I am a behavioural scientist who is interested in improving behaviours to improve health. I have published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals. I have researched:

• Teenage cancer education in schools
• Rehabilitation and physical activity interventions for people recovering from cancer
• Remote and rural health service delivery

My methdological expertise is the design, implementation and evaluation of complex interventions, including feasibility and pilot studies, full RCTs and process evaluations .

I was founding convenor of a premier research group within the National Cancer Research Institute (2012-2016) – Lifestyle and Behaviour Change Research Group. My research with Teenage Cancer Trust has been cited in the England and Scotland national cancer strategies and raised in the Scottish parliament. As a research leader in my field, I am regularly invited to review for national and international research funding bodies.  I am a member of the editorial board of two international journals and a member of the International Psychosocial Oncology Society research committee. 

Education  PhD  Sunderland  1997

Computing Science  MSc  Newcastle Upon Tyne  1993

Sociology/Social Policy  BA Hons  Leeds  1986   

• Supervisor of 12 PhD/MPhil/Clinical doctorate students (5 currently graduated)
• External examiner for 9 PhD/MPhil students; Internal examiner for 2 students

Throughout my career, I have had several post-graduate course leadership responsibilities.  At UHI, I currently take responsibility for research-related topics on post-graduate and under-graduate teaching programmes. I am module lead for the ‘research dissertation’ module in the Advanced Nursing Practitioner Masters degree programme. I have a PGCE.