Dr McGuigan is a Chartered Psychologist with specialised interest in research methods, data analysis and interpretation. Her work to date has involved projects concerned with mental health and wellbeing, child protection, integrated care, diabetes self-management, structured diabetes education, self-directed care, respiratory care pathways and palliative care. 

Karen has completed commissioned reports and programme evaluations for various agencies including Victim Support NI, Western Health and Social Care Trust, Public Health Agency, NSPCC, Diabetes Network, Ulster University, Foyle Hospice, Integrated Care Partnership and the Alcohol Education Research Council. She sits on various Advisory Boards related to End of Life Care and Child and Maternal wellbeing. 

She also worked as part of the team who developed one of the first industry-driven degree programmes in Ireland, following on from her work on the development of vocational qualifications informing industry standards. 

Karen is the Irwin Fellow in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. This is the first dedicated cross-disciplinary Fellowship in mental health at Queen’s. It has been developed in close collaboration with colleagues from the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and its purpose will be to drive pioneering research and open up new avenues of enquiry, supported by and leveraging priority themes and projects across the University, with the ultimate goal of research centred on improving child and adolescent mental health. 

She works within Queen’s Communities and Place (QCAP); a research focused initiative built on engagement and partnership between communities, policymakers and academics.