Dr Marie-Louise Sharp PhD

• PhD in Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, 2012-2015

• MPhil in Politics: Comparative Government, University of Oxford, 2006-2008

• BA in History and Politics (Joint Hons), University of Oxford, 2003-2006

Dr Marie-Louise Sharp is a UKRI Policy Fellow and Senior Behavioural Research Fellow at the Centre-UB, who is seconded into the Cabinet Office in the Government Skills Directorate. The fellowship builds on collaboration between academia and government and aims to develop a new behavioural research capability-building strategy within government. The fellowship aims to upskill the Civil Service and leaders in government in applying behavioural and social science methods/evidence to develop more effective and impactful strategy, policy and practice to improve outcomes for UK citizens and UK interests abroad.

Marie-Louise also holds a Visiting Appointment as a Senior Research Fellow at the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London. Marie-Louise is a mixed methods researcher and has research expertise in psychological medicine and epidemiology. Her research interests include military mental health and help-seeking behaviours, the health and wellbeing of Emergency Responders and has a focus on methods to extend research impact.

She is a member of the Five Eyes Mental Health Research and Innovation Collaborative focused on improving international research and mental health outcomes for the Armed Forces community. Marie-Louise previously worked in the non-profit sector specialising in Armed Forces healthcare policy. Marie-Louise was awarded a Clore Social Fellowship that supports aspiring leaders who are working to benefit individuals and progress social change in communities across the UK. Marie-Louise also has a background in political science and modern history having trained at undergraduate and post-graduate level at Oxford University.

Marie-Louise is a Guest Lecturer on the MSc in War and Psychiatry at King’s College London.

Marie-Louise currently supervises three PhD students and one MD student covering topics in UK Armed Forces (serving and ex-serving personnel) including suicide and self-harm behaviours, Military Sexual Trauma, LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing experiences, and mental health help-seeking behaviours.

UKRI Fellowship

The fellowship runs from 2025-2029 and builds on collaboration between academia and government and aims to develop a new behavioural research capability-building strategy within government as part of the ESRC investment in advancing behavioural research capability in the UK. The fellowship focuses on developing and testing a programme of interventions. The fellowship aims to upskill the Civil Service and leaders in government in applying behavioural and social science methods/evidence to develop more effective and impactful strategy, policy and practice to improve outcomes for UK citizens and UK interests abroad

High-Risk Occupational Group Research

Marie-Louise has led work covering a variety of psychosocial and epidemiological studies of high-risk occupational groups such as Armed Forces and Emergency Responders. Studies of note include the KCMHR Phase Four of the UK Armed Forces Health and Wellbeing Cohort Study and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK veteran community funded by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, the SUSTAIN project funded by FiMT which examines ex-servicewomen’s experiences of transition from military to civilian life, and examining the health and wellbeing of the Emergency Responder community funded by the Royal Foundation.