I am a behavioural scientist with research interests that include:

• eating behaviour, obesity
• healthcare communication
• wellbeing and health behaviours

My research aligns directly with interest in health behaviour interventions and the interface of the healthcare practitioner and patient, and follows an interdisciplinary approach, straddling psychological, behavioural and physiological domains.  I conduct empirical research (lab, community-based, primary care) in human populations across the age span.  I look at factors that create so-called obesogenic environments as well as individual characteristics.  I combine my obesity expertise with interests in clinical communication, where I have developed a research program investigating healthcare communication within the context of patient overweight and obesity in primary care.  I am interested in how health behaviours (e.g. consumption behaviour, sleep) contribute to stress and wellbeing.

I utilise a mixed methods research methodology and have expertise in quantitative and qualitative techniques including behavioural observation, measurement of appetite and ingestive behaviour, anthropometry, coding of clinical communication behaviour using behavioural coding software, textual analysis, development of semi-structures interviews and surveys, intervention development.

I teach behavioural medicine, communication skills and research skills to medical undergraduates, and students on the ScotGEM programme. I have led on taught postgraduate modules and programmes [MSc Health Psychology, MRes Medicine, MSc Global Health]. I supervise MSc and Phd students.

• Ph.D., Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield
• P.G.C.E. Biology (Secondary level teaching qualification), University of Cambridge
• B.A. Hons, MA, Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge 

consumption behaviour, obesity, healthcare communication, wellbeing