Dr Andrew James Williams

Senior Lecturer and Co-Director for SCPHRP

  • Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (SCPHRP)
  • Nursing Studies
  • School of Health in Social Science

Contact details

Address

Street

Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy
School of Health in Social Science
Room 1B31, 5 Forrest Hill

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH1 2QL

Biography

Background

Andrew is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health in Social Sciences and one of the SCPHRP Co-Directors.  Andrew’s research interests lie in the social and cultural determinants of health (the fifth wave of public health), especially among children and young people, particularly through the application and exploration of theories such as complexity theory and salutogenesis. His research is often collaborative and transdisciplinary, including engaged research (such as his work with the TR14ers) and co-production approaches.  Andrew employs both quantitative and participatory methods to the evaluation and study of a range of public health interventions such as 20mph speed limits, central heating systems and school-based intervention.

Qualifications

BMedSci, MPH, PhD, PCAP, FHEA

Undergraduate teaching

For undergraduates, I teach on quantitative research methods and the roles of communities in health (for example asset based community development).  I also supervise undergraduate dissertations, and have previously taught public health and evidence based medicine at undergraduate level.

Postgraduate teaching

I am the course organiser for the the following level 11 courses:

  • Research Methods in Health (Online)

  • Complex Interventions: an engaged approach to development and evaluation

I also co-ordinate the empirical dissertatons.

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Areas of interest for supervision

I have supervised 6 PhD students to completition and am currently supervising 3 PhD students.  The topics I have supervised are varied but mostly fall within health improvement/promotion and are often interdisciplinary: ADHD services for adults, mHealth interventions for the police, combining health and environment education in schools, running clubs during COVID-19, Step-count challenge, sleep and obesity in adolescents, meaning of health for adolescents and promoting plastic pollution.

I would consider PhD applicants, especially if their topic related to health among children, adolescents or communities.  I tend to supervise students undertaking literature reviews and quantitative research (primary or secondary), but can also support the use of participatory methods.

Knowledge exchange

I worked with the Children's Parliament on the Food and Fairness project: https://www.childrensparliament.org.uk/our-work/food-fairness/

Affiliated research centres

Project activity

My current projects are:

Recent projects include:

I am part of the Scottish Youth Work Research Steering group: https://www.youthlink.scot/our-networks/research-steering-group/

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