I was formerly Director of Postgraduate Professional Training in Educational Psychology at Strathclyde University and an Honorary Professor, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh from 2013-15. Currently, I supervise PhD students in the Schools of Psychological Sciences and Health and Eduation and am involved in research and editorial work. I am an Associate Editor of the British Journal of Educational Psychology and a member of the Editorial Boards of Cogent Education and Frontiers in Special Educational Needs (Open Access). Before joining the University of Strathclyde, I worked as an Educational Psychologist in two local authority services for 12 years. I was awarded the 2011 prize for best research paper of the year by the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, and an award in 2016 from Mental Health and Physical Activity for most highly-cited research. 

My research interests include language impairment (both identification and intervention), the effects of computer games and exercise upon executive functions, bully-victim problems in schools and in the work-place, psychometrics, and the practice of educational psychology.

I have directed large-scale externally-funded RCTs and have expertise in the analysis of cohort data, systematic review and meta-analysis and the evaluation of educational programmes. I have also co-authored and standardised published language tests and am a former member of the British Psychological Society's Committee for Test Standards.

My teaching interests include research methods, developmental psychology and the practice of educational psychology.