The CALIN project finished on 31st August 2023. Further details can be found on the main CALIN website: https://www.calin.wales/en/
For more information about the CALIN project you can email Swansea University on Calin@swansea.ac.uk
If you are interested in collaborating with Bangor University in future, please visit our collaboration hub for more information: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/collaboration-hub
Meet the team
Principal Investigator: Prof John Parkinson, Dean of the College of Human Sciences, and the Director of the Wales Centre for Behaviour Change.
John is a Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience. His research focuses on the interface between motivation and behaviour with a particular focus on the promotion of optimal functioning. His work aims to develop and evaluate interventions that promote healthy cognition and behaviour and in so doing help individuals achieve goals and overcome challenges. The main research interests of his group include cognitive-behavioural interventions to support mental health, health promotion interventions, and applied behaviour change
Areas of expertise: behavioural science; motivation; positive psychology; transdisciplinary innovation; organisational wellbeing.
Principal Investigator: Dr Caroline Bowman, Head of School and Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology.
Caroline is a neuropsychologist who explores how our emotional experiences can influence our decision-making. Her empirical perspective feeds her passion for identifying and solving problems from within the business world, and she has worked with a number of high-profile clients, bridging the gap between science and practice. Caroline’s major focus is on the development of training programmes which aim to enhance mental health and wellbeing within the workplace.
Areas of expertise: decision-making; applied psychology; health and wellbeing.
Principal Investigator: Dr Jamie Macdonald, Head of School, School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences.
After graduating with a sport science degree and working as a freelance outdoors activities instructor for some years, Jamie returned to academia to complete a PhD in clinical exercise physiology. He has collaborated with local small-medium enterprises in the adventure tourism sector, mountain rescue teams, expedition organisations and media production companies through his applied and research work in adventurous outdoor activities. He works with health boards, research groups and on NIHR-funded projects though his work on patients living with chronic disease.
Areas of expertise: clinical exercise physiology in chronic kidney disease; performance in high altitude environments.
Principal Investigator: Dr Ian Davies Abbott, Lecturer in Healthcare Sciences, School of Medical and Health Sciences.
Ian has a clinical background in mental health nursing, focusing on older person’s mental health. His research focuses on challenging negative language concerning older people and people living with dementia to promote social inclusion and using positive approaches to implement organisational or societal change. His current projects include working with Improvement Cymru to consider how positive language in written case notes may influence person-centred care and exploring the referral pathways of people in Wales diagnosed with rare types of dementia.
Areas of expertise: Dementia, Language and positioning theory, Appreciative Inquiry.
Research & Development Innovation Officer in Health & Wellbeing (Health Sciences): Dr Lucy Bryning
Lucy is an early career researcher with a background in public health evaluations and early-stage clinical trial research. Lucy’s current research in collaboration with companies aims to help translate innovation into practice and to improve health and wellbeing of populations in Wales and Ireland. Her research interests include the evaluation of complex public health programmes, psychosocial interventions, prevention initiatives and novel technologies for improving health. Lucy was a co-author on the series of Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) reports commissioned by Public Health Wales on the economic case for investment across the life course, including Transforming Young Lives across Wales (2016), Living Well for Longer (2018) and Wellness in Work (2019).
Research & Development Innovation Officer in Health & Wellbeing (Health Sciences): Dr Catherine Macleod
Catherine is a researcher with a background in healthy ageing, exploring ways to support people to age well and the biopsychosocial factors influencing health. Catherine uses a variety of methods in her research including both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Her recent work investigated accessing help in later life, and the use and accessibility of health and social care services by people with cognitive impairment and dementia. Catherine has a particular interest in memory, including understanding fundamental elements of how memory works and fails, the impact of changing memory function on individuals and society, and what can be done to help maintain memory and support those living with memory impairment.
Research & Development Innovation Officer in Health & Wellbeing (Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences): Dr Sophie Harrison
Sophie is an early career researcher who completed her PhD at Bangor University in 2020. Sophie’s PhD focussed on the influence of vitamin D, sleep and psychosocial factors on respiratory infection and mucosal immunity. Following her PhD, Sophie worked in the Public Health Collaboration Unit at Bangor University for six months, where she gained experience in public health research and systematic reviewing. Sophie’s research interests include sport and exercise immunology, psychoneuroimmunology, sport and exercise nutrition, and female physiology.
Research & Development Innovation Officer in Health & Wellbeing (Psychology): Dr Matt Boulter
Matt is an early career researcher who has completed their PhD at Bangor University in 2021. Matt’s PhD looked at personality and group dynamics, with a specific focus on how narcissism impacts group functioning. Beyond this, his other research interests include leadership and body image. Matt has co-authored textbook chapters and peer-reviewed articles on how personality impacts teams, as well as looking at associations between personality and muscle dysmorphia.
Business Liaison Officer: Carol Thomas
Carol has been with CALIN since 2018 and brings her experience in project management and academic research to the team. She is often the first point of contact for SMEs wanting to work with CALIN and then guides them through the whole process.
Research Project Support Officer: Nicky Jones
Nicky completed her MSc in The Psychology of the Arts, Neuroaesthetics and Creativity at Goldsmiths University of London in 2021. She has an extensive background working in health and social care, experience in coaching and mentoring and expertise in creating and facilitating workshops focused on emotion, cognitive and behaviour change. She has worked with industry on organisational and employee wellbeing.
Research Project Support Officer: Hannah Jelley
Hannah has extensive research experience working with people living with dementia, family carers, and health and social care professionals. Hannah has managed various research projects ranging from large longitudinal European collaborations, to randomized control trials and small local studies. Hannah’s PhD research is entitled ‘Co-creating a resilience-building framework for people with dementia and their carers’. She has delivered accredited and bespoke dementia care training courses throughout Wales to public and private sector organisations. She has experience of using mixed methods but is particularly interested in qualitative research. Hannah is passionate about improving wellbeing and empowering individuals.
Research & Development Innovation Officer in Health & Wellbeing (Psychology): Dr Cat Atherton
Cat is a researcher that has studied three degrees in Psychology in Bangor University, with a research focus on memory processes throughout. This has involved behavioural and electrophysiological experimentation. Cat’s PhD research looked at the cognitive semantic strategies we use to process brands, faces and objects. Alongside her studies, Cat has continued worked in Retail Management in small, medium and large enterprises. Cat has been particularly interested in using an evidence-based approach to improve team morale and wellbeing in the workplace, and to improve productivity within a retail setting. Finally, Cat held research positions in the University of Chester within the social psychology and applied psychology research fields.
Cat has research interests in long- and short-term memory processes, and consumer psychology from a neurocognitive perspective.