Alyson is an Associate Professor and Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Psychology.

Alyson's research expertise is in the psychological mechanisms underlying mental health difficulties, particularly in mania risk and bipolar disorder. Alyson is particularly interested in the links between emotion regulation and mental health, and how this may be a transdiagnostic risk factor. Her research includes evaluations of psychological interventions to support people with their mental health. Her research in this area has been funded by the National Institute of Health Research. 

Alyson is also interested in young peoples' mental health and well-being, and well-being in universities. In particular, she is interested in how we can understand and implement the Whole University approach to support mental health and well-being across the university community, both staff and students. She was on the leadership team for SMaRteN, a UKRI-funded mental health network focused on student mental health and well-being. Her key interests here are community well-being in universities, how to effectively measure well-being in this context, and improving support for both staff and students. Her work in this area has been funded by the British Academy, UKRI, and Office for Students (BRIGHTER). 

Alyson uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore these research areas.  

Alyson supervises undergraduate and postgraduate project and research internship/placement students in the Department of Psychology, leads the psychopathology component of the undergraduate module Social, Developmental and Psychopathology (Level 5), and is Module Tutor for the Research Internship module (Level 6). Alyson is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

• Psychological mechanisms underpinning the development and maintenance of mania risk and bipolar disorder
• Emotion regulation and mental health
• Mental health and wellbeing in Higher Education
• Community wellbeing
• Development/evaluation of process and outcome measures