I joined the University of Huddersfield in 2009, where I am now a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Policing. In 2023, I received my PhD from the University for research into the association between psychopathic traits, intelligence and emotional responding using EEG and advanced statistical techniques. Prior to this, I was awarded a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and an MSc in Forensic Psychology from Coventry University. I also worked for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) conducting research in prisons.

During 2020-21, I was Co-Investigator (Work Package Leader) with the None in Three (Ni3) research centre, analysing international survey data on child maltreatment and co-ordinating trials for the evaluation of a prosocial gaming intervention in schools. I have also undertaken research into the impact of parental imprisonment on children and families on behalf of the NHS and EU; conducted an independent evaluation of the National Offender’s Families Helpline; and collaborated with Barnardo’s to develop a quality assurance tool for research and evidence concerning children of offenders. A collaborative paper with colleagues from the Applied Criminology and Policing Centre (APCP), ‘Dealing with the Unthinkable: A Study of the Cognitive and Emotional Stress of Adult and Child Homicide Investigations on Police Investigators' received the Wayman Mullins best journal article of the year (2017) award from the Society of Police and Criminal Psychology.  

My current research interests concern the application of cognitive-experimental and quantitative methods to understanding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).