Profile

I’m originally from Rochdale, near Manchester, and currently live in Stoke-on-Trent near to my work at Staffordshire University. I love living in Stoke-on-Trent and I think it’s a hidden gem outside of the nearby big cites like Manchester and Birmingham. Stoke has lots of countryside, green scenery, a thriving and quite quirky arts scene, and some of the nicest people I have met (Stokies call you ‘duck’). Also, Stoke is home to the mighty Staffordshire oatcakes which are an oaty pancake best served with cheese and bacon.

My work is really varied but my main tasks as a Senior Lecturer at Staffordshire University involves doing research, teaching students, … and paperwork!

My research focuses on the role of our social environment and how our perceptions of our social environment (e.g. how well we think we fit into society and our social groups) impacts on our mental and physical health.

Me and my collaborators research people’s experiences of a variety of mental health issues and symptoms, across the more mild to very severe. My PhD research involved me working with people with bipolar disorder, who experience quite changeable moods (‘highs and lows’), and looking at how their thinking styles and memory recall was related to their experience of bipolar. Since then we’ve researched the role of social perceptions in the experience of suicidality when living with a bipolar diagnosis, doing some of the first research in this area from a psychological perspective. I’ve developed an interest in researching suicidality, trying to better understand people’s experience of suicidal thoughts and the factors which worsen or reduce these feelings.

I’ve conducted research using photographs in interviews to understand how people cope with disability and long term health conditions. I also research how people’s perceptions of ‘social norms’ (what we think most people do/think) influence our health-related behaviours – including looking at how social norms influence substance use behaviours (alcohol, tobacco, other drugs) and eating behaviours (whether we can use norms feedback to encourage people to eat healthier).

I teach lots of different types of students at Staffs, from undergraduates, Masters’ students and PhD students/Trainee Clinical Psychologists. I give lectures, workshops, seminars, 1:1 supervision for students’ research projects – so my days are always very varied! I also lead our MSc Clinical Psychology course and co-direct our research centre (‘Staffs Centre for Psychological Research’).

Paperwork-wise… don’t ask!

I don’t think I have a typical day! When our students are here for the teaching semesters my diary has certain blocks of teaching (seminars, lectures, 1:1s) in.

Outside of regular teaching weeks I may be marking work, planning research, reviewing research grants from other researchers, reviewing papers for psychology journals, collecting and analysing data, and writing. I think many people are surprised at how much of my job is about writing, especially when I am researching!

I think many people think lecturers at universities have long summer holidays (I wish!) – our summers do include some holidays but a lot of research work and planning for the next academic year takes place. The campus is usually quieter during the summer – means I can get my coffee fixes without too much of a queue!