The University of Birmingham have announced that Dr. Marie-Louise Sharp has joined the School of Psychology as Senior Behavioural Research Fellow
13 March 2025
The University of Birmingham have announced that Dr. Marie-Louise Sharp has joined the School of Psychology as Senior Behavioural Research Fellow, supporting the Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (CENTRE-UB), part of a major investment by the ESRC in advancing behavioural research capability in the UK. As part of this new role, Dr. Sharp will be seconded four days a week to the Government Skills Directorate, Cabinet Office.
This appointment marks an original approach in developing collaboration between academia and government departments, where Dr Sharp will review current knowledge, skills and training needs across the Civil Service in behavioural research and how these approaches can be embedded more effectively into current strategy and policy. making
Her fellowship will focus on developing and evaluating a programme of interventions aimed at upskilling the Civil Service and government leaders. By applying behavioural and social science methods and evidence, Dr. Sharp aims to enhance the effectiveness and impact of strategy, policy, and practice, improving outcomes for UK citizens and UK interests abroad.
In addition to her government role, Dr. Sharp will dedicate one day a week to developing her own research programme within the School of Psychology. As a researcher with expertise in psychological medicine and epidemiology, her research interests include military mental health, help-seeking behaviours, and the health and wellbeing of Emergency Responders.
> Marie-Louise's secondment to Government Skills is the result of an exciting and innovative collaboration between academia, research funders and the Civil Service. It shows the commitment of the Civil Service to work with the very best experts in their field to deliver a skilled Civil Service which is equipped to deliver the Government’s missions. Understanding behaviour is central to ensuring policy and delivery is effective, and Marie-Louise’s Fellowship is at the heart of ensuring the Civil Service continues to build this essential capability now and for the future.
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> Siobhan Dickens, Head of Evidence and Impact for Government Skills
> We are delighted to welcome Dr. Marie-Louise Sharp to the team and to be part of this innovative approach to embedding a behavioural research fellow into government. As a mixed-methods researcher and with her existing expertise in working with policy makers, Dr Sharp is well placed to work with government to develop and evaluate capacity-building interventions for behavioural research.
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> Professor Jessica Woodhams, Director of Centre-UB
> It is a fantastic opportunity joining CENTRE-UB and seconded into the Cabinet Office to make a real impact in assessing and developing the way Government departments and the Civil Service understand the application and importance of behavioural research in their policy making. I am looking forward to progressing a programme of training to upskill the Civil Service to be world leaders in their use of behavioural research approaches and addressing any barriers to implementing these skills in practice
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> Dr Marie-Louise Sharp
Dr. Sharp has led projects, including the King's Centre for Military Health Research Phase Four of the UK Armed Forces Health and Wellbeing Cohort Study funded by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, the SUSTAIN project funded by the Forces in Mind Trust examining ex-servicewomen’s transition from military to civilian life, and assessments of the health and wellbeing of the Emergency Responder community funded by the Royal Foundation. Additionally, she is a member of the Five Eyes Mental Health Research and Innovation Collaborative, which aims to improve international research and mental health outcomes for the Armed Forces community.
To find out more about [Centre-UB](https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/centre-ub/centre-ub)
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