Senior Technical Associate

• Jan 2021 - Present

Assistant Professor

• Aug 2020 - Jan 2021

Research Fellow

• Mar 2019 - Aug 2020

Provision of technical support to three trials aiming to improve dietary diversity and nutritional status in vulnerable populations of India and Nepal.

PHD Candidate

• Oct 2015 - Feb 2019

Doctoral student in human nutrition. Thesis title: 'Maternal nutrition, seasonality and epigenetics: an exploration of one-carbon metabolism, and a novel nutritional supplement design in The Gambia'. Co-organiser and lecturer on Nutrition in Emergencies module (MSc. level) and supervision of MSc. students.

Research Assistant / PhD Candidate

• Oct 2014 - Feb 2019

Responsible for the design and testing of a novel nutritional supplement to correct B vitamin deficiencies in the Gambian dry season. Set-up and project management of a three-arm clinical trial in rural Gambia testing the effect of investigational products on plasma homocysteine in non-pregnant women. Responsible for the design and testing of a novel nutritional supplement to correct B vitamin deficiencies in the Gambian dry season. Set-up and project management of a three-arm clinical trial in rural Gambia testing the effect of investigational products on plasma homocysteine in non-pregnant women.

Independent Consultant

• Oct 2013 - Oct 2014

- Technical oversight of Valid International’s acute malnutrition operational research in India involving study design, development of databases and analysis plans, training on data collection and capacity development of in-country team on overall study management. - Ongoing technical support to two cohort studies looking at the prevention and treatment of severe acute malnutrition in community settings of rural Ethiopia. - Writing training material on nutrition, HIV and environmental sustainability for TIST (NGO working in East Africa with rural farmers). Show less

Country Representative

• Mar 2012 - Sep 2013

Responsible for the set-up and overall management of Valid International’s Ethiopia office, based full-time in Addis Ababa. Designed and established two cohort studies with Jimma University investigating the treatment of acute malnutrition; recruited, trained and line managed all in-country staff; implemented an innovative nutrition baseline and programme coverage survey; full financial, legal and administrative oversight.

Emergency Nutrition Coordinator

• Sep 2010 - Mar 2012

Rapid deployment as part of the emergency response team to sites needing support for nutrition in emergencies. 70% abroad on field missions, 30% London-based nutrition policy research. Ethiopia, Somali region (January-February 2012): Outpatient therapeutic programme set-up for Somali refugees in Hilaweyn camp. Recruitment, training and management of a team of 15 nutrition staff. Ethiopia, Somali region (July-September 2011): Program set-up for mass nutritional screening of Somali refugees and establishment of supplementary feeding sites for children age 6 months to 18 years, plus pregnant and lactating women. Recruitment, training and management of a team of 30 nutrition staff. Liberia (June – July 2011): Supervisor of SMART nutrition survey amongst Ivory Coast refugees and Liberian host communities. Managing a team of 14 survey staff, data analysis and interpretation. Liberia (January – March 2011): Program set-up of 4 outpatient therapeutic sites, 2 stabilisation centres, 4 supplementary feeding sites through a government capacity-building approach. Supervision of a 6-week targeted food aid distribution. Recruitment, training and management of a team of 17 nutrition staff. Evaluations: Program observation and staff training in Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazaar) and Ethiopia (Awassa). London HQ work: Research and writing of ‘the role of nutrition products in the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition’; technical review for nutrition-related communication material; staff training on nutrition in emergencies; proposal development. Show less

Independent Consultant

• May 2010 - Sep 2010

Proposal development of a multi-country climate change adaptation project for EuropeAid submission, proposal development of an advocacy project for DFID, fundraising for environmental sustainability work, briefing staff on livelihoods and conflict issues. Proposal development of a multi-country climate change adaptation project for EuropeAid submission, proposal development of an advocacy project for DFID, fundraising for environmental sustainability work, briefing staff on livelihoods and conflict issues.

East Africa Liaison Officer

• Aug 2004 - Dec 2006

The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) works with rural farmers in areas of East Africa and India to help them improve their environment & livelihoods. Field-based job, responsible for the training of 30 local staff for sustainable development projects & data collection, set-up of the programme in Kenya, building the capacity of local directors in administration and accounting, liaising between the field and US management team. The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) works with rural farmers in areas of East Africa and India to help them improve their environment & livelihoods. Field-based job, responsible for the training of 30 local staff for sustainable development projects & data collection, set-up of the programme in Kenya, building the capacity of local directors in administration and accounting, liaising between the field and US management team.

Project Intern

• Oct 2003 - Aug 2004

Volunteer position in the Water, Environment & Sanitation team in Southern Sudan. Key responsibilities included reviewing the environment program, writing a training manual for the local staff, organising and leading training workshops, conducting research for a regional baseline survey on knowledge, attitudes and practices. Volunteer position in the Water, Environment & Sanitation team in Southern Sudan. Key responsibilities included reviewing the environment program, writing a training manual for the local staff, organising and leading training workshops, conducting research for a regional baseline survey on knowledge, attitudes and practices.