How did you get started in research/what inspired you?

I really enjoyed doing live research for my undergraduate dissertation, and 11 years after qualifying I undertook a part-time masters in evidence based practice which I really enjoyed. It cemented my passion for research and I was keen to pursue a career in the field. However, it was another 11 years before an opportunity to apply for a dietetic research post came up. My main inspiration was working with service users who were struggling to manage their weight. I could see that their environment and some of their medications were making this a challenge, and I really wanted to identify new ways we could improve people’s experience of weight management services. That was my main research focus during my MSc and in the early stage of my research role.

What do you enjoy about research?

I am a very creative person, so I particularly enjoy coming up with new ideas for research and thinking of creative ways to overcome the many challenges we face in research. My main research is with people who have severe mental illness (SMI), so I enjoy finding new ways to engage people with SMI in research and having the opportunity to “think outside of the box”. My current research focus is on food insecurity, and I am proud that our research is helping communities to develop solutions that will support people with the current cost of living crisis.

What training and support have you found most valuable in your career?

Aside from my masters, I have undertaken several free training courses available online. I recently did a “writing for the sciences” course with Stanford University in the US. and that has really helped with my academic writing. I feel very lucky to have an incredible academic support team – Professor Amelia Lake and Dr Emma L. Giles (Teesside University) and Dr Scott Teasdale who is an academic dietitian from the University of New South Wales in Australia. They have been an incredible support with my research journey and I have learned so much from them. I am also lucky that my NHS Trust (Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust) invested in my research role, allowing me to continue in a research career after my two-year secondment ended. 

What people/organisations did you get in touch with to help you?

In the early days of my research role, I reached out to anyone who would listen to me!  This included the NIHR Clinical Research Network for the North East and North Cumbria; the Research Design Service for the North East and North Cumbria; the British Dietetic Association; the NIHR Research Champions; the Council for Allied Health Professionals Research in the North East, any many more. 

What are your top 3 tips for somebody starting out in research?

Have courage. You don’t need to be a highly academic individual to pursue an academic career. I come from a background in performing arts! Creativity and passion are the most important skills.

Seek out people who can support your journey – find academics or clinicians you can work with to develop new research ideas. Collaboration is definitely key to a successful research career.

Engage with local support networks – there is a wealth of experience and knowledge in our area. If you are an allied health professional (AHP), there is an AHP research and innovation subgroup that meets monthly and anyone can join. Likewise, the Council for AHP Research is a great support. Nurses also have research champions who can signpost you to local support.