates 1968–2013|url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/otago068378.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-16|website=University of Otago}} She joined the Department of Psychology as a lecturer the following year and was appointed associate professor in 2016.{{Cite web|date=2016-12-17|title=University appoints 17 as professors|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/campus/university-of-otago/university-appoints-17-professors|access-date=2021-02-16|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}} In December 2019 she was promoted to full professor with effect from 1 February 2020.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-13|title=Promotions celebrate Otago academics' contributions|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/campus/university-of-otago/promotions-celebrate-otago-academics%E2%80%99-contributions|access-date=2021-02-16|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-12-10|title=30 new Professors for the University of Otago|url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago729509.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-16|website=University of Otago|language=en-nz}}
In March 2015, when a senior lecturer, Zajac won a Teaching Excellence Award presented by the University of Otago,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2015-03-03|title=Recognition for Outstanding University of Otago teachers|url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago087935.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-16|website=University of Otago|language=en-nz}} and in August 2016 she won a National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award valued at NZ$20,000.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2016-08-18|title=Dr Rachel Zajac wins National Teaching Award|url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/news/otago619521.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-16|website=University of Otago|language=en-nz}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Dr Rachel Zajac|url=https://ako.ac.nz/our-community/tertiary-teaching-excellence-awards/2016-tertiary-teaching-excellence-awardees/dr-rachel-zajac/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-16|website=Ako AOTEAROA|language=en-US}}
Zajac has worked as an expert witness and also trained police, judges, lawyers and forensic scientists in the psychological aspects of criminal investigations. Her research focus is on the evidence given by eyewitnesses, how memory is influenced by social conditions and the interpretation of evidence as it is affected by psychological issues.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=10 February 2020|title=Professor Rachel Zajac|url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/staff/rachelzajac.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-16|website=University of Otago|language=en-nz}}
Select publications
= Book chapters =
- Rachel Zajac. "Investigative interviewing in the courtroom: Child witnesses under cross-examination" in {{Citation|author1=|first=|title=Handbook of psychology of investigative interviewing: Current developments and future directions|volume=|pages=|publication-date=2009|editor-last=Bull|editor-first=Ray|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|isbn=978-0-470-51267-8|editor2-last=Valentine|editor2-first=Tim|editor3-last=Williamson|editor3-first=Tom}} doi: 10.1002/9780470747599.ch10
- Rachel Zajac, "Child sexual abuse complainants under cross-examination: The ball is in our court" in {{Citation|author1=|first=|title=The sexual abuse of children: Recognition and redress|volume=|pages=|publication-date=2016|editor-last=Smaal|editor-first=Yorick|publisher=Monash University Publishing|isbn=978-1-925377-38-5|editor2-last=Kaladelfos|editor2-first=Amanda|editor3-last=Finnane|editor3-first=Mike}}
= Journal articles =
{{Scholia}}
- {{Cite Q|Q50095001}}
- {{Cite Q|Q92954661}}
- {{Cite Q|Q104268289}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zajac, Rachel}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:University of Otago alumni