Collaboratory Researcher Profiles
Project Title: How can childhood health inequalities be reduced by improving indoor home environments in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland?
What were you doing before starting this PhD?
I hold a BSc in Mathematics and an MSc in Medical Statistics which led me to work on research that uses data to understand real world health and environmental challenges. Prior to starting my PhD, I was working as a research assistant at the University of Leicester where my work involved understanding how social and environmental conditions affect people’s ability to cope with extreme heat, particularly in low resource settings. I developed statistical models to estimate access to air conditioning in low-to-middle-income countries across Africa and Asia.
This work was motivated by the recognition that rising temperatures globally do not affect everyone equally. Many families in Africa and Asia face increasing health risks from heat but lack the infrastructure to protect themselves. By combining household survey data with environmental and socioeconomic data, my role was to help identify where the greatest needs for air conditioning are and where support or policy action could have the most benefit.
What motivated you to apply for this specific PhD project?
I was drawn to this PhD because it focuses on the quality of homes children grow up in – something that affects families everyday but is often overlooked. I live and work in Leicester and I care deeply about the wellbeing of my local communities. Therefore, the opportunity of contributing towards children’s health and shaping the conditions inside their home makes this research personal and meaningful to me.
At the same time, my background in Mathematics and Medical Statistics, along with my previous research experience on environmental health and inequalities collectively enables me to contribute to this work in a meaningful way. I have experience of using data to create statistical models assessing environmental risks that affect different populations, and the opportunity to apply this to my very own people feels very rewarding.
What makes this project special is its strong connection to the community. It extends beyond an academic achievement by working with local councils, health services, housing organisations and community groups to help bring a positive change. The chance to contribute to research that is rooted to the lived experiences of families and addresses a current ongoing problem forms a major part of my motivation.
What difference do you hope to make in Leicester through this research?
Leicester is not just where I study and work – it is home. I have lived here for many years and feel strongly connected to the city and its diverse communities. Through both my personal and professional experiences, I have seen how housing conditions and health challenges can affect families in their day to day lives, especially those with limited resources.
This project feels meaningful to me because it focuses on the place and people I care about. I am motivated to use my research skills in a way that can make a real difference locally by helping highlight issues that matter to families and supporting positive change for the community.
Here in Leicester and across Leicestershire, many families live in housing where damp, cold, mould and poor ventilation are everyday realities. For children, these conditions can make breathing problems worse due to their smaller airways and faster breathing rates making them inhale larger volumes of air compared to adults in the same household. This in turn leads to more hospital visits which then affects their wellbeing and development. This research is important because it helps shine a light on where these risks may be affecting local families the most.
What do you hope to be doing in 5 years’ time?
After my PhD, I hope to be working with data in environmental health, and using research to help protect families from environmental risks. I would like to contribute towards work that informs national and global efforts, particularly organisations focused on public health, equity and climate.