Dr Jenny van Bekkum

Daphne Jackson Research Fellow

  • Scottish Collaboration of Public Health Research and Policy (SCPHRP)
  • School of Health in Social Sciences

Contact details

Address

Street

1B31, 5 Forrest Hill

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH1 2QL

Availability

  • Tues - Thurs

Background

My research experience and expertise lies within the Health Sciences. I completed a PhD in Health Psychology at the University of Edinburgh in 2011, which focussed on developing and trialling a behaviour change intervention. After my PhD I secured a three-year MRC Career Development Fellowship at the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at Glasgow University (2011- 2014). During my MRC fellowship I led a research project that explored the role of public engagement/participation within medical research. I also contributed to research projects within the team that addressed healthcare practitioners’ communication of health research evidence in policy and practice, and interpreting health research. After taking a career break, I rejoined the University of Edinburgh in 2021 as an Associate Tutor supervising Masters dissertations in Educational Psychology and Health. In 2023, I was awarded a Daphne Jackson Research Fellowship based at Edinburgh University within the School of Health in Social Sciences to investigate the impact of urban biodiversity on people's health and wellbeing. 

Project activity

Funded by Medical Research Scotland (MRS), for my fellowship I am working with Professor Ruth Jepson and in collaboration with the GroundsWell Consortium to undertake a research project titled: Investigating the Causal Mechanisms Associated with Urban Biodiversity and the Prevention and Treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases through Green Prescribing.