I am interested in the sensing, understanding, and actioning of digital health data to radically transform how people live their lives. My research interests lie in designing, developing, and evaluating secure health informatics and cybernetics platforms and ecosystem elements as a digital health infrastructure – crossing software engineering and pervasive technologies. This includes digital phenotyping, assistive and diagnostic healthcare technologies, and systems for healthcare professionals. I use co-design/creation methods to create solutions applicable to patients, service users, and health professionals. I have an interest in ethical challenges of healthcare technologies and applying mixed methods to complex problems.

I am a Digital Health and Software Engineering Researcher with core competencies in software engineering, participant engagement/HCI, and data science.

My research interests lie in exploring software engineering and pervasive/ubiquitous computing for society, in particular, systems and healthcare technologies (including assistive, diagnostic, or therapy systems) for mental health and healthy ageing through the use of digital sensing, IoT, and mobile devices. I have a particular interest in the ethical challenges of healthcare technologies, and I also have a strong interest in applying mixed methods to complex problems in the digital healthcare field.

My current work involves managing and participating in a number of inter-related Digital Health projects. A key focus is the development, deployment, and evaluation of health informatics platforms as a digital health infrastructure. I am involved in the design and planning of multi-scale deployments of a platform (from a smart apartment to a smart healthy town), and engage with domain health experts and other team members to develop platform-based applications (such as: connected health, patient empowerment, and e-coaching).

Previous projects I have worked on include the Mobile Age project, which focuses on supporting older adults with independent living, through reducing social isolation and loneliness. Prior to this I worked on the SAMS project, which focused on the early detection of Mild Cognitive Impariment and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, through text and data mining of day-to-day computer usage.

Another passion is teaching. My PhD research explored the education of software engineers using a studio-based approach, a hands-on project-based teaching method, providing several benefits to the students. This research was instrumental in the introduction of the software engineering studio at Lancaster University, and I have been involved every year since its inception. This work was grounded in transferring knowledge of design/architecture education into a software engineering context, promoting (cross discipline) collaboration, soft skills, reflective practice, and numerous other benefits. I am committed to high-quality teaching and I promote studio education.

I am an LGBTQIA+ Ally and member of ‘Safe Home Base’, Lancaster University’s LGBTQIA+ Ally Network. As an Ally, I support and champion LGBTQIA+ people and I believe they should enjoy full equality. I aim to challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in our workplace and I am available to listen to and support LGBTQIA+ students and colleagues.

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BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Software Engineering, Computing Department

• 2006 – 2009

• Grade: First-class honours