I have just under ten years' experience as a veterinary epidemiologist, with a focus on zoonotic pathogens, including STEC O157, Lyme borreliosis and Fasciola hepatica. I have worked on a large consortium project to explore O157 and non-O157 STEC in cattle intended for the food chain, and in the next Strategic Research Programme (2022-27) will be expanding this area of work to dairy cattle and sheep, as well as farmed deer (with Moredun Research Institute).

I participate in projects exploring both AMR and AMU in livestock, some of which aim to understand how best to measure antimicrobial usage, according to the infromation required from those measurements, and how on-farm usage can adapt to best address the need for conscientious stewardship of antimicrobials whilst preserving animal health and welfare. 

I am interested in the range of factors that drive decision-making within the animal health field, both at individual herd level and in relation to national and international efforts to control animal disease. I participate in two European consortium projects focusing on output-based surveillance of cattle diseases in the context of international trade - STOC free (https://www.stocfree.eu/) and SOUND control (https://sound-control.eu/). I have also more recently taken a role in research projects with a qualitative aspect, relating to the mental health of both vets and farmers. These populations are major players in agriculture and their attitudes, behaviours and wellbeing have a strong influence on animal health and welfare.

Before joining SRUC in 2012 I worked for just under five years as a vet in predominantly mixed general practice in Northern Ireland and briefly in Scotland.