Dr Robert Portman is a Lecturer in Psychology in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. He completed an undergraduate Psychology w/Criminology degree at the University of Huddersfield in 2015, going on to complete an MSc by Research from the same institution in 2017. He received his PhD from Edge Hill University in 2021, following a successful defence of his thesis. In collaboration with West Lancashire Borough Council, Robert’s PhD work comprised an exploration and intervention development of a social-identity informed peer-support public health intervention.

Currently, he is module leader for Critical Thinking about Psychology (Level 4), Applied Research in Psychology (Level 5), Introduction to Psychology: Classic to Contemporary (Level 7) and delivers on Issues in Psychology (Level 6). He is Co-Course leader of MSc Psychology.

Robert supervises undergraduate dissertation and postgraduate MSc students.

Robert is a researcher within the Centre for Applied Psychological Sciences at Teesside University.

Robert’s research interests focus on the social identity approach to health, investigating the factors that influence group attraction, group cohesion and subsequent social identification. His research focusses on the practical application of the social identity approach to facilitating health enhancing behaviour change.

2022: Middlesbrough Borough Council. Emotional Wellbeing for Peer Supporters in Middlesbrough. (Co-Investigator)

2023: NIHR CRN NENC. Perspectives of the Multiple Complex Needs Peer Advocacy Pilot: An INsights-Based Study. (Co-Investigator)

2024: Stockton Borough Council. Building Bridges: Insights for Developing a Comprehensive Peer Advocacy Model for Multiple Complex Needs in Stockton-On-Tees. (Co-Investigator)

2024: Hartlepool Borough Council. Identifing and Overcoming Barriers to COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Uptake in Tees Valley Communities: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Study. (Co-Investigator)

2024: Stockton Borough Council: Evaluation of the Outreach Nurse Role. (Primary Investigator)

Robert welcomes applications from prospective PhD students interested in exploring the Social Identity Approach to (1) health, (2) wellbeing, (3) social mobility and (4) education.

Robert currently acts as an early career researcher associate editor for Health Expectations, and associate editor of The European Health Psychologist, and co-editor of a special issue MDPI journal: Impact of Social Media on Physical and Psychological Well-Being.

Robert has reviewed for the following journals: Health Psychology; Frontiers in Psychology; Frontiers in Public Health; Behavioral Sciences; Quest; Health Expectations; Healthcare; The European Health Psychologist and Journal of Sports Sciences.

Robert consults and advises external providers on the design,  implementation and evaluation of health interventions.