Biography

I completed my undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Edge Hill University in 2008 before going on to achieve an MSc in Psychology of Sport and Exercise Behaviour from Northumbria University in 2009. I was then successfully accepted to study for my PhD at Loughborough University. My PhD research focussed on examining athlete well-being from the perspective of attachment theory and self-determination theory, with particular interest in the basic psychological needs sub-theory. I graduated from Loughborough University in 2012 and have since published several studies related to my PhD topic.

I have held several academic positions prior to starting at the University of Portsmouth in 2026. My first academic role was at Northumbria University from January - December 2014 working as a Lecturer in Sport Coaching. I then moved to the University of Roehampton in January 2015 in the role as Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology, moving up to the role of Senior Lecturer prior to departing in March 2026. I am now a Senior Lecturer in Applied Sport Psychology at the University of Portsmouth.

My passion and interest has always been within sport psychology, with a particular focus on athlete well-being and performance. As a result of my doctoral studies I have also gained an interest in exploring the application of attachment theory and basic psychological needs theory to the domain of sport. I am also interested in exploring the role of sport psychology within sports that have received less attention in research. Specifically I would like to work within the field of motorsport, which is a great passion of mine, to understand the psychological profile of racing drivers and to also understand the complex relationships that exist within racing teams. In addition, I am interested in the area of psychology in esports with an interest on the psychological characteristics of esport athletes and the possible impacts of esport competition on well-being.

Alongside my teaching and research, I am also a HCPC registered Sport & Exercise Psychologist involved in applied psychology support with a range of individual athletes and teams. Moving forward, I hope to further integrate my applied practice with my research activities.