My PhD from the Psychology department at Lancaster University explored (amongst other things) smoker identity and its relation to smoking behaviour. Since 2009 I have worked on a number of health-related projects within the Division of Health Research, with a focus upon health equity, the wider social determinants of health and community engagement and empowerment. I was part of the team that developed the Public Involvement Impact Assessment Framework (PiiAF) and continue to have a role in facilitating public involvement in research. I am primarily interested and experienced in using interviews, surveys and focus groups and qualitative data analysis methods.
I am currently working on:
- NIHR Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST) Liverpool and Lancaster Universities Collaboration for Public Health Research (LiLaC)
- Lancashire and Cumbria Community Journalist Network: Demanding Health Equity
Since joining the Division of Health Research in 2009 I have worked on a number of projects. These include exploring the impact of short breaks on disabled children and their families, assessing the use of an anti-tobacco education resource pack in schools, further education colleges and schools; developing a framework to facilitate the assessment of the impact of public involvement in research; and the Communities in Control study which was a longitudinal evaluation of a community empowerment initiative .
Between 2020 and 2022 I worked with Jennie Popay to support the cross-School public involvement in NIHR School for Public Health Research which included working with members of the School's Public Partner Nework (PAN) along with SPHR researchers.
I am an active member of our Faculty Researcher Career Development group and have also recently taken on the role of Equality Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Division of Health Research.
If you would like to find out more about the Public Involvement Impact Assessment Framework (PiiAF) please visit our website: http://piiaf.org.uk/
If you would like more information on the NIHR PHIRST programme please visit: https://phirst.nihr.ac.uk/
