Judith Eberhardt is Professor of Psychology and Public Health Equity. She is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and member of the American Psychological Association. She completed a BSc in Psychology, MSc Health Psychology, and PhD in Psychology at Teesside University, and also holds a Vordiplom in Psychology from Heidelberg University, Germany.

Prior to her current role, she held the roles of Associate Professor (Research), Senior Lecturer in Psychology, and Lecturer in Psychology at Teesside University. Alongside her research, she holds leadership roles relating to impact and research governance, including Co-Lead for the Impact Lab within the Institute for Collective Place Leadership and Deputy Chair of the Psychology Research Ethics Committee.

Judith’s research focuses on health inequalities, preventative health behaviours, and equitable access to healthcare, particularly among underserved and marginalised communities. Her work spans vaccine confidence, cancer screening, public health engagement, psychosocial aspects of long-term conditions, and community-centred approaches to improving health outcomes.

Her published research includes work conducted in the UK, Jordan, Iraq, the UAE, Nigeria, Malta, and Germany. She has published widely in the areas of public health, health psychology, health literacy, vaccine confidence, respiratory health, cancer screening, chronic illness, and psychometric validation research.

Research and Impact Experience

• Community-centred and co-produced public health research
• Vaccine confidence and childhood immunisation uptake
• Cancer screening inequalities and early diagnosis
• Health inequalities in underserved communities
• Public health engagement and behavioural science
• Psychosocial aspects of long-term conditions
• Public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE)
• Ethnic minority health and healthcare access
• Health communication, trust, and misinformation
• Applied public health evaluation research

Methodological Expertise

Qualitative and quantitative research methods and analytical techniques, including:

• Mixed methods research
• Reflexive thematic analysis
• Framework analysis
• Cross-sectional survey research
• Community-based participatory research
• Co-production methodologies
• Public health evaluation research
• Behavioural science approaches to health behaviour
• Systematic reviews and evidence synthesis

Published Research

Judith has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals across health psychology, public health, behavioural medicine, respiratory health, psychometrics, and healthcare research. Her work has appeared in journals such as Health Expectations, Vaccine, BMJ Open, Journal of Public Health, Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, BMC Public Health, Frontiers in Public Health, PLOS ONE, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Children, Healthcare, Annals of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, and Risk Management and Healthcare Policy.

Current research topics and areas of collaboration

• Vaccine confidence and childhood immunisation uptake
• Cancer screening inequalities and early diagnosis
• Community-centred public health interventions
• Health inequalities in underserved communities
• Ethnic minority health and healthcare access
• Behavioural science approaches to public health
• Public health engagement and co-production
• Long-term conditions and psychosocial wellbeing
• Public health communication and misinformation

Current and recently completed funded projects

• EQUITy in Black Adult Health (EQUITA): a randomised feasibility trial of a co-produced and faith-placed intervention to increase uptake of breast, cervical, bowel, and AAA screening in the North East of England, Leeds and Scotland. NIHR Public Health Research (2025–2027) (Joint Chief Investigator).
• Increasing the acceptance and uptake of childhood immunisations in the Tees Valley: a co-production study across five local authorities. Middlesbrough Council (2025–2027) (Chief Investigator).
• Co-producing solutions with the Muslim community to improve access to a dementia diagnosis in North East England. EquaDem Network Plus (2026–2027) (Co-Investigator).
• Developing a Care Pathway for Chronic Vulvar Pain: A Collective Intelligence Approach to Person-Centred Care. ESRC Doctoral Studentship (2025–2029) (Co-Investigator). 
• “It’s part of the sport”: Exploring how social identification with sports groups predicts gambling behaviour and how people experience the normalisation of gambling within sports groups. Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling (2025–2026) (Co-Investigator). 
• Longitudinal Evaluation of the Multiple Complex Needs Pilot. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (2024–2026) (Chief Investigator).
• Evaluation of the Outreach Nurse Role. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (2024) (Chief Investigator).
• Bridging Health Divides: An Exploration of NHS Health Checks in Deprived Communities in the Tees Valley. NIHR Clinical Research Network NENC (2024) (Chief Investigator).
• Behavioural Insight Study – COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Hesitancy in Tees Valley. Hartlepool Borough Council (2024) (Chief Investigator).
• Perspectives of the Multiple Complex Needs Peer Advocacy Pilot: An Insights-Based Study. NIHR Clinical Research Network NENC (2023–2024) (Chief Investigator). 
• Evaluation of the Bridgend Youth Justice Service – a randomised controlled trial. Youth Endowment Fund (2023–2026) (Co-Investigator). 
• Evaluation of the Multisystemic Therapy-Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) intervention – a randomised controlled trial. Youth Endowment Fund (2023–2027) (Co-Investigator). 
• Development of a trial application to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of adult dRug screening and brief interventionS in key hEalth, social care and justice setTings: The RESET Project. NIHR Public Health Research (2023–2024) (Co-Investigator).
• Working with refugee women to explore barriers and facilitators of entrepreneurial intentions and behaviour in Middlesbrough: a co-production approach. Participatory Research Funding, Teesside University (2023) (Co-Investigator).
• Building an international beacon for research and innovation in tackling poor health outcomes and inequalities in South Tees. NIHR Public Health Research (2022–2028) (Co-Investigator).
• A co-designed and culturally appropriate intervention to tackle barriers to early diagnosis of prostate cancer for Black men in Scotland and the North-East of England: a community-centred participatory approach. Prostate Cancer Research (2022–2024) (Co-Investigator).
• Regional evaluation of a self-management tool for people living with long-term conditions: a participatory approach. NIHR Applied Research Collaboration NENC (2021–2023) (Co-Investigator).
• An evaluation of the Adults First approach in supporting children and young people with SEMH needs. NIHR Clinical Research Network NENC (2023–2024) (Co-Investigator).
• Contingency funding for expansion and growth: Work to position Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool to be ready for a future HDRC bid. NIHR Clinical Research Network NENC (2023) (Co-Investigator).
• Vaccine acceptance in BAME communities. NIHR Clinical Research Network NENC (2021) (Chief Investigator).
• Be Clear on Cancer 2018 Third National ‘Breast Cancer in Women over 70’ Campaign: Final Evaluation. Public Health England (2020–2021) (Chief Investigator).

Judith collaborates with academic, NHS, public sector, charity, and community partners in the delivery of research and public health activity. Her collaborations include work with:

• NIHR
• NHS organisations
• Middlesbrough Council
• Hartlepool Borough Council
• Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
• Darlington Borough Council
• Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
• Bridgend Council
• Prostate Cancer Research
• Youth Endowment Fund
• Public Health England
• Community and faith-based organisations, for example, Ubuntu Multicultural Centre, Youth Focus North East, Recovery Connections, Linx Youth Project, Creative Minds
• International collaborators across Europe, the US, and the Middle East.

• Founding member and board member of the International Network for Research into Psychosocial Adjustment and Rehabilitation (INRePAR)
• Member of the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol & Other Drugs (INEBRIA)
• Member of The International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL)
• Associate member of Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health
• Associate Editor, Journal of Public Health Research (Sage)
• Editorial Board Member, BMC Medicine
• Editorial Board Member, Clinical Pharmacy Connect
• Guest Consulting Editor, Health Psychology (APA)
• Guest Editor, Vaccines
• Guest Editor, Children
• Head Editor, Practical Health Psychology blog
• Psychology Pathway Lead, Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP)
• External Examiner, MSc Health Psychology, University of Strathclyde
• UKRI Talent Peer Review College member
• Grants reviewer for NIHR Public Health Research, Breast Cancer Now, North West Cancer Research, and other funding bodies.

Judith welcomes applications from prospective PhD students interested in projects related to:

• Health inequalities and public health equity
• Vaccine confidence and preventative health behaviours
• Cancer screening and early diagnosis
• Community-centred and participatory public health research
• Health psychology and behavioural medicine
• Ethnic minority health and healthcare access
• Psychosocial aspects of long-term conditions
• Public health communication and engagement
• Mixed methods and qualitative health research 

Judith welcomes applications from prospective PhD students interested in projects related to:

• Health inequalities and public health equity
• Vaccine confidence and preventative health behaviours
• Cancer screening and early diagnosis
• Community-centred and participatory public health research
• Health psychology and behavioural medicine
• Ethnic minority health and healthcare access
• Psychosocial aspects of long-term conditions
• Public health communication and engagement
• Mixed methods and qualitative health research 

Current Doctoral Supervision

• Kane, L., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Director of Studies. Topic: The development of an intervention to facilitate person-centred dementia care in home care
• Pigera, S., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Director of Studies. Topic: The psychology of privacy and security in digital health contract-tracing.
• Proctor, E., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Director of Studies. Topic: Crisis interventions for individuals: a lived experience perspective.
• Leighton, C., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Director of Studies. Topic: Improving user experience and well-being in social housing by closing the knowledge gap.
• Akhtar, A., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Director of Studies. Topic: Accessing psychological therapies amongst children and young people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
• Brown, G., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Topic: How does cancer treatment impact a person with autism?
• Waterson, V., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Topic: An exploratory study into the perceptions of business leaders into promoting mental health and wellbeing in workplace settings.
• Sacco, R., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Topic: National Study of Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing among Young People in Malta.
• Eguakun, M., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Topic: Group identities and crime: understanding how social identity propels youth violence in urban communities.
• Holdsworth, A., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Topic: A co-designed, participatory exploration of the role of social identity processes in addressing health inequalities in deprived areas.
• Richards, A., Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. Topic: Positive Psychology and Practical Support as Moderators of Relapse Following Residential Alcohol Rehabilitation: An exploration of potential for adults who score highly on ADHD indicators.
• Drokow, E., Teesside University, School of Health and Life Sciences. Topic: Revolutionising the screening for oral cancer.
• Shumba, N., Teesside University, School of Health and Life Sciences. Topic: Exploring barriers and facilitators to accessing psychological therapy services for Black Sub-Saharan female refugees in the North-East region of England.
• Kabuye, J., Teesside University, School of Health and Life Sciences. Topic: A study to explore the barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health support and wellbeing Among Non-Clinical Black Immigrant Men in the North East UK.
• Lountzi, A.Z., University of Stirling. Topic: Developing a Care Pathway for Chronic Vulvar Pain: A Collective Intelligence Approach to Person-Centred Care.

Completed Doctoral Supervision

• Dr M. Lokhande (Director of Studies, 2025)
  The Impact of Psychological Input on Care Coordinators’ Experiences of Working with Borderline Personality Disorder Patients.
• Dr R. Healey (2025)
  “It Wasn’t the Cancer. It Was How You Live.” A Photo Elicitation Study Examining Patients’ Experiences of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma.
• Dr S. Koya (2025)
  A Mixed-Methods Exploration of the Sociocultural Factors Affecting Food and Alcohol Disturbance among Mid-Adolescent Girls.
• Dr F. Ahmed (Director of Studies, 2024)
  Encouraging Healthier Behavioural Changes towards Dietary Practices in South Asian Women Using a Theory-Driven Community-Based ‘Healthy Eats Outreach’ Intervention.
• Dr C. Oguguo (2024)
  Barriers to Seeking Appropriate Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Youths in Nigeria: Towards Enhancing Utilisation of Healthcare Services.
• Dr D. Boccato-Calleja (2024)
  Working with Clients’ Suffering: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Therapists in the Maltese Healthcare System.
• Dr L. Dougan (2023)
  “It’s all about the trauma”: An Exploration of the Facilitators and Barriers to Positive Treatment Outcomes for Individuals with Complex Needs and Trauma within a Medium and Low Secure Hospital Setting.
• Dr A. Moafi (2021)
  Exploring Expert Opinion on the Content of Expert Witness Psychological Reports.