Dr Laura J Wilde

PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), AFHEA, CPsychol

I am an ARC Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford and a Chartered Psychologist with expertise in applied health research, qualitative and mixed-methods research, co-production, and behavioural science.

My work focuses on understanding people's experiences of health and healthcare and translating those insights into practical improvements in services, interventions and policy.

I am particularly interested in healthy ageing, multiple long-term conditions, health inequalities, implementation, and co-produced approaches to improving health and care.
Headshot of Laura Wilde
Laura Wilde

What Drives My Work

Throughout my career, I have been fascinated by how people experience health and healthcare in everyday life.

Whether exploring the use of digital health technologies, supporting people living with long-term conditions, or working with communities to co-design services, my aim is always the same: to ensure research is meaningful, inclusive and useful to the people it is intended to benefit.

I believe that the most impactful research happens when researchers work alongside patients, communities and practitioners as partners.

Research Areas of Expertise

Research Topics:

  • Healthy ageing
  • Multiple long-term conditions
  • Behavioural science
  • Health inequalities
  • Digital health
  • Self-management
  • Co-production and PPIE
  • Implementation and impact

Research Approaches:

  • Qualitative research
  • Mixed methods
  • Creative and participatory methods
  • Intervention development
  • Knowledge mobilisation

Research Themes

Healthy Ageing and Multiple Long-Term Conditions

My current research focuses on improving health and wellbeing for people living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs). As an ARC Postdoctoral Researcher within the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Thames Valley Age Well Theme at the University of Oxford, I contribute to research that aims to support healthy ageing, address health inequalities, and improve care for older adults. I am particularly interested in understanding how research can be translated into meaningful changes in services, interventions, and policy that make a difference in people's everyday lives.

Co-Production, Participation and Wellbeing

A key feature of my work is collaborating with patients, communities and stakeholders throughout the research process. I have worked on projects using co-production and participatory approaches to ensure that research is shaped by the people it is designed to benefit. Most recently, I contributed to the SPLASH project, which explored the development of social prescribing approaches to support wellbeing for people living with bronchiectasis. Through this work, I have developed a strong interest in how creative, community-based and person-centred approaches can improve health and wellbeing.

Digital Health and Self-Management

My research has explored how people use digital technologies to support self-management of long-term health conditions. Through my doctoral and postdoctoral work, I investigated the experiences of people with COPD using wearable activity monitors and worked with patients and healthcare professionals to co-create practical resources, such as the COPD and Smartwatches website, to support the use of digital technologies in everyday life. This research highlighted both the opportunities and challenges associated with digital health and strengthened my interest in ensuring technology is accessible, meaningful and grounded in people's lived experiences.

Healthcare Improvement and Workforce Development

I am interested in understanding how evidence can be embedded into practice and how healthcare services can support high-quality care. My research has contributed to evaluations of healthcare improvement initiatives, including work examining the impact of Professional Nurse Advocates on healthcare services and patient outcomes. These experiences have reinforced my interest in implementation, workforce development and the factors that influence whether innovations are successfully adopted in real-world settings.

Education & Qualifications

  • PhD, Coventry University
  • MSc Health Psychology, University of Southampton
  • BSc Psychology, University of Winchester
  • Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol)
  • Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

Collaboration

I enjoy working collaboratively with researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, public contributors, community organisations and policy stakeholders.

I welcome opportunities relating to:

  • Research collaborations
  • Grant and fellowship applications
  • Co-production and PPIE activities
  • Qualitative and mixed-methods research
  • Public engagement and knowledge mobilisation
  • Teaching, training and guest lectures

If you are interested in exploring potential collaborations, I'd be delighted to hear from you. Contact me!

University of Winchester Graduation
University of Winchester Graduation

Researcher Development

Alongside my academic work, I support postgraduate students and researchers through coaching, mentoring and academic development.

I particularly enjoy helping researchers build confidence, navigate qualitative research, develop their careers and maintain wellbeing while pursuing ambitious goals.

Whether you're beginning a PhD, facing challenges during your research journey or preparing for the next stage of your career, I offer tailored support to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.

Learn More About My Coaching Services

Laura Wilde Graduation Coaching
Coventry University Graduation

Get in touch...

I am passionate about learning, teaching, and collaborating with others who share my interest in health, psychology, and technology. Feel free to reach out if you’re interested in working together, need guidance, or simply want to chat about our shared interests.

The views expressed on this website are that of Laura Wilde not those of any other individual or organisation.