I am an associate professor in LSHTM’s Clinical Research Department and the lead scientist of the LSHTM Global Health Analytics collective. Originally trained as a laboratory scientist, the majority of my work is now highly multi-disciplinary, involving bench, field and computer based research.

Drawing on a diverse skills set, I apply mixed methods from epidemiology, laboratory sciences, data science, computing & analytics to a broad range of public health problems. As a research methodologist, I am particularly interested in understanding how emerging technology and data sciences can be leveraged for the benefit of human health. Current focus-points of my work centre on the development of electronic data systems for use in health emergencies and epidemics, on scalable low-cost laboratory diagnostics and on methods for integrated surveillance of infectious diseases. 

I was the principal investigator of the NIHR funded Emergency and Epidemic Data Kit project, which won the 2018 LSHTM Director's Award for Best Research Group and the 2017 LSHTM Director's Award for innovation in teaching and learning. I was also a co-investigator and senior data coordinator on the flagship "Tujiokowe" (DRC-EB-001) trial, a major evaluation of Janssen pharmaceuticals' heterologous two dose ebola vaccine, which wasfunded by a £22m grant from CEPI.

As a co-investigator, I led two work-packages (analytics, laboratories) on FIEBRE, a £10m FCDO funded study on the causes of fever in resource restricted settings. I am also the principal investigator of the lab based Mos-Def study, a sister study to FIEBRE which is funded by a £360,000 grant from GHLabs/Global Good and which aims to combine data analytics with novel high-multiplex immunoepidemiological screening platforms.

I previously led a major programme of research in to the epidemiology of trachoma in the Western Pacific Region, research that was funded by more than £800,000 in grants from the International Trachoma Initiative, Fred Hollows Foundation and Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs (COR-NTD). As a key member of the Pacific Trachooma Initiative, my team's work supported efforts towards elimination of trachoma in several nations in the Western Pacific Region. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, my work moved in another new direction and I am currently focussing on research to better understand the opportunities, barriers and methods that can facilitate high quality mixed methods (qual/quant) research during health emergencies. This work has a focus on inclusion health issues and will aim to address inequities in the relationships between diverse communities, health data infrastructures and public health initiatives during crises. A sub-study of this work will look at the ethics of online and remote survey based research and at how machine learning can support rapid analysis of anthropological and ethnographic data during health crises. 

I am a committed advocate for equity in academic life and public/global health. Since 2015 I am a member of the faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee Athena Swan/Charters working group.

I am a founder member of the LSHTM Laboratory Management Group and a member of the management group for the Centre for Epidemic Preparedness and Response.

Through the LSHTM Global Health Anaytics collective, I provide access to a number of data services, and I am the scientific and strategic lead for LSHTM's ODK platform, which has provided data collection, analytical, statistical and methodological support to more than 500 research projects and clinical trials. I am also an elected member of the getODK technical advisory board.