I have a PhD in Education, MSc in Computing Science and a BA (Hons) in sociology and social policy.  My first postdoctoral research position was in a health research unit and thereafter I have developed a strong portfolio of health services research and teaching.

I am a health services behavioural scientist who is interested in improving behaviours to improve health and wellbeing. I am passionate about relational approaches to working with individuals and communities and apply models of public participation and patient and public involvement and community co-production. My research activity is concerned with evidencing through co-creation interventions, how we might tackle health inequalities and enhance empowerment and resilience for communities and individuals. My methodological expertise is in qualitative and mixed methods applied to co-created design, implementation and evaluation of complex interventions, including feasibility and pilot studies, full RCTs and process evaluations. 

My research outputs span multiple disciplines including behavioural science, public health and rural and community development. I have a strong track record of academic papers in high-quality journals and over 135 peer reviewed publications.

As a Principal and Co-Investigator, I have won research grants to improve health and wellbeing of communities and individuals. This funding has enabled my research to postively impact national policies and public and third-sector services. My work directly contributes to supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals. Below, are my research themes with a project example:

• Rural health and wellbeing and community resilience
  • Total Communication for Mental Wellbeing
• Quality of life in people with living with bowel disease
  • Hernia Active Living Trial
• COVID-19 transmission reducing behaviours
  • CHARIS
• Virtual Reality Nature Soundscapes
  • South Korea exchange
  • VR nature for mental health and well-being

I teach research methods, with expertise in qualitative methods, pilot and feasibility studies and systematic literature reviews.  I act as a supervisor for both Masters and PhD students and have supervised 9 students to successful PhD completion.