I am currently working as a Lecturer in Healthcare Sciences as part of the i3HS Hub, leading a course unit on the Master of Public Health on 'Digital Public Health'. Much of my research relates to digital health, with a particular focus on health-related behaviour change interventions, such as mobile apps for chronic disease management. For example, I was involved in developing a self-management app for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which entailed user-centric, participatory co-design. 

My PhD, which was based at the University of Manchester, was funded by the Medical Research Council and the President's Doctoral Scholar Award (a flagship funding scheme awarded to the University’s top 3% research students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential). It involved an interdisciplinary project based at the Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work as well as at the School of Computer Science at the University of Manchester. The aim of the project was to explore how people with lung cancer use Web-based health information prior to diagnosis to appraise their symptoms, and whether this influences their decision to present to health services. 

Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (CPsychol)

I am currently working on several projects focusing on mHealth and eHealth, involving the use of smartphones for patient experience sampling and behaviour change. 

My PhD was an interdisciplinary project based at the School of Health Sciences as well as at the School of Computer Science at the University of Manchester, and aimed to find out how people with lung cancer use Web-based health information prior to diagnosis to appraise their symptoms, and whether this influences their decision to present to health services. 

My research involves both quantitative/epidemiological methods as well as qualitative and mixed methods. 

Course Unit Lead for Digital Public Health (2018/19), Master in Public Health

Academic Advisor for undergraduate medical students (2018/19)

Teaching Assistant for Fundamentals of Epidemiology (2018/19), Master in Public Health

Teaching Assistant for Field Epidemiology, Master in Public Health (2018/19)

Teaching Assistant for Emergency Planning, Response & Resilience, MPH Public Health (2018)

Teaching Assistant for Foundations of Health Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Manchester (2016)

Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Topics and Issues in Social Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Manchester (2015 - 2016)

Teaching Assistant for Statistics, School of Psychology, University of Manchester (2014 - 2015)

I completed a Bsc in Psychology (distinction) at the Georg-August-University in Goettingen, Germany in October 2011, and an MSc in Health Psychology (distinction) at the University of St Andrews in September 2013. My studies got me interested in the links between psychological and physical well-being, and in the potential of Web-based interventions for improving health.

In 2013, I commenced a PhD research project at the University of Manchester about the role of Web-based information in help-seeking of those worried about lung cancer. This interdisciplinary project was supervised by Professor Chris Todd (Psychology/Nursing) and Professor Simon Harper & Dr Caroline Jay (Computer Science). I was awarded funding by the Medical Research Council and by a President's Doctoral Scholar Award, the University of Manchester's flagship funding scheme for the top 3% of research students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential. My PhD was awarded in February 2018 with no corrections by viva examiners Professor Stephen Sutton (University of Cambridge) and Professor Janelle York (University of Manchester). 

Alongside my PhD I worked as a project assistant in the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, and as a Teaching Assistant at the School of Psychological Sciences. 

After my PhD I worked as a Research Associate in the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, and in the School of Computer Science, working on an mHealth project on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Since July 2018, I have been a lecturer in healthcare sciences, as part of the i3HS Hub (a multidisciplinary project to promote teaching and research for population health benefit through data sciences). I lead a course unit on Digital Public Health, and also teach on several course units on epidemiology. 

Ph.D (University of Manchester, 2018)

M.Sc Health Psychology (University of St Andrews, 2013, distinction)

B.Sc Psychology (Georg-August University Goettingen, 2011, distinction)

PhD Supervisors:

Professor Chris Todd, Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

Dr Caroline Jay, Computer Science

Dr Simon Harper, Computer Science

Research Groups: 

Healthy Ageing Research Group, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

Cancer, Supportive and Palliate Care Research Group, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

Manchester Urban Collaboration on Health, Institute of Population Health