Laura joined Edge Hill in 2013 as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and full-time PhD candidate in September 2013. Laura submitted her PhD thesis in August 2016 before being appointed as a Lecturer in September 2016. Prior to this Laura worked as a research assistant on the Fathers’ Engagement Project at Liverpool John Moores University [2012-2013], having completed an MSc in the Psychology of Sport at Liverpool John Moores University [2009-2010] and a BSc (hons) Sport and Exercise Science (psychology) at the same institution [2006-2009].

Laura’s PhD work was based around the impact of family background on health and physical activity within an area of high socioeconomic deprivation and also included the design and delivery of a health-based intervention through Everton in the Community. This work was shortlisted for the Guardian’s University Social and Community Impact Awards 2015. A case study on this research was also one of only a small number of examples selected by the Sport and Recreation Alliance to showcase the positive impacts of sports-based programmes on mental health/well-being nationally. This work is currently being written up as a number of academic papers which will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals over the next few months.

Laura is also involved in a number of new projects including levels of motivation and self-rated mental wellbeing of novice runners and the links between sport, physical activity and mental-wellbeing for children and young people.

Laura is a Lecturer in Sport, Physical Activity and Health for the Sport Development and Management/Sport Management and Coaching programmes. She also contributes to teaching on the MSc Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health programme.