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Last updated 21st August 2025

I joined the University of Huddersfield in 2020 as a Reader, having previously worked at the University of Leeds and the University of York. My background is in Applied Health Research and I am a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society. Psychosocial aspects of reproduction is my primary area of research, with a particular interest being perinatal mental health and wellbeing in all parents and those pursuing parenthood. This includes a focus on disparities and how to widen access to acceptable, accessible and effective support, both for individuals and for families.

I am strongly committed to applied research that has the potential to impact policy and practice. I have worked with a range of methodologies and methods including primary qualitative research, mixed methods evaluations, randomised controlled trials, quantitative systematic reviews, qualitative and mixed methods evidence syntheses, and scoping reviews. I am proud to be involved with several external roles including being a committee member of the Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, sitting on the editorial board for the journals Birth and the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, and being a special advisor on the Editorial Board for Baby Buddy. These enable me to help publicise research in reproductive psychology and to make research findings accessible and meaningful to members of the public.

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is supervising postgraduate researchers (PGR). Current doctoral supervision includes perinatal mental health experiences of Black African immigrant mothers (Funmilayo Fabiyi), social support, birth experience and postnatal mental health in Nepal (Basanti Aryal), coercive control in the perinatal period (Eleanor Laidlaw-Brown), experiences of couples therapy with perinatal mental services (Sadhbh Ni Bhriain), student midwives translating personal mothering experiences into professional identity (Sophie Hinsliff), occupational identity transitions in new mothers (Sarah Fletcher-Shaw), co-design of free maternal and newborn health services in Nepal (Devendra Raj Singh), birth companionship in Ghana (Catherine Dwumfour), systemic psychotherapy in the perinatal period (Phil Arthington), occupational impacts for birth parents who children are removed into care shortly after birth (Miriam Sykes). Completed doctoral research includes midwife-father communication in birth (Debbie Garrod), weight management in pregnancy (Hannah Hartley), post-traumatic growth following traumatic birth (Rhianna Ketley), perinatal mental health in co-mothers (Alex Howat), traumatic birth experiences in co-mothers (Sophie Williams), dates consumption and postpartum blood loss (Indrayani).