Iain Hardie

Postdoctoral Research Assistant

  • Psychology
  • School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

Contact details

Address

Street

Psychology Building

City
7 George Square, Edinburgh
Post code
EH8 9JZ

Biography

Background

Iain joined the Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh in September 2022. He is a postdoctoral research assistant currently working on two projects: (1) the 'COVID-19 Health Impact on Long-term Child Development in Scotland' (CHILDS) study, and (2) the 'Understanding the effects of prenatal maternal infections on developmental outcomes, autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities' study. Research for these projects involves analysing Scottish linked administrative health data in order to examine the impact of (a) prenatal infections (both COVID-19 and other types of infections), and (b) COVID-19 lockdown measures,  on a range of childhood developmental outcomes. In addition, research for these projects examines the role that factors such as deprivation and socioeconomic status can play in these relationships in order to produce poor outcomes and inequalities.   

Prior to his current role, from 2021-2022 Iain worked as a research assistant in the the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow. During this time he worked on two quantitative social science/epidemiological research projects: (1) the ‘Social Practices in Alcohol Research Collaboration’ (SPARC) project, which examined stability and change in British drinking culture in the 21st century, and (2) the ‘Ecigarettes and socioeconomic inequalities’ project, which examined the relationship between e-cigarette use and socioeconomic inequalities in smoking cessation/relapse. Iain completed his PhD in Urban Studies, University of Glasgow in 2021, where his research focussed on analysis of the impact of the Universal Credit welfare reform on housing insecurity in the UK. 

Qualifications

  • PhD in Urban Studies (title: 'The Impact of Universal Credit Rollout on Housing Insecurity in the UK'), University of Glasgow (2017-2021)
  • MSc in Social Research Methods, University of Dundee (2016-2017)
  • MA (Hons) in Economics, University of Aberdeen (2012-2016)

Research summary

I am a quantitative social and public health researcher, and am interested in how social, economic and policy contexts shape health, wellbeing, education, and inequalities across the life course. I am particularly interested in using individual-level administrative data (i.e. datasets not originally collected for research purposes) to gain insight into population health and wellbeing. I have previously also been involved in research using area-level administrative data, longitudinal household survey data, and repeat cross-sectional market research data. My specific research interests span:

  • Maternal and child health: prenatal exposures, pregnancy outcomes, child health and developmental outcomes, educational outcomes, and socioeconomic/health/developmental inequalities among children and mothers
  • Policy and event evaluation: impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated public health and social measures on health, wellbeing, health behaviours, child development, and educational outcomes.
  • Health behaviours: alcohol, drinking practices, smoking, and vaping
  • Social policy and public policy: impacts of social and public policies (e.g. welfare reforms or public health policies) on housing, health, wellbeing, educational outcomes, and inequalities.  

Conference details

  • Hardie, I. (2026) 'COVID-19 Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) and early childhood developmental concerns in Scotland: an interrupted time series analysis', International Population Data Linkage Network Conference 2026, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 13-16th July 2026.
  • Hardie, I. (2025) 'Early childhood developmental concerns following SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy: a Scottish population-level retrospective cohort study'. Administrative Data Research UK Conference 2025, Royal College of Music & Drama, Cardiff, Wales, UK, 17-18th September 2025. 
  • Hardie, I. (2023) 'Prenatal maternal infections and early childhood developmental outcomes: Analysis of linked administrative health data for Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Scotland'. Administrative Data Research UK Conference 2023, The Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, UK, 14-16th November 2023. 

  • Hardie, I. (2022). ‘The Impact of Universal Credit Rollout on Housing Insecurity: A PhD Research Project’. Department for Work and Pensions Universal Credit Analysis Division (UCAD) Internal Seminar Series. 18th May 2022.

  • Hardie, I. (2022). ‘The Influence of Policy and Events on British Drinking Practices’. How and Why Is British Drinking Culture Changing? An External Engagement Event for Alcohol Policy Organisations, Advocacy Groups, Charities, Government Officials, and Researchers. MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow. 10th May 2022.

  • Hardie, I (2019). '‘The Impact of Universal Credit Rollout on Housing Security: An Analysis of Landlord Repossession Rates in English Local Authorities’. Stream 6.1 Comparative Methodology: Causal Inference in Social Policy Analysis. ESPAnet Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, 5-7th September 2019. 

  • Hardie, I. (2019). ‘The Impact of Universal Credit Rollout on Housing Security: An Analysis of Landlord Repossession Rates in English Local Authorities’. Session B3 Housing and the Labour Market. WPEG Annual Conference, Sheffield, UK, 30th July 2019.

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