Maddy Bartlett
NRC member and adjunct department of psychology.
Maddy Bartlett
Research Associate, National Research Council of Canada
Contact Information
Office: East Campus 5 - 4313
Email: maddy.bartlett@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Education
PhD, University of Plymouth (Computer Science)
MSc, University of Exeter (Psychological Research Methods)
BSc, University of Exeter (Psychology)
Areas of Interest
Theoretical Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Neuromorphics, AI Safety, Research Methods
Research
My current research focuses on the evaluation of AI systems—particularly large language models (LLMs)—with an emphasis on safety and the development of rigorous evaluation methodologies. A widely used approach to assessing LLM safety is LLM-as-judge, in which one model evaluates the outputs of another. In this work, I aim to move beyond this paradigm by developing scientifically robust evaluation frameworks that incorporate structured human judgements, providing more reliable and interpretable measures of model safety.
Alongside this, I have a longstanding interest in the mechanisms underlying reward-based learning and the behaviours that emerge from these processes. Since my undergraduate studies, I have been particularly interested in how maladaptive learning mechanisms contribute to symptoms observed in conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, and substance use disorders. Over the past several years, I have developed computational models of reinforcement learning and action selection to better characterise these mechanisms.
More recently, I have applied these modelling approaches to directly interpret animal behaviour in collaboration with experimental researchers. I am especially interested in how neuromodulators such as dopamine and serotonin shape behaviour, including exploration–exploitation trade-offs and motivation for reward. Through continued interdisciplinary collaborations, I aim to integrate computational modelling with behavioural experiments to better understand how interactions between neurotransmitter systems give rise to diverse behavioural phenotypes. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to identify mechanistic insights that can inform the alleviation and treatment of psychological and neurodegenerative disorders.