I have a background in computational neuroscience – developing analyses and large scale simulations of neural activity. Much of my current research concerns how we can use advanced computational methods and wearable sensors to better measure and understand the biological, environmental, and behavioural interactions that lead to ill health. I am particularly interested in:

Measuring health behaviours in early life:

What happens in early life influences life-course health and wellbeing. Health behaviours such as physical activity and sleep, are increasingly identified as potentially important. Wearable sensors, such as accelerometers and heart rate monitors, have the potential to offer objective records of many of the relevant physiological health variables in young children, and provide further inferences of wider key health outcomes such as cardiovascular health and stress. However, to provide this insight appropriate algorithms and analytic methods must be developed. These can then help us build a picture of how behaviour and environment are impacting early life health.

The role of circadian disruption in health and disease:

Circadian health is an important aspect of the epidemiology and aetiology of many diseases and conditions. Circadian health metrics of sufficient accuracy and relevance will facilitate research into the role of circadian disruption in disease, as well as therapies or preventions that leverage the role of circadian disruption. 

Current metrics quantifying the circadian health of an individual are either too cumbersome for large scale studies or lack the accuracy required.

Wearable sensors are able to capture aspects of our physiology that cycle alongside our circadian rhythm such as our core body temperature and heart rate. They are typically easy-to-wear and less burdensome than melatonin sampling. Like actigraphy, they do not directly capture the circadian rhythm, however using mechanistic computational modelling of the circadian system we can use these sensor measurements to produce an accurate estimation of the circadian cycle. 

External Roles and Professional Activities

I have reviewed articles for PLOS digital health, The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, and Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering. I have also reviewed for UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships.