The people behind the research

Our team members, based at the University of Reading, span a wide range of academic and commercial research backgrounds. We collaborate with academic, clinical, private and public sector institutions to further the impact of our research

See Our Research

Research Group Leaders

Dr Katherine Finlay

PhD, CPsychol, FHEA, AFBPSS

Katherine is a Research Group Director and Associate Professor of Psychology, as well as a Chartered and HCPC-registered Practitioner Health Psychologist. Her research focuses on developing psychological and behaviour change interventions for chronic conditions such as persistent pain, spinal cord injury, and recurrent UTIs. She also provides consultancy and therapy in Health Psychology, specializing in behaviour change and Motivational Interviewing across public and private sectors.

Dr Sarah Snuggs

PhD, CPsychol, FHEA

Sarah is a Psychology Lecturer and Registered Health Psychologist with research interests in children’s eating behaviour (especially in minoritised groups), family mealtimes, adult eating behaviour, smoking cessation, and broader health behaviours. She has expertise in systematic reviews, mixed methods, and works regularly with the HCPC.

PhD Students

Abbi Newlands

MSc, AFHEA

Abbi Newlands is a PhD candidate researching the patient experience of recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs). She developed the first validated patient-reported outcome measures for rUTIs impact on quality of life. Abbi has been at the University of Reading since 2016, completing her undergraduate and MSc studies, and now works as a Graduate Teaching Assistant alongside her PhD.

Adam Madhani

MSc

Adam Madhani is a PhD candidate and Trainee Health Psychologist at the University of Reading, with interests in chronic pain and health behaviour change. His interdisciplinary research focuses on developing interventions to support patients undergoing ‘awake surgeries’. Adam is also pursuing his Stage Two qualification to become a Chartered Health Psychologist, aiming to impact behaviour change and anaesthesia care.

Amy Shelford

MSc, AFHEA, RSci

Amy is a Graduate Teaching Assistant and PhD student at the University of Reading, researching insulin-related disordered eating in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Her work explores factors influencing behaviours like dose manipulation and their impact on weight and food choices. The research aims to inform care pathways and interventions to support individuals engaging in these behaviours. Amy holds the Magdalen Vernon scholarship.

Charley Ellis

BSc(Hons), MSc, GMBPsS

Charley is a PhD+ candidate at the University of Reading and is completing the Stage 2 Health Psychology qualification via the independent route. Her research focuses on the wellbeing and quality of life of individuals with chronic migraine. She also delivers workshops supporting parents of teenagers with mental health challenges.

Jasmeet Kaur

BSc, MSc

Jasmeet is a PhD student, researching learned helplessness in people living with spinal cord injury. Her work focuses on exploring how approaches based on Self-compassion and Compassion-focused therapy can alleviate psychological distress, reduce self-criticism, enhance emotional regulation, and foster resilience, hope, and overall well-being in individuals adjusting to life after injury. Jasmeet completed her MSc in Clinical Psychology in India with distinction and later served as an Assistant Professor for two years at the Punjabi University, India.

Meg Evans

BSc, MSc

Meg Evans is PhD researcher at the University of Reading, exploring sexual well-being in individuals with chronic pain, particularly those with recurrent UTIs. Her work aims to develop an intervention to improve sexual psychoeducation, self-compassion, and partner communication. In collaboration with Live UTI Free, this intervention will be offered to their community pending a successful feasibility study.

Melissa Kramer

BBus

Melissa is a PhD candidate researching digital recruitment strategies for clinical trials, with a particular interest in female pelvic health. With over five years’ experience running recruitment campaigns across sectors, she aims to develop a framework for successful digital recruitment strategies using influencer marketing, health networks, and advocacy groups. Melissa is also the founder and CEO of LUF, a women’s health research and advocacy organisation.

Melissa Way

BSc, MSc

Melissa is a PhD student researching behavioural change in patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease. She is interested in how lifestyle changes can impact the progression of a patient’s disease, and what factors encourage patients to make behaviour changes upon diagnosis. Melissa studied for her Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Reading, which included a placement in the maternity unit of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, before starting her PhD.

MingXing Yu

(Eden) BGS, MSc

MingXing is a PhD+ candidate at the University of Reading, with interests in exploring the relationship between social eating and psychological constructs like the sense of belonging and loneliness among adults. His research aims to develop an intervention that promotes sharing eating as a way to improve psychological well-being. MingXing is also pursuing the Health psychology Stage 2 Qualification to become a Chartered Health Psychologist.

Molly Bradbury

BSc, MSc

Molly is a part-time PhD candidate at the University of Reading, specialising in women’s health and pelvic pain, with a focus on vaginismus. Her research aims to develop psychoeducational interventions to improve medical student training and patient awareness. She is passionate about creating resources that enhance clinical care and understanding of the condition. Molly is also a Research Associate with Live UTI Free and holds the Wilkie Calvert Scholarship.

Rebecca Matthews

BSc (Hons), PGCE, QTS, MA, FHEA

Rebecca is a PhD student funded by the ESRC through the SeNSS Doctoral Training Partnership, researching maternal mental health and unmet birth expectations. She is a Senior Lecturer in Education and Child Development at Oxford Brookes University and a former primary school teacher with curriculum development leadership experience in London and Essex. Rebecca is also an active maternity rights campaigner.

Susanne Cromme

MSc

Susanne is a part-time PhD student researching women’s health, focusing on pain during gynaecological procedures. She holds an MSc in Health and Applied Psychology, has worked at the Centre for Behavioural Science and Health at UCL, and is also a psychotherapeutic Counsellor and Health Psychologist in training. Her PhD is funded by the University of Reading’s Regional Bursary.

Zuzanna Jankowska

MSc

Zuzanna is a PhD student at the University of Reading, researching the role of emotional well-being and health information in improving rapid urinary tract infection testing. Her work aims to bridge the gap between psychology and science to enhance healthcare solutions, focusing on patient-centered approaches in diagnostics and developing large-scale digital psychoeducation interventions. Zuzanna holds a Strategic Studentship with the charity Changing Ideas.

Collaborative Students

Issy Dexter

Issy is a third-year BSc Psychology student at the University of Reading, currently completing her placement at LiveUTIFree. With a passion for health psychology, particularly women’s health, she is eager to gain deeper insights into this field and contribute to impactful research through her work with LiveUTIFree.

Post-doctoral Research Assistants

Lydia Tidmarsh

MSc, PhD

Lydia completed her PhD at the University of Reading in 2025, focusing on developing a prehabilitation intervention for pain management. She is now a post-doctoral research assistant on the GENESIS grant and is involved in developing Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for recurrent urinary tract infections. A trainee Health Psychologist, Lydia has a particular interest in creating interventions for those with chronic pain.

Alumni

Dr Olivia Barrett

MSc, PhD

Olivia Barrett completed her BSc (Hons) in Psychology in 2013 and MSc in Psychology in 2014 at the University of Bradford, before earning her PhD in 2022 from the University of Reading. Her research focused on sexual functioning and satisfaction following spinal cord injury. Alongside her research, Olivia works full-time as a Case Manager Specialist in spinal cord injury, supporting individuals across the country with their recovery, rehabilitation, and care.

Dr Margaret Tilley

PhD

Margaret completed her PhD in Spinal Cord Injury and neuropathic pain in 2016 and was a co-investigator on our action research grant investigating mental health in the community for people with Spinal Cord Injury. Margaret is formerly a lecturer at the University of Buckingham.

Phoebe Brook-Rowland

BSc, MSc

Phoebe is now completing her PhD at the University of Bedfordshire in Physical Activity and Behaviour Change. Phoebe was a Research Assistant on our action research grant investigating mental health in the community for people with Spinal Cord Injury.