Staff Profile

I am a qualitative researcher developing expertise in mixed methods (QUAL+quant) in the context of interdisciplinary applied health research.

At present, I am a research assistant at NIHR Innovation Observatory, and I am carrying out an NIHR Pre-Doctoral Fellowship (methodology stream) within the Population Health Sciences institute at Newcastle University. The fellowship includes comprehensive mixed methods training, and leading the qualitative elements of 'The WEARable Study'. This is a pilot study asking 'How do we measure the behavioural, sleep and stress physiology of children in the everyday environments?' and is exploring the use of wearable devices in children aged 0-3 years and their families with a range of methods.

Previous work with Newcastle University has included working on the 'ActiveCHILD' study, investigating physical activity and movement in young children under 5 years and their families, as well as work assisting the 'KERNEL' research group - a group committed to interdisciplinary, co-produced and creative methods to understand child - and therefore life-course - health.

For me, working with people is pivotal, as well as making meaningful relationships within the community and beyond. I care about how health research is carried out, and how we can seek ways to make research accessible, engaging and closer to the everyday lives of the people it involves.

My first degree was in Anthropology (Social, Biological and Evolutionary), and I chose to advance this with an MSc in Medical Anthropology. Previously, my research skills have been predominantly within qualitative research and ethnography, implementing in-depth and interpersonal methods, based on the premise that our perspectives, behaviours and actions are impacted by our cultural and social environments.

These notions are threaded throughout my current work and practice, and I continue to grow, learn, gain new insights and adopt new methodologies in brilliant, supportive teams!

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