Research Interests:
- Food insecurity and public health nutrition
- Public Mental Health
- Health Inequalities
What has been your career journey so far?
I have a strong and varied background in research, but I feel that my research journey so far has been quite unconventional. My first job after graduating from University was working as a Research Assistant at John Moores University, working on a qualitative Age Concern ‘Healthy Aging’ research project. I loved it, but it was short term, and I later went on to secure a graduate project management role in the Local Authority. It was only by chance, that I got back into research after having my first child some years later, and secured a part time finance role working at Liverpool University. I feel that I made a great contribution to public health research during this time, but it was predominantly in a management capacity, and I missed actively carrying out the research. It was after having my second child, that I decided to embark on my research career, successfully completing a part time Masters in Public Health in 2020. Since then I have worked as the Imperial College NIHR SPHR Coordinator, which has given me further exposure to research, enabling me to be involved with many elements of research projects, including public involvement and engagement. At the same time, I have also pursued my own research interests, supporting Dr Rachel Loopstra at the University of Liverpool, on the ‘Health Inequalities in the Food System’, greatly contributing to a growing body of research on food insecurity and emergency food aid interventions.
Why did you choose to do a pre-doc fellowship in public health?
I’ve always been passionate about Public Health, carrying out my work experience in school within a public health setting and completing my under graduate research dissertation on ‘Oral health inequalities in Knowsley’. As I have a Master’s in Public Health, the Pre-Doc Fellowship felt like the next natural step for me. I’m committed to pursuing a career in Public Health research, and chose to do the Pre-Doc Fellowship, as I feel it will give me more confidence and experience in carrying out research, as well as boosting my analytical skills.
What is your research focus?
My research focus is ‘food insecurity’. I studied ‘Food Insecurity in older people in Knowsley’, for my Masters dissertation in 2020. My ambition is to take this area of research further. I am also keen to research the mental health implications of food insecurity.
Why is it important?
Nationally food insecurity is a huge issue, which has increased massively during COVID and the cost of living crisis. I have always loved food, and I get a lot of enjoyment from cooking, eating and creating tasty nutritious meals for my family. Food is more than just sustenance, and can positively and negatively impact physical and mental health. The World Health Organisation, states food is a human right, and access to enough safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Food is something people should be able to enjoy with dignity.
What are you looking forward to during your time with NIHR SPHR?
I’m looking forward to being fully immersed in research, allowing me to fully focus my attention and efforts on research and developing my own proposals. I am confident I will learn new skills and will gain lots from exposure to lots of new experiences. I’m also looking forward to being part of the ResNet community, to support, encourage and form new collaborations. I’m excited at the opportunities the pre-doc fellowship will lead me on to upon completion.
What skills are you hoping to gain by the end?
The fellowship will be an opportunity for me to learn new research methods and co-produce research with the public, policymakers and practitioners. I am undertaking this fellowship, to gain confidence, experience and enhance my skills within research further.
What do you hope to do after completing your fellowship?
After completing the Pre-Doc Fellowship, I hope to go on to do a PhD. My career goal is to become a Public Health research academic.
Catherine Jackson Pre-Doctoral Launching Fellow at the University of Liverpol jacksonc@liverpool.ac.uk