Josh P Davis

Reader, Applied Psychology, University of Greenwich
Dr Josh Davis is a Reader in Applied Psychology in the School of Human Sciences at the University of Greenwich.

Josh joined the university in 2008 and is module leader for Criminal Investigation Psychology (Level 7), Social Forensic Psychology (Level 6), and Investigative Forensic Psychology (Level 6). He is also Programme Leader for the MSc Psychology (Conversion) and supervises PhD, MSc and undergraduate research projects.

His PhD was on 'Forensic Identification of Unfamiliar Faces in CCTV Images' (2007) and he has published research on human face recognition and eyewitness identification; reliability of facial composite systems (e.g. E-FIT6); and methods used by expert witnesses to provide evidence of identification in court.

Josh has presented his research worldwide, with latest research on "super-recognisers", attracting international media interest including television appearances on the BBC, ITV and other worldwide stations.

He works closely with London's Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) as part of the European Commission funded LASIE (2014) consortium, with the primary aim of ensuring that police forces can identify and optimally deploy officers possessing super-recognition ability. He has also acted as a consultant to other police forces and for business (e.g. Yoti) on identification verification issues.

Josh's primary research interests are in cognitive and investigative forensic psychology, in particular face, voice and person recognition and applied legal implications.

Recent research examined the cognitive abilities of Metropolitan Police Service, European, Asian and Australian police officers who have made a large number of identifications of suspects from CCTV images –"super-recognisers" and also consults international police forces and business organisations on identity verification issues. Other recent work includes the use of EFIT6 facial composite systems for the identification of suspects funded by Innovate UK.

Over 6 million participants have contributed to his online research.

In 2019, he was awarded a University of Greenwich Excellence in Enterprise Award 2019 and in 2018 a Students' Union: University of Greenwich Student-Led 'Supervisor of the Year' Teaching Award.

Posts held previously:

2008-16, Senior Lecturer, Psychology, Department of Psychology, Social Work & Counselling, University of Greenwich
2006-08, Postdoctoral Research Officer, Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London (funded by Nuffield Foundation)
2005-06, Postdoctoral Research Officer, Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London (funded by ESPRC)
2001-08, Visiting Tutor (p/t), Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London
1999-2004, Visiting Lecturer (p/t), Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London
1999-2000, President, Students' Union, Royal Holloway, University of London (elected sabbatical position)