Position: PhD candidate

Email: melissa.vazquezruiz(@)maastrichtuniversity.nl

Instagram: @meel_vazquez

I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychopharmacology and Forensic Psychology at Maastricht University. My research investigates how psychoactive substances, such as psychedelics and alcohol, influence cognition and emotion, such as false memories, suggestibility, and the reliability of memory in legal contexts, including eyewitness and suspect testimony.

To address these questions, I use immersive virtual reality scenarios to simulate realistic legal situations. The ultimate goal of my work is to inform legal practice and enhance law enforcement training, particularly in cases involving intoxicated individuals, a frequent and complex challenge in legal contexts.