It took me time to find where I was meant to be professionally, but I am in the right place now and very much in my element here,”

Caroline says.

Working in academic research was a natural evolution for her as before becoming an academic, Caroline had a career in market research in the aviation industry.

I've always loved research - gaining insights into people’s experiences. Ultimately I wanted to move out of the commercial world into psychology and health, so still doing research but for a more fulfilling cause,”

she explains.

Caroline, who was Course Leader for the MSc in Health Psychology at the School of Human and Social Sciences (SHSS) before becoming Head of the Graduate School this year, says that the University is very good at providing students with opportunities to develop their potential:

UWL’s success in recent years is inspiring – it makes you want to be part of it.”

The UWL Graduate School is at a key moment in its evolution. The University is keen to build its research credentials, aiming to become one of the top 70 universities for research in the UK by 2028/29. This means that the Graduate School is set to expand from 250 doctoral students to accommodate as many as 1,000.

It's an exciting time for students to join us,"

Caroline says.

As it grows, the Graduate School will be central to developing a dynamic research culture, we will be encouraging students to engage with research activities and take part in events and conferences, both at UWL and outside.

We're focusing on offering our students every support and ensuring that they benefit from the help of UWL’s excellent Student Experience team.”

Caroline’s own research focuses on reproductive health, particularly perinatal loss.

I've spent time looking into the decision-making process around screening when an anomaly is detected as well as individuals’ experiences and that of healthcare professionals. The underpinning aspect of my research is trauma, and it covers individual as well as social experiences. I'm also very interested in behaviour change and social justice,”

she says.

Asked about her role as a PhD supervisor, Caroline bubbles with enthusiasm: 

I absolutely love it! It's one of the best parts of the job.”

She adds that she wants to make sure students not only complete on time and can move on to other things, but that they grow as researchers and have the experience that they deserve.

I had a great experience during my own PhD – it can be an incredible three years. That's what I have in mind and why I think it is so important that students feel supported.”

• Find out more about postgraduate courses at UWL
• Watch Caroline’s TEDx talk - Pregnancy loss and post-traumatic growth