Meet the Students
To celebrate the incredible talent within our community, this section shines a light on the students and alumni who have taken part in the SCIP INSIGHT Programme, and gone on to make a real impact in health and care. Through their stories, you’ll see how SCIP has supported them to grow their confidence, develop their research skills, and turn their ideas into meaningful projects.
Their achievements reflect the programme’s aim: empowering early career professionals to step into research and shape the future of their professions.
Student testimonials
"My MRes research project at the University of Southampton explored farmers' experiences with low back pain. Inspired by published research emerging from Canada, I was eager to gain deeper experience in rural health research methodologies. I applied to the Society for Back Pain Research travel fellowship and was awarded fully-funded support to visit Dr Katie Crockett and the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Research in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Treaty 6 territory and encompassing the traditional lands of the Cree, Dakota, Nakota, Saulteaux, and the Homeland of the Métis Nation. During this fellowship, I developed invaluable skills that directly transferred to my MRes project, particularly in recruitment strategies for hard-to-reach populations, community co-production approaches, and engaging farmers and rural communities in research. The experience also provided eye-opening insights into the differences between agricultural practices and healthcare provision in the UK versus Saskatchewan, such as the Virtual Health hub equipped to serve Indigenous and First Nations communities often hours away from the nearest city. I even got to sit in a tractor simulator looking at the impact harvesting had on the shoulder complex!
I returned feeling inspired and equipped to advance my own research. Drawing on what I'd learned, I partnered with the NFU and NFU Mutual to deliver knowledge mobilisation sessions while simultaneously recruiting participants for my project. This year has been transformative, and I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity the fellowship provided and the funding from SCIP."
Holly Whitcomb
"The SCIP Programme at the University of Southampton has been a defining part of my academic and professional journey this year. The opportunities provided have enhanced my confidence, mentorship and platform to grow as both a researcher and advocate.
I am fortunate enough to be supervised by Professor Mari Carmen Portillo and Dr Leire Ambrosio, whose guidance has continued as I progress into my PhD at the University of Southampton, funded by the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership. My doctoral research titled “Self-Management Support for Co-existing Physical and Mental Long-Term Conditions Exploring Inequalities and Tailoring Approaches”, builds directly on my masters completed this year which I am now preparing to publish.
During my time on the programme, I was honoured to be named a finalist in the 2025 Picker Experience Network Awards for the Student Advocate of Tomorrow. This recognition meant a great deal to me, as it reflected my passion for improving service user experiences and system wide health and social care. Another highlight has been speaking at the NHS Mental Health Nursing Symposium, where I joined my previous nursing faculty to discuss the importance of dual-qualification nurses and how this perspective shapes my approach to research and practice.
The SCIP experience has also opened doors to sharing my research more widely. I was invited to guest lecture at the University of Southampton on my topic and following encouraging feedback I have been invited back this academic year to continue engaging with students and staff. Looking back, the SCIP programme did not just support my studies, it helped shape my identity as a researcher committed to tacking inequalities, promoting integration across mental and physical healthcare and giving a voice to those seldom heard."
Catherine Lodwick
"I am extremely proud to have had the privilege of the NIHR funding my study “Regulating Aesthetics: Stakeholder Perspectives on Patient Safety, Professional Standards and the Future of Non-Surgical Cosmetic Regulation in England” via the South Central INSIGHT programme. This research brought together stakeholders to explore how we can strengthen patient safety and professional standards in the non-surgical cosmetic sector. My aim was to generate evidence that informs fair and consistent regulation while supporting the integrity of aesthetic medicine.
I am honoured that my findings are set to be used as evidence by the regulatory committee to guide improvements in forthcoming cosmetic regulation in the United Kingdom and that my contribution to Aesthetic Medicine has been recognised through a Research Contribution Award finalist nomination by the British Association of Medical Aesthetic Nurses (BAMAN). Receiving this recognition for my research reinforces my commitment to advancing patient safety, professional standards, and evidence-based policy within aesthetic medicine ensuring the sector continues to evolve responsibly and ethically. I hope this research is only the beginning of a lifelong career in creating a safer non-surgical cosmetic sector for the public.
In terms of future developments in my career, I would love to continue to publish in Academic Journals - (journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology and journal of aesthetic nursing) and later, I hope to pursue a PhD and will be applying for an NIHR doctoral award. Failing this, I hope to be able to achieve a PhD by publication via Portsmouth University- I think it’s great to have a variety of options to pursue in order to achieve future aspirations."
Sabrina Dawkins
– Holly Whitcomb
"After completing my master's in research with support from SCIP, I am now undertaking a PhD at King's College London, funded by an NIHR Research Focus Award in Outbreak Related Behaviour in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency. My doctoral research focussed on developing a public health intervention on farm attractions – working in co-production with farmers, parents and children to create an intervention that is practical, grounded and person-focused. SCIP didn't just open the door to postgraduate research for me, it gave me a foundation I've been able to pass on. Through the network, I've had the privilege of supporting students in cohorts below mine, sharing advice on research and the realities of the journey. Hearing how well everyone is doing has been one of the most rewarding parts of this whole experience!"
Alumni success story
Making a difference: research projects & outputs
To showcase the depth, creativity and real‑world value of the work emerging from the SCIP community, this section highlights the research projects, publications and scholarly contributions developed by our students and alumni.
These outputs reflect the programme’s aim of supporting early‑career professionals to confidently step into research, explore the questions that matter in their fields, and produce work that contributes to improving health and care. Through these project summaries and links to published work, you’ll see the impact of SCIP in action, empowering researchers, strengthening practice, and shaping the future of their professions.
Project titles & student names
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Service Evaluation Into Our New Paediatric Joint Sarcoma clinic At The OUH To Find The Gaps In Ours And Our Stakeholders Needs To Do Further Research. Lisa Clarke
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The Perceived Experiences Of Accessing Reasonable Adjustments For Nurses And Nursing Associates With Dyslexia In Clinical Practice. Rachel Burton
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What Factors Influence Nurses Of Colour: Involvement And Leadership In Environmentally Sustainable Initiatives Within The NHS. Comfort Nkum
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How Well Are We Informing Pregnant People About the 20-Week Scan? A Local Service Evaluation. Lois Parle
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A Service Evaluation To Assess The Quality Of Care Delivered To Neurosurgical Patients Hosted On A Neurology Ward. Madeleine Molloy
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Evaluating the Impact of Digital Inclusion Service on Maternity Appointment Attendance. Carina Okiki
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Synergy Digital Health: Assessing the Relationship Between Everyday Physical Activity and Exercise Capacity in Patients With a Fontan Circulation. Anisha Shaji
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Effectiveness and Applicability of tools that measure levels of confusion within the Prehospital Environment and their effect on Decision Making. Rose Jeffery
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The Association Of Antenatal Maternal BMI With Childhood Growth. Lindsey Dunsford
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Investigating The Potential Impact Of Regulation On The Non-Surgical Cosmetic Sector. Sabrina Dawkins
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Psychological impact of post-partum pelvic floor disfunction; a qualitative study. Hannah Dutton
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Breaking the Cycle: Exploring the Interplay Between Diabetic Foot Ulceration, Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular Health. Hayley Dodman
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What helps and what hinders: An exploration of self-management and living well with coexisting physical and mental long-term conditions in the community. Catherine Lodwick
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Using experience in mental health liaison is planning to explore how patients detained under the Mental Health Act experience care and treatment in general hospitals, particularly within psychiatric liaison units. Lewis Foglia
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Farmers don’t go to doctors, they don’t ask for help - a mixed methods analysis of the experiences and perceived barriers to health care access of UK famers with chronic low back pain. Holly Whitcomb
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What is the lived experience of people recovering from lower limb amputation without the use of a prosthesis: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Carrie Fewins-Scales
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What Is Optimal Service For MSK For Exercise Prescription. Sophie Bennett
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Patient Experiences And Expectations Of Renal Denervation A Qualitative Exploration. Vrinda Haridas
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Exploring Factors That Hinders Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicities From Participating In Clinical Research. Folashade Fakorede
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Response to CGRP treatments in migraine patients with co-morbid FND. Mathew Garrod
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“Something has to give”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Exploring Podiatry Student Experiences of Externally Facilitated Placements. Selina Sengudar
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Understanding occupational therapy practice in high secure settings through the lens of creative ability. Lyndsey Summers
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Evaluating the Value of Repeated Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Assessments in Frequent ED Attenders: Towards a Rapid Assessment Model. Georgi Andreev
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Exploring the hospital discharge process for patients admitted with a stroke who have a pre-exisiting dementia diagnosis: practioners perspectives. Katie Meakes
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ADHD in practice: a collaborative rapid audit intervention physiotherapy improvement study. Matthew Kelleher
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Architecting the Digitally-Enabled AHP: A Mixed-Methods Study to Develop a Strategic Capability Roadmap. Derek Bayquen
Published papers
How to apply to SCIP
Ready to apply? Here you can view an example of a previous application form, to help guide you through the process. Please note, you must apply to both SCIP for funding and your chosen university by the advertised SCIP deadline.
We strongly encourage you to contact both programme leads and SCIP early to help shape a strong application that aligns with both requirements. You don’t need to choose a local or employer-linked university, so take time to find the partner course that best fits your goals, work, and life. Please do note that full-time study alongside full-time work is not permitted.
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