MRC Epidemiology UnitResearch Associate
Population Health Interventions
Current work and interests
Catrin is a Research Associate in The Mandala Consortium, which aims to transform Birmingham’s food system to improve population and planetary health. She is also supporting research which aims to evaluate the Soft Drinks Industry Levy introduced in 2018. Her research interests centre on evaluating interventions which aim to target health at a population level. She is also interested in the development and evaluation of organisational and structural interventions which target health behaviour. Catrin is particularly passionate about understanding interventions from a holistic perspective, to gather insights on the processes by which these do or do not impact health.
Background and experience
Catrin gained her PhD at the Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, where she developed her interest in developing and evaluating health interventions. Her research investigates the feasibility of an organ donation registration intervention in primary care – particularly exploring how to improve access to registration opportunities. She is experienced in mixed methods and qualitative approaches, particularly using these to evaluate interventions. Prior to this, Catrin obtained her Master’s degree in Health Psychology from the University of Bedfordshire and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of York.
During her studies she worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Bedfordshire, analysing the NHS Organ Donor Register and conducting qualitative research into dietary, breastfeeding and weaning habits of economically deprived groups in the UK. She was also employed as a Visiting Lecturer, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students on a variety of health psychology and public health topics. Catrin previously worked at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL as a data manager and monitor for oncology clinical trials, and as a lifestyle coach for community weight management interventions.
Professional Membership
- Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy
- PsyPAG Ethics Representative
- Graduate member British Psychological Society and Division of Health Psychology
- Member Behavioural Science and Public Health Network