Research Community

Dr Natalie Hammond is a sociologist and Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care. Her research interests include the intersection between gender, health and violence; sexual and reproductive health; and climate change and health. She is currently co-investigator on the AFTER study which aims to understand the long-term psychosocial and sexual experiences of ex-service personnel and their partners affected by conflict-related genital injuries.

Dr Nick Cooper's interests and expertise lie in developing and assessing novel interventions for the treatment of PTSD. There is a particular focus on nature-based interventions, including the use of building resilience skills using angling in tranquil, rural yet social environments. He also has more than 20 years of experience using psychophysiological tools such as EEG to gauge the long-terms effects of stress on the brain.

Dr Nicola Gillin is a Research Fellow at the Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research, Anglia Ruskin University, UK. She is the lead author of two, FiMT-funded, research studies: “Understanding and improving non-UK service and transition in the British Armed Forces” and “Understanding and mapping the psychosocial wellbeing support needs of veteran family members across the UK: a multi-methods study” Alongside her research with military populations, Nicola has continued to build her research expertise in public-sector migration through research, consulting and doctoral student supervision.  She has recently acquired funding to explore retirement intentions amongst UK-situated Filipino nurses.   

Dr Patricia Irizar is a Post-doctoral Research Associate with experience in applying epidemiological and qualitative methods to study co-occurring Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in police officers and military personnel. 

Dr Paul Ansdell is a Physiologist whose research focuses on how age, sex, and hormonal status interact to determine physiological function in health and disease. His work to date aims to detail the interaction between systems and quantify acute responses and chronic adaptation to interventions, such as exercise. Specifically, he is interested in how hormones affect brain health and function across the male and female lifespan.

Dr Paul Watson is an Assistant Director of the Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research (Military connected Children and Young People) and Assistant Professor in Nursing (Children and Young People) & Specialist Community Public Health Nursing. Paul is an expert in narrative methodologies and has a growing portfolio of research on the emotional health and well-being of military connected children and young people and young carers, PTSD and social isolation and loneliness in the Veteran population, and military connected suicide.