Emma Victoria Shiel

Emma Victoria Shiel

Dr

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7161-5596

Accepting PhD Students

Personal profile

Overview

In 2024, Emma was appointed as a Researcher in the Division of Nursing, Midwifery, and Social Work. As a Phenomenologist, she is mainly interested in the investigation of experiences.

Biography

Emma graduated from the University of Huddersfield with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling (First Class), an MSc/MRes in Psychology, and a PhD in Psychology. Her doctoral research focused on type 1 diabetes and employment.

Research interests

Her broad research interests include health inequalities and long-term conditions, with a particular focus on type 1 diabetes.

Emma's PhD adopted a solution-based approach, combining comprehensive literature reviews (scoping review, best-evidence synthesis, meta-synthesis), an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of workers with type 1 diabetes, and a practical programme evaluation exploring the feasibility of meeting the expressed needs of this population, taking a wishlist to reality.

Emma continues to collaborate under the University of Manchester with the University of Oxford on OPTIM-I (Optimising the use of Professionally Trained Interpreters in Maternity Services in England):
🔗 NIHR Project: OPTIM-I

She has also previously worked on the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit project 'Saans: COPD Health', co-developing a culturally adapted pulmonary rehabilitation programme to improve access, engagement, and completion among South Asian individuals with COPD:
🔗 NIHR Project: Saans

...and comissioned for an exclusive research report with the Jo Cox Foundation, employing psychogeographical approaches to understand perceptions of community, cohesion, boundaries, and loneliness in Kirklees:
🔗 Living in Batley and Heckmondwike

She also supervises a master's student alongside her research responsibilities, and is open to further qualitative supervision posts. 

Methodological knowledge

Emma's expertise spans both qualitative research and systematic literature reviews. Her primary interest lies in interpretive methods, such as Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), though she is also skilled in thematic and framework analyses, as well as ethnographic methods. In terms of reviews, she has experience with a range of approaches, but specialises in scoping reviews, best evidence syntheses, and meta-syntheses.

Other research

Emma is currently leading a scoping review (submitted for publication) on the Walters Method counselling approach. Alongside this, she is contributing to a service evaluation examining the use of the Walters Method as an intervention for emotional distress. This body of work is being undertaken in collaboration with Clare Walters (developer of the approach), Dr Susanna Kola-Palmer, Zoe Connor, Megan Downes, and Dr Steve Hemingway, all based at the University of Huddersfield.

Pedagogy

Emma is currently supervising one master's student and is open to supervising additional postgraduate students.

Qualifications

  • PhD Psychology
  • MSc/MRes Psychology
  • BSc Psychology with Counselling
  • CACHE Level 3 Childcare Extended Diploma

Memberships of committees and professional bodies

  • Graduate Membership (GMBPsS) - The British Psychological Society
  • Member of Mental Health Research Group (MHRG) 

Opportunities

Emma currently manages the social media platforms and outputs for the Mental Health Research Group MHRG. 

Teaching

  • 2025: Mental Health Research Group Student Conference 2025, University of Manchester.
  • 2022-2024: Final Year Mentor, University of Huddersfield.
  • 2024: Breakthrough T1D: Advocating for Yourself with T1D, Diabetes Discovery Day.
  • 2024: The Diabetes Self-Management Alliance: Leicester Diabetes Centre, the University of Galway, Steno Diabetes Centre Copenhagen, and Diabetes Centre Berne. Presenting across two days with Dr Bryan Cleal, Tina Blichfeldt.
  • 2023: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Poster Presentation: University of Huddersfield.
  • 2024: 29th Mental Health Nursing Research Conference: St Catherines College, Oxford.
  • 2023: The Northern Mental Health Nursing Qualitative Research Forum: Sheffield Hallam University, University of Central Lancashire, MHNAUK.
  • 2023: PGR ENGAGE Conference, University of Huddersfield.
  • 2023: Guest Speaker at The British International School, Ukraine (BISU).
  • 2022: Marker/Examiner, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University.
  • 2022: Academic Mentor, The Hathershaw College.
  • 2016-2017: Early Year’s Practitioner (EYP), Cherry Tree Day Nursery.
  • 2015-2016: Early Year’s Practitioner (EYP), Foxhill Primary School.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, PhD Psychology - Type 1 Diabetes and Work, The University of Huddersfield

Oct 2022 → Sept 2025

Award Date: 26 Sept 2025

Master of Research, Psychology Research

1 Oct 2020 → 1 Jun 2022

Award Date: 1 Jun 2022

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Psychology with Counselling, The University of Huddersfield

1 Sept 2018 → 1 Jul 2020

Award Date: 1 Jul 2020

Areas of expertise

  • H Social Sciences (General)

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  • 6 Article
  • 1 Commissioned report
  • 1 Other contribution
  • 1 Master's Thesis
View all 9 research outputs