Niamh discusses her role within BR-UK, her career path so far and how those also interested in a career in behavioural science can follow a similar route. What is your role at BR-UK? Niamh has worked with BR-UK since February 2024 as a qualitative Research Fellow based at the Usher Institute at University of Edinburgh. During this time Niamh has been a conducting documentary review (as part of BR-UK’s Capability Scoping Study) to summarise recent strategies for advancing behavioural and social research. The second project Niamh is working on is defining the key behavioural terms that are commonly used in behavioural research with the aim of developing a broad consensual framework about influences on behaviour and how behaviour changes. Niamh also assists on BR-UK’s rapid research function and BR-UK’s WP4 (Engagement & Involvement) and is currently working on a review of the 2024 riots in England and a scoping review of the application of public engagement and stakeholder involvement approaches and principles of equality, diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality in UK’s behavioural research landscape How has your background tied into the work you do in the organisation? Niamh graduated with a BSc Psychology degree from Ulster University in 2016 and an MSc Physical Activity for Health degree from the University of Edinburgh in 2017. More recently, Niamh completed her PhD (2020-2024), with supervisors Professors Samantha Fawkner, Doctor Ailsa Niven, and Doctor Josie Booth at the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre in Moray House, School of Education & Sport. Her thesis titled “PAUSE… Breathe & Stretch: Creating an Evidence-Based Yoga Resource for Mainstream Schools” was the accumulation of various studies using intervention development frameworks and behaviour change theory to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a new classroom-based yoga resource for UK secondary schools. Niamh has also been teaching yoga and yoga-related health education to populations across the lifespan since 2017 which provided her with grounded experience complimenting her academic research. What would you advise those studying at the moment who would like to pursue a career within behavioural research? When building up a research skills portfolio, Niamh advises anyone studying to say yes to as many different kinds of research roles and projects as they can. Niamh was lucky enough to have the capacity to work with many different experienced colleagues from her previous research centre (PAHRC) over the years prior to and during her PhD. These projects included data collection and evaluations of a range of public health and physical activity interventions. Throughout her PhD, Niamh took a mixed-methods research approach to develop her skillset in both qualitative and quantitative measures. This included conducting a scoping review, utilising stakeholder input through focus groups and advisory boards, designing and developing a resource, and conducting a mixed-methods feasibility study. Whilst building varied research skill set from undergraduate to postgraduate degrees and various research associate roles, Niamh was also able to participate in some of the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of Academic Development courses during her time studying and would advise anyone studying to make use of their university’s additional resources for professional development. Niamh would also advise those interested in behavioural research to keep up to date with BR-UK’s webinars as they include a variety of interesting topics with experienced and multi-disciplinary speakers. You can find out more about BR-UK’s upcoming webinars and watch previous recorded webinars on BR-UK’s webpage. This article was published on 2024-11-28
