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Staff Profile

Dr Katherine Jackson

Research Associate

  • Address: Population Health Sciences Institute,
    Faculty of Medical Sciences,
    Newcastle University,
    Baddiley-Clark Building,
    Richardson Road, Newcastle NE2 4AX
Background

My ambition is for my research to reduce health inequalities in alcohol related harm, particularly in relation to social class /deprivation. Inequalities in alcohol related harm are especially marked in the North East of England compared to the rest of England. I focus on developing public health approaches to supporting people struggling with alcohol use, which engage with both what matters to them, and structural inequalities they face. I’m especially interested in how sociological and feminist theories of care can inform public health approaches to reducing alcohol use and other mental ill health. My PhD (completed in 2018) was a sociological exploration of women’s drinking practices and stress. A blog about some of the findings can be found here https://blogs.biomedcentral.com/bmcseriesblog/2018/09/10/alcohol-part-care-practices-white-british-womens-everyday-personal-relationships/.


I currently work across several projects, all of which involve working closely with practice and policy partners. I manage the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR) funded ADEPT Study (2021-2024) (PI-Professor Amy O’Donnell). This is using the North East and North Cumbria region as a case study, to try to better understand the challenges experienced by people with co-occurring heavy drinking and depression and the ways digital interventions could be used to improve care. A podcast about some of this work can be found here https://shows.acast.com/addiction-audio/episodes/mental-health-and-social-care-amy-odonnell-and-kat-jackson. I currently lead as Principal Investigator (2023-2025) an NIHR North East and North Cumbria Applied Research Collaboration supported project about developing interventions to support the physical health of people struggling with alcohol and or other drug use in Sunderland. I am also a researcher and Co-Applicant on the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded ‘Disentangling involvement in and the impact of integrated health and criminal justice systems: A North of England Research Consortia’ (2023-2027) (PI-Dr Steph Scott).


Most of my research uses qualitative methods, sometimes as part of mixed-methods studies. I also use co-design and participatory methods. I can supervise masters and undergraduate students in these topic areas and methods.


Another strand of my work focuses on relational research ethics and researcher wellbeing. I have been PI, and Co-PI (with Dr Louise Mair, SAGE) on two Research Culture Fund studies which aim to improve researcher wellbeing at Newcastle University. I set up and lead a peer 2 peer support group for researchers carrying out qualitative research in the Faculty of Medical Science as part of the Qualitative Special Interest Group. My ambition in this part of my work is to improve the institutional support available for qualitative researchers at Newcastle University and to contribute to broader changes in research culture across the university sector. 

Research

Funding


Scott S (PI) Addison M (Durham PI), Jackson, K, O’Donnell A, Ramsay S, Stockdale K, Munford L, Bambra C, King H, Jobe A, Munford L, McDonald S (2023 - 2027) Disentangling involvement in and the impact of integrated health and criminal justice systems: A North of England Research Consortia. ESRC Large Grants Call.


Jackson K (PI), O’Donnell A, Christie F, Adams E, Hosseinijebeli S, Vale L (2023 - 2025) Co-design and Mixed-methods evaluation of interventions to meet the unmet health needs of people with alcohol and or other drug use in Sunderland. Sunderland City Council.


Jackson K (PI) (2023 - 2024) Developing a peer support group for those who identify as being involved in sensitive and emotionally demanding qualitative research in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, FMS Research Excellence Development Award.


Jackson, K (PI), Mair L (PI), Scott S, O’Donnell A, Howes K, Hopkins P, Sikha T. (2023 - 2024) Improving the allocation and transparency of institutional responsibilities to improve fieldworker wellbeing and research outcomes – a cross faculty project. QR Enhancing Research Culture Fund.


Jackson K, Scott, S, O’Donnell, A and Howes, K (2022 -2023) Supporting Sensitive and Emotionally Demanding Research: Development of a Framework to Inform Future Guidelines and Activities for the Faculty of Medical Sciences. QR Enhancing Research Culture Fund (ERCF).


Lever-Taylor B (PI) , Sweeney A (PI), Howard L, Nath S, Jackson K and Mantovani N. (2020 - 2021) ‘The Mums Alone Study’ The relationship between loneliness, social isolation, depression and mother-infant bonding in the perinatal period: a collaborative, mixed methods study. UKRI.


Jackson K (PI) (2019 - 2020) Bringing sociological theories of care and care practices into understandings of, and intervention approaches for, women’s alcohol use. ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship


Lingam R (PI) Newham J, McGovern R, Jackson K, Henderson E, Hunter D, Kaner E and Balaam M. (2016 - 2017) A Needs Assessment of Maternal Mental Health in Rural North Yorkshire, North Yorkshire County Council,


Jackson K (PI), Finch T, Kaner E, McLaughlin J. (2010 - 2016). A sociological exploration of women, alcohol and stress; towards developing a self care intervention. NIHR Research Training Fellowship



In addition to these projects I have worked as a researcher on a range of other multi-disciplinary studies related to health inequalities and women's health, in particular.





Teaching


Supervision

I enjoy supervision and can co-supervise masters and undergraduate students in the broad topic areas and methods mentioned in my personal details section.


I have now co-supervised 3 masters students and 2 undergraduate student projects to successful completion. In 2023/24 I am supervising 3 further masters students and 2 undergraduate student projects. 


Postgraduate teaching

2023                 MSc. Public Health and Health Services Research, Newcastle University: Lecture - Focus Groups and Qualitative Interviews (with Dr Katie Gibson)


2023                 MSc. Public Health and Health Services Research, Newcastle University: Lecture - Qualitative Process Evaluations (with Dr Marie Poole)


2022 – present MSc. Public Health and Health Services Research: Newcastle University: Lecture - Rigour and Reflexivity for Qualitative Methods (with Dr Steph Scott)


2019                 MSc. Public Health and Health Services Research: Newcastle University: Lecture - Evaluating Public Health Interventions


2019                 MA Social Research Methods, Department of Sociology, Durham University: Seminar Tutor on the ‘Perspectives in Social Research’ Module.


2012 – 2015     Tutor on the Medicine in the Community Module for first-and second-year medical students at Newcastle University (2012-2015)

Publications