Group members

Dr Emma Norris Dr Emma Norris is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health, within the Department of Health Sciences and Co-Chair of the Health Behaviour Change Research Group. She is Deputy Lead of the Division of Global Public Health and Lead of MSc Public Health and Behaviour Change (online). Dr Norris is a researcher in behaviour change and health psychology, exploring evidence synthesis of behaviour change interventions, as well as development and assessment of physical activity, smoking cessation and digital interventions. Before joining Brunel, Dr Norris was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London working on the Human Behaviour-Change Project: synthesising published literature on behaviour change using machine learning and Artificial Intelligence. Dr Norris' PhD tested Virtual Field Trips as physically active lesson interventions for primary-school children. Dr Norris is also an advocate for Open Science. She established and Chairs Brunel's Open Research Working Group and is Brunel's UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) Local Network Lead. She is also interested in designing behaviour change interventions to facilitate Open Science behaviours in researchers. Dr Norris is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). She is Co-Chair of the European Health Psychology Society’s Open Science Special Interest Group. Emma is an Associate Editor for Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine and Cogent Psychology. Follow Dr Norris' research and updates on Bluesky: @emmajnorris.bsky.social Behaviour change, Health psychology, Intervention development, Physical Activity, Evidence synthesis, Ontologies, Open Science, Meta-Science Dr Norris’ research investigates the development and evaluation of behaviour change interventions using a range of theory and methods. Emma explores evidence synthesis for health interventions and behaviour change, using meta-analyses, systematic reviews and innovative methods such as ontologies. Emma is also interested in increasing uptake of Open Science behaviours in researchers.

Dr Daniel Bailey Dr Daniel Bailey is a Reader in Sedentary Behaviour and Health in the Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Department of Life Sciences. He is Director of the Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease after previously establishing and leading the Sedentary Behaviour, Health and Disease Research Group. Dr Bailey's research investigates the relationship between sedentary behaviour and chronic health conditions, with a particular focus on non-communicable disease. This research includes the epidemiology of sedentary behaviour and associations with non-communicable disease risks, controlled laboratory studies examining the acute effects of breaking up prolonged sitting on cardiometabolic biomarkers, and the development and evaluation of interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity in a range of population groups and long-term conditions including Type 2 diabetes, office workers, spinal cord injury, and frailty. Dr Bailey has been awarded multiple research grants from funding bodies and industry partners to support his research and has published a large number of research articles in his field of research. He has delivered multiple conference presentations and invited talks across the UK and Europe and was Technical Advisor for the Qatar National Physical Activity Guidelines 2nd edition, 2021. Dr Bailey is Chair of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Physical Activity for Health Division and was Chair of the BASES 2024 Conference Planning Group. Dr Bailey was also a member of the scientific global leadership committee for the 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress. Dr Bailey has a wealth of experience teaching physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health topics at undergraduate and postgraduate level and uses innovative teaching approaches in his practice including research-informed teaching, bleneded and authentic learning, and flipped classrooms. Dr Bailey's research investigates the relationship between sedentary behaviour and long-term health conditions with examples being cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia and Fabry disease. His research has spanned from the epidemiological analyses of sedentary behaviour and chronic disease risk, laboratory-based studies examining the benefits of breaking up prolonged sitting time on markers of health to provide proof-of-concept, leading to the development and evaluation of interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour. Dr Bailey has established an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional network of collaborators to deliver this programme of research. His research has been conducted in a range of population groups and settings, including young people, workplaces, people with Type 2 diabetes, spinal cord injury, older adults with frailty and sarcopenia, cardiac rehabilitation patients and police officers. This has been facilitated with external partners such as local councils, the NHS, police forces, health charities and community organisations. Dr Bailey’s research has shown that high amounts of daily sitting time are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. He has also published a large number of studies showing that regularly breaking up sitting time with short, frequent bouts of light, moderate or high-intensity physical activity leads to improvements in a range of metabolic biomarkers including blood glucose, lipid levels and blood pressure. His first laboratory based study published in 2014 was the first to show postprandial glucose attenuation in response to breaking up sitting time with light-intensity walking in young healthy adults. This paper has received over 430 citations on google scholar as of May 2024. Dr Bailey has led successful research grant applications to various funding bodies to support his research, such as: MPS Society, Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the enhancement of mental health and quality of life in Fabry disease, £84,007. Diabetes UK, A tailored intervention to reduce sitting behaviour in people with Type 2 Diabetes: A randomised-controlled feasibility study, £137,510. Abbeyfield Research Foundation, Reducing sarcopenia and maintaining independent living in frail older adults via reductions in sitting time: The Frail-LESS (LEss Sitting and Sarcopenia in Frail older adults) intervention, £73,247. Heart Research UK, The benefits of breaking up prolonged sedentary time on cardiovascular disease risk markers in people with spinal cord injury, £86,434. He has also supervised a number of PhD students to completion in addition to supervising current PhD students studying in fields related to physical activity, sedentary behaviour and long-term health conditions.

Miss Hannah Froome Hannah Froome is a current Doctoral researcher in the Public Health and Health Promotion program at Brunel University London. Hannah has completed her Masters of Health Science (MHSc) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and her Bachelor of Arts (BA) at the University of Waterloo. Hannah has training in quantiative research methods and research design. Hannah has worked as a Research Assistant on multiple projects at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (2018-2020) and at the Centre for Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (2020-2021). Her main research project was evaluating the effectiveness of 'Foodbot Factory', an evidence-based serious game designed using the 2019 Canadian Food Guide as a reference, which aimed to teach children about healthy eating, nutrition and health literacy. Hannah's Doctoral research focuses on the effectivness of theoretical-based digital nutrition behaviour change interventions on healthy eating behaviours and dietary intakes in low-socioeconomic primary school children. Hannah's research is supervised by Dr. Emma Norris and Dr. Kei Long Cheung. Hannah aims to address the need for theory-based digital interventions, developed with interacting components which result in the greatest effectiveness of dietary outcomes in low-socioeconomic families. Digital Health, Child Nutriton, Behaviour Change Interventions, Public Health Interventions, Health Promotion and Implementation Science, Chronic Disease Prevention, Child and Adolescent Health Hannah's Doctoral research will focus on Behaviour Change Interventions, Dietary Intakes, Child Nutrition and Digital Health. Hannah is a qualified Teaching Assistant, having received the 'Certificate in Univeristy Teaching for Teaching Assistants' (2019-2020) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. She has been a TA in various courses (2018 - 2020) including: Nutrition and Health; HLSC 2825U (2018) Info Literacy & Written Communication for Health Science; HLSC 1701U (2019) Research Methods for Health Care Professionals: Theory & Application; HLSC 3910U (2019-2020). Hannah has also guest lectured in various Health Science courses at the University of Ontario such as Nutrition and Health (HLSC 2825U) and Info Literacy & Written Communication for Health Science (HLSC 1701U).

Dr Emily Hunt Emily Hunt joined Brunel University London in January 2019 as a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Psychology). Emily completed her PhD at Loughborough University, completing in July 2021. The focus of Emily's PhD was narrative behaviour change and well-being, specifically exploring the power of stories as a means to promote physical activity for people with arthritis. Most recently, Emily's research has focused on utilising digital storytelling as a means to explore experiences of living with multiple long-term conditions and chronic disease. Emily is a member of the Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease, the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse and contributes to the Health Behaviour Change Research Group. Emily's research interests are grounded in understanding experiences of sport, exercise and physical activity for people living with chronic health conditions, such as multiple long-term conditions, arthritis, diabetes and chronic pain. To explore these topics, Emily utilises qualitative and narrative research methods (semi-structured interviewing, focus groups, life story interviews, narrative interviews, digital storytelling) and various forms of qualitative and narrative analysis. Physical activity, health and wellbeing Health and Exercise Psychology Chronic disease and/or multiple long-term conditions (e.g. arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain) Digital storytelling Qualitative and narrative methods Emily contributes to teaching on the following modules and study blocks: SP1602/SP1610 Introduction to Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing (Module Leader) SP1706 Introduction to Research Methods and Data Analysis SP2603 Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Lifecourse SP3602-SP3706 Applied Sport and Exercise Pscyhology SP3600 Final Year Project (Dissertation supervision) SP5508 Research Methods and Data Analysis SP5530 Dissertation (MSc) SP5601 Physical Activity and Health

Professor Danae Manika Danae Manika (PhD, University of Texas at Austin) is Professor of Marketing at Brunel Business School and Acting Executive Dean of the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences (CBASS). Previously, Danae was Deputy Dean of CBASS and Associate Head of Brunel Business School. Before joining Brunel University London, she was Professor of Marketing at Newcastle University Business School, where she led its London Campus as Academic Group Head and held the Deputy Director of Research role at Newcastle University Business School. Danae in the past has also held academic positions at Queen Mary University of London, Durham University and the University of Texas at Austin; and is currently Visiting Professor at Newcastle University and Queen Mary University of London. Prior to her academic career, Danae worked as an Account Planning Intern in advertising agencies such as Latinworks in Austin, TX, and DDB in New York. She obtained a Ph.D and a M.A. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.A. Honours in Marketing from University of Stirling. Danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as: Journal of Service Research, Journal of Business Ethics, Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, Psychology and Marketing, European Journal of Marketing, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Business Research, European Management Review, and International Business Review, amongst others. Using an interdisciplinary approach, Danae’s research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change within the contexts of health, well-being and the environment. She is involved in various consultancies (e.g., Harrow Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, RECOUP, Global Action Plan, Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition), and her research has been supported by £414,000+ of funding (e.g., CRUK, EPSRC/Innovate UK, NERC/NCAS, RED, and Arrow/ERDF). Danae is Section Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics (section: Marketing Ethics; FT50 journal), and Associate Editor (AE) for Business and Society and the Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising, while in the past she was AE for the Journal of Marketing Management (2017-21). She is also currently on the Editorial Review Boards of:Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Journal of Marketing Management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. Danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for Cancer Research UK (2015-19); and track chair for the Academy of Marketing Science World Marketing Congress Conference in 2023, the Transformative Consumer Research Conference in 2021, and the European Social Marketing Association Conference in 2016. Using an interdisciplinary approach, blending the lines between marketing, advertising and psychology her research aims to answer a fundamental marketing research question: How to diminish the knowledge-behaviour gap? Particularly, her research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change. It takes an information processing approach, which identifies, classifies and examines cognitive (e.g., knowledge, confidence, trust, values) and affective (e.g., pride, fear, disgust) factors that influence individuals’/consumers’/employees’ decisions and choices after exposure to campaigns/messages/interventions, and translate knowledge acquisition to behaviour change/formation. Her research is theory-based but practically applicable research, and often uses health (e.g., weight control, alcohol consumption, vaccination), well-being and environmental (e.g. energy saving, recycling) social issues as the venue for understanding the knowledge-behaviour gap, with direct implications for persuasive communication and behavioural interventions that motivate health and environmental action. The campaigns/messages/interventions often examined involve digital components (e.g., websites, social media, mobile applications, online tracking tools) and technology adoption behaviours (e.g., adoption and usage of technology-based solutions). Other projects with information technology and effective message construction focus include: social media service failure apologies, online petitions, and online political engagement. Side projects include innovative research methodologies, female-disparaging adverts, and consumer animosity, amongst others. Danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as Journal of Service Research, Journal of Business Ethics, Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, Psychology and Marketing, European Journal of Marketing, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Business Research, European Management Review, International Business Review, Information Technology and People, Studies in Higher Education, Journal of Marketing Management, Computers in Human Behavior, International Journal of Advertising, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Marketing Communications, Health Marketing Quarterly, and Multivariate Behavioral Research, amongst others. She often engages in research projects that require collaborations with other disciplines such as medicine, engineering and geography; and her research has been supported by £364,000+ of funding (e.g., CRUK, EPSRC/Innovate UK, RED, and Arrow/ERDF). She also strongly believes in the interplay and interdependence of academia, government, business and society and hence she is often involved in various consultancies (e.g., Harrow Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, RECOUP, Global Action Plan, Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition), in line with her research (i.e., effective message construction for behaviour change). Danae is Section Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics (section: Marketing Ethics; FT50 journal), and Associate Editor (AE) for Business and Society and the Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising, while in the past she was AE for the Journal of Marketing Management (2017-21). She is also currently on the Editorial Review Boards of: Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Journal of Marketing Management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. Danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for Cancer Research UK (2015-19); and track chair for the Academy of Marketing Science World Marketing Congress Conference in 2023, the Transformative Consumer Research Conference in 2021, and the European Social Marketing Association Conference in 2016. Knowledge-Behaviour Gap Effective Message Construction for Behaviour Change Information Processing & Persuasive Communication Health Communication (Employee) Pro-environmental Behaviour Technology Adoption for Behaviour Change Consumer Psychology Social Marketing Advertising

Professor Louise Mansfield Career History Louise Mansfield is Professor of Sport, Health and Social Sciences and Vice Dean for Research in the College of Health Medicine and Life Sciences. She is Director of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse. Her research focuses on the relationship between sport, physical activity and public health and wellbeing. Louise's expertise are in partnership and community approaches in sport and physical activity and issues of health, wellbeing, inequality and diversity. She has led research projects for the Department of Health, Youth Sport Trust, sportscotland, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, Macmillan Cancer Support, Public Health England and Sport England. She sits on the editorial boards for Leisure Studies, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health and the International Review for the Sociology of Sport and is Managing Editor of Annals of Leisure Research. Louise is known for developing evidence to inform policy and practice. Community approaches to sport, public health and wellbeing Sociology of sport; gender and feminist theories, social inequalities, public health and wellbeing, coproduction and partnership Qualitative research methods and process evaluations Intervention and evaluation strategies in community sport research Evidence reviews for research, policy and practice including focus on qualitative synthesis Translation, dissemination and mobilisation of evidence strategies and practices for UK and international sport and culture sector audiences in policy and practice and both academic and non-academic organisations. Community sport, physical activity and public health and wellbeing. Sociology of sport and social inequalities. Participatory and coproduction strategies and methods in developing evidence to inform policy and practice in the culture and sports sectors. I am a Fellow of the HE Academy. I embrace a research led teaching approach. My teaching skills have been established in both further and higher education and I hold postgraduate teaching qualifications. I advocate a teaching philosophy that embraces a mix of styles from the traditional large lecture to more interactive student-led approaches using new technology. I have designed and delivered a range of modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level that draw from across theoretical and methodological perspectives in the social sciences to understand sport, physical activity, health and well-being and I continue to engage in on-going curriculum developments in those fields.

Professor Meriel Norris As a qualified physiotherapist (since 1993) I have worked in the UK, India and Indonesia specialising in neurorehabilitation. I completed an MA in Medical Anthropology in 2002 and PhD in 2009. My PhD topic brought together the fields of stroke, rehabilitation and anthropology by exploring the experience and health seeking behaviour following stroke in Aceh, Indonesia. I joined Brunel Univeristy London in 2009. A substantial part of my current post is to deliver expert and clinically relevant research-led teaching predominantly post-graduate courses. I am currently the programme lead for the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, MSc Advanced Professional Practice and MSc Integrated ACP Apprenticeship programmes. I also lead three post-graduate modules. I have a strong international research profile and currently supervise seven post-graduate researchers. I have specialised in applied qualitative research methods and process evaluation of trials as well as clinical education. I have published over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences. I am currently co-investigator in three large international trials and have held grants totaling more than £1.8 million over the last 10 years. I also act as the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead within my division. My main research interests are in stroke and neurorehabilitation more generally including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons and Cerebral Palsy. This includes the subjective experience, rehabilitation, and cultural influences on the therapeutic relationship. Research is based both in the UK and internationally. Methodologically my speciality is social sciences within clinical and educational research. I have a specific interest in creative methods and co-creation. My main research area is the application of qualitative research methodologies within neurorehabilitation and education. This includes development of innovative interventions, evaluation within clinical trials and understand the experience of living with long term conditions from the perspective of all stake-holders. I am a core member of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse, delivering masterclasses and contributing to the research festivals and have developed significant national and international collaborations. I have co-edited invited special topics and since 2019 attracted six new PGRs, five of which are fully funded with two on the ESRC DTP. Teaching Responsibilities: MSc Pre-reg Physiotherapy Co Module Lead - Research Methods Teach – Rehabilitation II Supervisor Research Dissertations MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, Advanced Professional Practice and Apprenticeship route Programme lead Module Lead PH5604 Qualitative Research in Health and Social Care Module Lead PH5645 End Point Assessment Module Lead PH5666 Advanced Practice Portfolio Contribute to PH5615, PH5629, PH5631 CPPD co-ordinator Supervisor MSc Dissertations Personal tutor Tripartite co-ordinator Other Teaching Responsibilities: PGR tutor qualitative research

Professor Subhash Pokhrel Subhash Pokhrel, PhD is a professor of health economics and the Lead, Health Economics Research Group (HERG). Most recently, he was the Head of Department of Health Sciences (2018-2023), an academic department comprising allied health professions, nursing, social work, health economics and public health. Prior to that, he was the Founding Divisional Lead of (now) the Division of Global Public Health (2016-18). From 2013-16, he developed and led a large-scale, multi-country (n11), multi-disciplinary research project, EQUIPT, providing European policymakers with the decision-support evidence and tools around tobacco control. In addition to the UK and EU, Subhash has research experience in several low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) including Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Brazil and Indonesia. Subhash has worked together with the World Health Organisation to strengthen National Health Research Systems (NHRSs), particularly in LMICs. Subhash's research is focussed on two complementary themes: supporting 'health systems' to deliver efficient healthcare as well as strengthening 'health research systems' to support more research into healthcare. As such, his research has contributed to several public health policies. The two REF2021 impact case studies - Supporting tobacco control decision making for improved health and economic productivity and Informing policies and debates on breastfeeding promotion describe Subhash's approach to developing a programme of research and generate significant impact from them. His learning about how researchers can engage with and support goverments and wider stakeholders to make investment decisions in public health is underpinned by his and colleagues' earlier work around the suite of NICE Public Health ROI Tools. These ROI tools provided the basis for many public health investment decisions in England and were informed by the work on tobacco control led by Subhash. The ROI tools are practical, customisable models to help make real-world decisions in context of local, regional and national government decision-making. Economic arguments are needed to make the business case for public health investments. Subhash led the roll out of ROI work to several European nations through a €2 million multi-centre European Commission funded study, EQUIPT. He has been the coordinator of a large scale inter-disciplinary collaboration of national and international expertise. Subhash is the lead author of a book, ROI in Public Health Policy: Supporting Decision Making (Palgrave Macmillan). Subhash’s work in public health research has been as diverse as the discipline itself – from developing a household decision making pathway for child health care in low- and middle income countries (LMICs) to quantifying the economic impact of breastfeeding promotion in industrialised countries; from evaluating health insurance for its population health impact in LMICs to finding out what interventions could improve physical activity globally. His doctoral researchers have investigated whether integrated care models, particularly in a local area in England, are effective; what determines obesity in West Africa and particularly the role of physical activity and dietary habits to reduce obesity among adults in Ghana; and what the correlates of COVID-19 hospitalisations and long-COVID in Ghana were. His visiting student from Sri Lanka has investigated the economics of physical activity in LMICs. Such research evidence, particularly in LMICs, is key to developing and evaluating public health measures for their value for money. Subhash is intrigued not only by "health systems" questions (e.g. In LMICs and industrialised countries, what works to improve population health outcomes and at what cost?) but also by "health research systems" questions. Subhash worked with the WHO Euro to review the evidence on policies, interventions and tools for establishing and/or strengthening national health research systems and their effectiveness. In particular, Subhash and colleagues have investigated the extent of integration of research (particularly economic evaluations) into policymaking in Spain and what implications the Spanish experience could have globally for strenthening both systems. As a member of various external committees (NICE Technology Appraisal, NIHR PGfAHR and SPI-B), Subhash has contributed to decision making processes around funding of medical technologies, research in applied health, and behavioural measures to tackle public health emergencies. Google Profile Orcid Profile ResearchGate BURA Profile Methods: Health economics; Economic evaluations; Return on Investment (ROI) analysis; Systematic reviews; Econometric/statistical analyses; Observational studies using large datasets Topics: Cost-effectiveness of healthcare interventions; Understanding behaviour change; Smoking cessation and tobacco control; Breastfeeding promotion; Physical activity; Cross-context transferability of evidence; Global Health; development and strengthening of health research systems Countries: Europe (UK, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Hungary); Asia (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan); Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana); Latin America (Brazil) Book: ROI in Public Health Policy: Supporting Decision Making (Palgrave Macmillan) MSc Public Health and Health Promotion (Brunel University London) MSc Genomic Medicine (Imperial College London): Ex-Module Lead for Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics Supervision: PhD in health economics PhD in public health and health promotion Subhash welcomes applications from prospective PhD students. Please email him a 4-page outline of your PhD project idea, describing: (i) the critical knowledge gaps; (ii) potential sources of data; and (iii) your approach to analysis. Your project is expected to answer one of the following two questions (please adapt them to your own specific needs): In LMICs and industrialised countries, what (policies, interventions and tools) works to improve population health outcomes and at what costs? In LMICs and industrialised countries, what (policies, interventions and tools) works to develop or strengthen national health research systems and at what costs? The following is a list of indicative topic areas for potential PhD students: Return on Investment modelling in public health Cross-context Transferability of economic evidence Understanding pathways from health behaviour change (e.g. stopping to smoke) to QALYs and cost-savings Return on investment from stakeholder engagement in research Return on investment from knowledge translation (i.e. filling the 'knowledge-to-action' gaps) Cost-effectiveness of initiatives targetted at strengthening national health research systems Potential candidates are encouraged to approach Subhash on Subhash.Pokhrel@brunel.ac.uk or 01895 268745. They are also encouraged to read more information about research at HERG. It is important to note that your email request may not be attended to if your potential PhD project does not address the above two questions or is not related to one of the above indicative topic areas. So, please do consider carefully the above scope before contacting Subhash.

Dr Manu Savani My research uses mixed method experiments to answer questions about health and political behaviours. I am interested in behavioural biases and 'nudges' that might bring about better outcomes for people. Prior to my PhD, I was an economist at the UK Government's Department for International Development over 2003-2012. I held roles covering a range of countries (Afghanistan, Burundi, Malawi and Somalia) and policy issues (pro-poor growth, HIV and AIDS, conflict and development, and value for money in aid spending). More recently, I was a Global Impact Evaluation Adviser for Oxfam GB, managing evaluations for the Gendered Enterprise and Markets project in Zambia and Bangladesh using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods in the field. Read about my work on: Covid-19 vaccination choices and attitudes across the G7, funded by the British Academy Commitment devices, and why nudges might fail Commitment devices and health behaviour change Whether people prefer to be 'nudged' or 'shoved' in a pandemic Why you should pre-register your research, and how easy it is to do Behavioural public policy I am interested in investigating how behavioural economics can support positive policy outcomes. My work has explored nudges for health behaviour change on obesity (read about my field experiments here and here). I am currently investigating how nudges might affect vaccination decisions, funded by a British Academy Grant on Covid-19 recovery. Our report is published here. I reviewed what we know about the public's preferences for nudges compared to harder policy instruments. Does the Covid-19 pandemic prompt a rethink of the conventional wisdom that people prefer softer, freedom-preserving policy measures over harder, restrictive measures? Read about our findings here. My PhD thesis applied Thaler and Shefrin’s (1981) Planner-Doer dual-self model to health behaviours. I designed and implemented two mixed methods field experiments that evaluated the impact of commitment devices on health behavior around obesity, working in partnership with Camden Council and the private sector. The research tested new ways to measure concepts such as sophistication and myopia, critically assessed the planner-doer model using quantitative and qualitative data, and raised new policy recommendations for how commitment strategies can be designed into public health programmes. My thesis was awarded the 'Best Dissertation' prize by UCL Dept of Political Science. Experiments in political science I use survey experiments to better understand voters attitudes. I am investigating how voters evaluate candidates accused of sexual harassment (with Dr Sofia Collignon at Royal Holloway University). Our study of US voters offers important insights into the role of personal values in voters' decisions (pre-registered here). I am also looking at what factors make British voters more or less likely to consider i-voting, remote online voting, in elections (with Prof Justin Fisher, pre-registered here). Welfare policy I am interested in how behavioural public policy might apply to welfare reforms, with a focus on financial capability and decision making. I am interested in how the design of the flagship welfare programme Universal Credit interacts with the realities of budgeting and financial decisions in low-income contexts. Behavioural public policy Field and survey experiments, and mixed methods RCTs Welfare policy and politics I teach Public Policy (undergraduate) and International Development (postgraduate) modules, and provide dissertation supervision.

Dr Ximena Schmidt Ximena joined Brunel University London in 2019 as Global Challenges Research Fellow working at the Institute of Energy Futures. Since then she has been develop international research collaborations in the fields of sustainable food systems. Ximena is a life cycle sustainability expert and currently developing data science and system modelling skills. Her broader research interests relate to sustainable food supply chains and technologies, circular economy and waste valorization, and sustainable food consumption, including diets and cooking. In 2021, Ximena moved to the Chemical Engineering department where is currently integrating her research on sustainability and life cycle thinking in the undergraduate and post-gradute curricula while continuing her research. She is module leader of Process Design (CL3602), Design project (CL3605) and Sustainability and Environmental Engineering (CL5656). Outreach is key in Ximena's activities. Behavioral change and awareness are critical for taking Ximena's research out of the academia and generate real impact. Hence, she has been involved in several research led - outreach activities and initaitves; currently, the main projects are TakeaBiteCC- Take a Bite out of Climate Chage and GGDOT - Greenhouse Gas and Dietary choices Open Toolkit, transdisciplinary collaborations that aim to develop tools and engagement materials (e.g. games) to raise awareness about the relationship (impacts) between our food choices and climate change. TakeaBiteCC AT HOME, is the latest project, a response to COVID-19. Ximena's research interests relate to sustainable food systems includes agriculture, farming and food processing, healthy and sustainable diets and food consumption, circular economy and waste valorization. In the field of energy systems, Ximena's interests and experience relates to sustainable cooking fuels and novel technologies, waste-to-energy and high-value added agrifood valorisation routes. In interdisciplinary research and engagement, I usually provide sustainability assessment expertise, circular economy expertise, data analysis and visualization (R) skills, citizen science knowledge and experience, public engagement and outreach networks, and experience on tested activities. Food systems; food supply chains; food technology; circular economy; sustainable diets; sustainable cooking; food consumption; Ssutainable food environment; school food environment; Food insecurity; food production; citizen science; public engagement CL 3602 - Process Design and Safety I (Module Leader) CL3605 - Chemical Engineering Design project (Module Leader) CL5656 - Sustainability and Environmental Engineering (Module Leader) CL5650 Chemical Engineering Research Project (Project lead)

Dr Andrew Siu Dr. Andrew Siu is a mental health specialist in occupational therapy practice. He is experienced in teaching courses on research methods and statistics, mental health, health promotion, and primary care. His research interests are in the areas of nature-based therapy (horticulture, forest therapy), virtual reality interventions in mental health, and resilience in people with chronic illness and disabilities. He published over 100 research journal papers and reviews, and more than 30 book chapters and clinical manuals. Evaluation of occupation therapy interventions. Use of Virtual Reality in rehabilitation. Ecotherapy in rehabilitation, e.g. horticulture, forest walking/bath, outdoor activities. Psychosocial adaptation to Chronic Illness and Disablities. Understanding and managing addictions, e.g. internet/gaming, substance.

Professor Christina Victor Christina joined Brunel in October 2009. She is Professor of Gerontology and Public Health in the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences and Associate PVC-Research Culture and Governance. She is also Director of the Institute of Health, Medicine and Environments. Christina started her academic career as a geographer with a particular interest in the spatial distribution of health and illness and access to, and provision of, health and social care. She has a BA in Geography from Swansea University and an M Phil in medical geography from Nottingham. It was whilst working at the Medical School in Cardiff that she developed her interests in gerontology and her PhD investigated outcome after discharge for older people in Wales and she now focuses her interests in public health/population medicine on to the experiences of old age and later life. She has a special interest in researching loneliness and isolation. Christina’s initial research interests were focussed upon health and health inequalities and the evaluation of services for older people. More recently she developed a keen interest in loneliness and isolation; the benefits of exercise and activity in later life and the experiences of old age and later life amongst minority communities and the experience of ageing for people with intellectual disabilities. She has received funding for her research from a range of funders including ESRC, NIHR, Dunhill Medical Trust, Leverhulme and the British Academy. Christina has written over 400 peer reviewed articles and published 8 books in the field of gerontology. She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences. In 2017 Christina was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award of the British Society of Gerontology and awarded Fellowship of the Gerontological Society of America. Her work has been cited 23,000 times and her H idex is 78. She has 3 articles in the list of the 100 most cited articles in the field of loneliness and is ranked as one of the top 100 social science and humanities researchers in the UK. Qualifications: PhD, M Phil, BA Ageing and later life Wellbeing across the lifecourse Loneliness and isolation My principal research interests are focussed around understanding the social context of ageing and later life. More specifically I have specialist interests around loneliness and social isolation in later life; care and caring; growing old amongst minority communities; physical activity, exercise and later life and the use of secondary data analysis in gerontological research. I also am active in the broad areas of service evaluation, health inequalities and public health aspects of old age and population ageing, especially in the developing world. Teaching Responsibilities: Contributor to research methods and evidence based public health modules Contyrubute to modules focusing upon older people MSc Dissertation supervisor