Professor Laura Jones BSc (Hons), DPS, PhD, PCAP, FHEA

• PGCert Academic Practice, University of Birmingham, 2016
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2015
• PhD Human Sciences, Loughborough University, 2008
• BSc (Hons) Human Biology with Diploma in Professional Studies, Loughborough University, 2004 

Laura qualified with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Human Biology with a diploma in professional studies from Loughborough University in 2004, staying on to successfully gain her mixed methods PhD in 2008. With funding from the Child Growth Foundation, Laura’s PhD explored how early childhood events affect the timing and duration of puberty and subsequent propensity for risky behaviours in South African adolescents.

Laura’s first post-doctoral position at Loughborough University investigated the determinants of childhood and adolescent obesity using data from several large birth cohort datasets. In early 2009, Laura moved to the University of Nottingham to take up a UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS) Research Fellowship and later (2012) a Senior Research Fellow position. Whilst at Nottingham, Laura was involved in a variety of mixed methods tobacco control research and established significant expertise in harm reduction, specifically in secondhand smoke and smoke-free environments.Most notably, she led the development and testing of a complex intervention to help protect disadvantaged children from the harms of secondhand smoke at home, which was found to be clinically and cost-effective. 

In April 2013, Laura moved to the University of Birmingham to take up a Lectureship in Qualitative and Mixed Methods Applied Health Research and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2018. Since arriving in Birmingham, Laura has continued to build her research profile, with an increasing focus on women’s and maternal health projects. In particular, she is focussing on service provision for women from seldom heard groups. Since 2010, Laura has generated a substantial research income of >£21million (including >£1.2million as chief investigator), published more than 70 papers, reports and book chapters and is a sought-after methodological collaborator.

In addition to her research, Laura is also well-respected teacher and is actively involved in developing the skills of others via mentoring and delivery of Introduction to Teaching and Learning sessions across the University. During her PGCert in Academic Practice (awarded with Distinction), she was awarded two teaching related prizes by the University of Birmingham. The first prize was for her commitment to and demonstration of effective academic practice and the second was for her outstanding contribution to the PGCert Academic Practice Programme.

• Medicine and Surgery MBChB
• MSc Public Health
• MRes Clinical Health Research
• Intercalation POSH BMedSci
• Introduction to Learning and Teaching, HEFI

Laura is interested in supervising doctoral researchers in the following general research areas:

• Qualitative and/or mixed methods exploring aspects of women’s health, maternal health, and/or maternity care
• Qualitative and/or mixed methods exploring sensitive/challenging health issues with underserved populations
• The use of qualitative and mixed methodologies within and/or alongside clinical trials.

Core Research Themes

Clinical Areas

Women’s health; maternal health; maternity care; female genital mutilation; pelvic health; sexual and reproductive health.

Research Methodologies and Methods

Qualitative research methodologies and methods; qualitative research with clinical trials; mixed methods; seldom heard groups; process evaluation; sensitive research’ inclusive research design and evaluation; implementation science; behaviour change; theory.

Allyship

• Proud to be an LGBTQ+ ally at the University of Birmingham
• I am a Mental Health First Aider – please feel free to get in touch
• University of Birmingham Domestic Abuse Ally

Public Engagement Activities 

• “A breath of fresh air” Pint of Science Public Engagement Event, Bodega Birmingham 2016

Awards and Honours 

• University of Birmingham Outstanding Contribution to the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice Programme 2016
• University of Birmingham Effective Academic Practice Teaching Prize 2015
• Parental and household smoking and the increased risk of bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and other lower respiratory infections in infancy: systematic review and meta-analysis paper: General Medicine Award Runner Up, 6th Annual Biomed Central Research Awards 2012
• Loughborough University Graduate Student of the Year Award. Faculty of Science Graduate School Research Prize for outstanding academic performance and achievements 2008