MRC Epidemiology UnitSenior Research Associate
Global Diet and Physical Activity Research Group
Qualifications
- PhD Community Health – University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2012
- MA Kinesiology – University of Western Ontario, Canada, 2007
- BA/BSc Psychology/Biology – University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2005
Background and experience
Louise is a public health scientist with an interest in physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and the evaluation of interventions. She joined the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR) in 2013 as a Career Development Fellow, working on a natural experimental evaluation of the health effects of a new urban motorway. Following that she completed a fellowship at CEDAR exploring the effects of interventions on multiple behaviours within their temporal and spatial context. Prior to joining CEDAR Louise completed a MA at the University of Western Ontario, examining potential mechanisms for exercise as a treatment for depression; and a PhD at the University of Auckland, examining aspects of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children. Louise spent five years working as a Research Fellow at the National Institute for Health Innovation, primarily involved in the conduct of pragmatic randomised controlled trials.
Current work and interests
Louise is currently working as a quantitative researcher as part of the Global Diet and Activity Research Group and Network (https://www.gdarnet.org/). She is leading a natural experimental evaluation of a new supermarket in Kisumu, Kenya; and a mixed-method systematic review exploring factors associated with travel behaviour in Africa and the Caribbean.