Menu Close
Senior Investigator Scientist, University of Cambridge

Amy Ahern is a Senior Investigator Scientist in the MRC Epidemiology Unit and Deputy Programme Leader for the Prevention of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders group. Her research focuses on the development and evaluation of behavioural interventions for weight management in adults, to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes and related risk factors. Much of this work focuses on increasing the scalability of effective behavioural programmes by using trained non-specialists and eHealth technology to deliver them. Amy is also interested in understanding more about the determinants of weight loss and weight loss maintenance in order to improve the long term efficacy of existing behavioural programmes and to develop new ones.
Amy was awarded a PhD in Psychology from the University of Liverpool in 2008 and went on to complete postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford Centre for Research on Eating Disorders (2008-2009) and the MRC Human Nutrition Research Unit (2009-2016).

Amy is the Treasurer of the UK Association for the Study of Obesity and co-chair of the East of England regional group. She is also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool Institute of Psychology Health and Society.

Experience

  • 2016–present
    Senior Investigator Scientist, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge
  • 2009–2016
    Investigator Scientist, MRC Human Nutrition Research
  • 2008–2009
    Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Oxford

Education

  • 2008 
    University of Liverpool, PhD Psychology
  • 2004 
    University of Liverpool, MSc Research Methods
  • 2003 
    University of Liverpool, BSc Psychology and Health Sciences

Professional Memberships

  • Association for the Study of Obesity
  • UK Society for Behavioural Medicine