About Me
Psychology researcher.
Software engineer.
I'm Dr Yemaya Halbrook, though I also go by Jammy in my online life. I study how and why people interact with software, then I apply that knowledge to the development process itself. I'm based in Limerick, Ireland where I work at the intersection of behavioural science and interactive software development.
My Story
My career started originally started in psychology with a BA from CSU, Fresno. I then did something that shocked everyone--I moved to Ireland for an MSc in psychological science at the University of Limerick. I fell in love with the country and university, so I decided to stay and do a PhD in psychology as well. I completed it in only three years where I researched the relationship between video games and well-being, specifically through the lens of Self-Determination Theory. That work produced a literature review published in Perspectives on Psychological Science which has been cited over 500 times, and led to me being quoted in both WIRED and MIT Technology Review. I went on to lecture in psychology at Mary Immaculate College and held simultaneous research positions across multiple universities, including a postdoctoral role at Dublin City University and an esports research position at LERO, where I worked closely with Logitech on player performance studies.
After a few years in academia, I realised something was missing and that I simply didn't enjoy it, so I went back to school to pursue my passion--programming. I recently completed an MSc in software development at the University of Limerick, finishing with a first class honours. My thesis combined both halves of my career: I designed and built an ADHD-accessible RPG in the Godot engine, grounded in cognitive accessibility research along with my own lived experience as a gamer with ADHD. That project wasn't just a game; it was an argument that inclusive design and compelling gameplay can and should coexist.
Today I build complex backend systems, game analytics platforms, and even the games themselves. What sets me apart from other software engineers is that I don't just write the code, I actually understand the humans on the other end. A decade of research has taught me how to design experiments, interrogate data, and communicate findings clearly to both academic and non-academic audiences. Software development, on the other hand, taught me how to turn those insights into reliable, well-architected systems. I'm looking for roles where both of these skill sets matter. Feel free to explore my projects and experience before getting in touch!
Featured In
WIRED
“The experience is autonomy. You feel like you have the decisions yourself, you have control over everything that you do in the game. Having that sense of autonomy is linked to having positive levels of well-being.”
On the positive effects of video games on well-being
MIT Technology Review
“I don't think there's ever going to be a general consensus that video games have no positive or negative effect, or only a positive effect. There's always going to be those people that say that video games are bad for you, and cite biased research. We might be able to move them in a direction that says games aren't entirely bad, but I don't think we'll ever get everybody to agree on a singular point, even if it's a complete, total fact. People are not like that.”
On the complexity of video game research
What I Bring
Research Expertise
PhD in Psychology with a literature review cited over 500 times. Trained in experimental design, psychometrics, and all types of data analysis.
Software Skills
MSc in Software Development (First Class Honours). Building with Python, Java, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, and modern frontend tools like React, Next.js, and TypeScript.
Game Development
Shipping games in Godot and GameMaker. From cozy farming clickers to ADHD-accessible RPGs, I combine player experience research with hands-on development.
Accessibility & UX
MSc thesis on neurodivergent-friendly game design, PhD on the positive effects of video games on well-being. I enjoy developing software with inclusivity built into the architecture from the beginning.