Joanna’s research interests are the use of qualitative methods to understand ‘what works, for whom and in what circumstances’ in public health interventions. In particular her research explores the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of public health interventions. Joanna primarily uses qualitative methods in her research and is also interested in mixed methods research. Most of her research to date has been in the areas of child health and physical activity interventions.

Joanna joined the NIHR CLAHRC West and the Health Protection Research Unit in February 2015. Prior to this she worked in the Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences on the Bristol Girls Dance Project, a cluster randomised controlled trial designed to determine the effectiveness of a dance-intervention to improve the objectively assessed physical activity of 11-12 year old girls with Professor Russ Jago. Before moving to Bristol, Joanna spent a year in CEDAR (Centre for Diet and Activity Research) at Cambridge University, examining the effects of environmental changes on travel behaviour, physical activity and health.

Her PhD thesis examined the role of community readiness in the prevention of overweight and obesity in pre-adolescent girls.