Dr Matt J Dunn

Professional memberships

• GOC registered optometrist
• Fellow, Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• Member of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom)

Academic positions

• 2016 – Present: Lecturer, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
• 2014 – 2016: Research Associate, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
• 2013 – 2015: Teacher, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
• 2014: Research Associate, Department of Neuroscience, Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board
• 2013 – 2014: Research Associate, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
• 2010 – 2013: Clinical supervisor, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University

Speaking engagements

Invited talks

• 2017: Vision 2017 (The Hague, Netherlands) – “’Time to see’ in infantile nystagmus”
• 2016: Rank Prize Funds (Grasmere, UK) – “Visual perception in the presence of nystagmus”
• 2016: Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff & Southampton Alliance in Vision Research (Cardiff, UK) – “Seeing with nystagmus”
• 2016: 100% Optical (London, UK) – “A clinician’s guide to nystagmus”
• 2015: Midland Peripatetic Group for Teachers of the Visually Impaired (Birmingham, UK) – "Seeing with nystagmus"
• 2015: LV Prasad Eye Institute (Hyderabad, India) – "Visual perception in infantile nystagmus"
• 2015: University of California (Berkeley, California, US) – "Visual perception in infantile nystagmus"
• 2015: University of Houston (Houston, Texas, US) – "Visual perception in infantile nystagmus"
• 2015: Orthoptics Decoded (Madurai, India) – "Orthoptic treatments for nystagmus" (session moderator) / "Supranuclear gaze palsies"
• 2015: Nystagmus Network International Research Workshop (New Orleans, Louisiana, US) – "Visual timing in infantile nystagmus"
• 2015: ARVO Annual Meeting (Denver, Colorado, US) – "Visual processing in infantile nystagmus is not slow"
• 2013: Nystagmus Network International Research Workshop (Abingdon, UK) – "Appropriate measures of visual performance in infantile nystagmus: Acuity is not enough"
• 2013: European Conference on Eye Movements (Lund, Sweden) – "Involuntary saccade initiation is related to the timing of voluntary saccades in infantile nystagmus"
• 2013: ARVO Annual Meeting (Seattle, Washington, US) – "Visual acuity in infantile nystagmus in the absence of image motion"

Public engagement and media appearances

I am registered as a STEMnet ambassador, and provide public talks on vision science and perception.

• 2018: Radio interview (BBC Good Morning Wales) – The importance of early sight tests
• 2018: Public lecture (Sunday Assembly, Bristol, UK) – “What we miss”
• 2017: Public lecture (Green Gathering, UK) – "Perception, illusions and visual neuroscience"
• 2016: Public lecture (Tintern Philosophy Circle, UK), – "How much can we know from our senses?"
• 2016: Public lectures (Boomtown Fair & Green Gathering, UK) – “How experience shapes perception: perspectives from visual neuroscience”
• 2015: TV news article (BBC Points West) – Mobility and vision in patients following stroke
• 2015: TV news article (BBC Wales Today) – Using virtual reality to understand visual guidance of walking
• 2015: Public lecture (Green Gathering, UK) – "Neuroscience of visual perception"
• 2014: Public lecture (Sunrise Festival, UK) – "Psychophysics and perception"

Committees and reviewing

Journal reviewer for:

• Journal of Ophthalmology
• Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
• Behavior Research Methods
• Clinical Ophthalmology
• Optometry and Vision Science
• Strabismus
• Journal of Eye Movement Research

Grant reviewer for:

• Medical Research Council
• Nystagmus Network

• Date
• Type
• Selected

I teach clinical optometry and orthoptics, and have previously delivered the Visual Perception lecture series at Cardiff University. I am recognised as a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Modules currently taught

• OP3205 – Occupational Optometry, Law and Business (module leader)
• OP3104 – Abnormal Ocular Conditions
• OP3103 – Binocular Vision (clinic lead)
• OP0205 – Introductory Optometry
• OP3207 – Research Project (supervisor)
• OPT006 – Paediatric Ophthalmology
• OPT007 – Eye Care for People with Learning Disabilities

Modules previously taught

• OP2206 – Colour Vision and Perception (module leader)
• OP3106 & OP2207 – Visual Perception (module leader)
• OP2104 – Binocular Vision
• OP3101 – Primary Eye Care
• OP2103 – Investigative Techniques
• MATLAB programming (staff & postgraduate training course)

Current PhD students (with anticipated completion year)

• 2021: Mason Wells (lead supervisor) – Mapping residual visual function in hemianopia
• 2020: Nikita Thomas (lead supervisor) – Retinal predictors of visual performance in infantile nystagmus
  

Funding (External)

• 2020: MJ Dunn (PI), Teufel C. Investigating a plausible mechanism underlying hallucinations in Charles Bonnet Syndrome. Fight for Sight / Welsh Government, £14,034
• 2020: JT Erichsen, R Wise, MJ Dunn, L McIlreavy. Infantile nystagmus: exploring the causes and establishing better measures of visual performance. College of Optometrists, [studentship]
• 2018: MJ Dunn (PI) [Fellowship]. The role of attention in peripheral vision. College of Optometrists, £28,727
• 2018: MJ Dunn (PI), Shawkat F, Self J. Improving VEP diagnostics in people with nystagmus. Nystagmus Network / Fight for Sight, £6201
• 2017: N Thomas, MJ Dunn, J Acton, JT Erichsen. Additional clinical testing for retinal predictors of visual performance in nystagmus. Nystagmus Network, £1387
• 2016: PL Clatworthy, SK Rushton, MJ Dunn. The effect of visual cognitive impairment due to cerebrovascular disease on walking. North Bristol Trust, £8510
• 2016: MJ Dunn (PI), JH Acton, JT Erichsen. Retinal predictors of visual performance in infantile nystagmus. College of Optometrists, £55,827
• 2014: MJ Dunn (PI). Understanding binocular vision in infantile nystagmus. College of Optometrists, £19,573
• 2014: MJ Dunn (PI) & JT Erichsen. Establishing clinical measures of temporal visual function in infantile nystagmus. Nystagmus Network, £14,552
• 2013: MJ Dunn (PI) & JT Erichsen. Nystagmus analysis software development grant, Nystagmus Network. £1500

If you are interested in pursuing a PhD with me, please get in touch or click here for more information.

Current supervision