Catherine Davidson

For her MPhil/PhD, Catherine is exploring body image experience following stroke. She is supervised by experienced researchers. Catherine was awarded funding for her MPhil/PhD through the University of Central Lancashire Faculty of Health and Wellbeing. The main focus of Catherine's role as a Senior Research Assistant is to support more senior staff in the development of funding bids. Catherine largely supports a project surrounding end-of-life care in stroke. She has also provided administrative support for multiple projects, including Peer Support in the Macular Society and the EQ-5D-5L health status questionnaire. Catherine has also helped to develop teaching materials for stroke modules.

After gaining her BSc (Hons) in Psychology from Lancaster University in 2017, Catherine began studying at the University of Central Lancashire, where she achieved a Distinction in her MSc in Health Psychology in 2018. Upon graduating, she was awarded The School Science Prize for The Best Research Project by a Student on MSc Health Psychology (2017/2018) and The School Award for Academic Excellence for the Best Overall Performance by a student in MSc Health Psychology (2017/2018). Whilst studying for her MSc, Catherine did some work as an Ad Hoc Research Assistant at the University of Central Lancashire, and also completed some personalised examination provision at the University. Given her interest in long term health conditions, Catherine then began working for the Stroke Research Team in 2019.

Since then, Catherine was also invited to give a guest lecture on the Health Psychology PS4323 module, describing her career path from study to work. Working on the Stroke Team sparked her interest for completing a PhD in stroke, while her MSc project into body satisfaction in young women demonstrates her passion for body image research. She won funding to complete a full-time PhD in July 2019. In October 2019, Catherine then started her MPhil/PhD. She was awarded 1st prize for her three-minute thesis style presentation of her project at the 6th International Health and Wellbeing Research with Real Impact Conference 2020.