My work primarily involves investigating how we can improve our urban environment for better population health, including evaluation of natural experiments (such as large-scale urban regeneration programmes). I have particular expertise in the application of systems-thinking and complexity science methods. I have secured > £12M in research grants from the NIHR, MRC, ESRC and GCRF-British Council. I am a member of the Public Health Research funding panel for the NIHR and recently held a Career Development Fellowship from the NIHR on public health interventions for health behaviour change. I am a member of the WHO expert panel on urban green space interventions, Non Communicable Disease prevention, Health and the SDGs and other aspects of urban environment and health, and an executive board member for WHO Belfast Healthy Cities.

• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Career Development Fellowship 2015-2017 - Social Network Enabled Interventions for Physical Activity Behaviour Change
• Vice-Chancellor's Early Career Researcher Impact Award 2013
• Best Paper and Best Demonstration at the International e-Health conference, Malaga, 2011 for work entitled "Effectiveness of a novel Physical Activity Loyalty Scheme for Physical Activity Behaviour Change".

Dissertation supervisor

PhD; BSc Human Biology; BSc Biomedical Sciences; BSc Intercalating Medical Sciences.

SSC Programme

I am module co-ordinator for four SSC modules regarding Community Healthcare Issues. The modules involve medical students undertaking 3-week placements with local community organisations and introduces students to the role that the community and voluntary sector play in health. Key learning objectives include understanding the role of the community worker, understanding the basic principles of community development, and appreciating the social and economic issues affecting specific communities.

I also deliver lectures and tutorials on the following SSCs:

• Lifestyle through the Lifecycle
• Physical Activity

Other teaching roles

I deliver several tutorials and lectures on population research, study designs/research methodology, health promotion and physical activity to undergraduate Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science students.