Dr Michael Smith completed his PhD in Psychology at the University of Western Australia in 2009, before undertaking postdoctoral work at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Curtin University in Perth, Australia. Michael then joined the Department of Psychology at Northumbria University in 2010. He is currently the Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange for the Department of Psychology. Michael leads undergraduate and postgraduate modules in Health Psychology, and contributes to research supervision of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students.

Michael’s current research programmes are investigating the psycho(bio)logical causes and consequences of stress. He has further expertise in developing and evaluating simple techniques for alleviating stress and promoting wellbeing, such as expressive writing. Further, Michael has an interest in behaviour change, and is currently using models of behaviour change to investigate the processes which promote engagement with a variety of behaviours, including i) use of stress reduction techniques and ii) sustainable energy behaviours.

Stress

Wellbeing

Behaviour Change