I graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 1992 with BSc (Hons) degree in Mathematical Sciences. I then went on to do a PhD at Strathclyde, in Mathematics and Statistics. I was awarded my PhD in 1996 and my thesis was entitled: Listeria monocytogenes in Silage: A mathematical modelling approach. Following my PhD, I started my career as a Risk Assessor with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). The VLA was an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the United Kingdom Government. It is now named the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). I was  employed with APHA on a part-time basis until 2023. During my time at VLA/APHA I  developed and managed many veterinary and public health risk assessment and mathematical modelling projects relating to, for example, bovine tuberculosis, bovine brucellosis, foot and mouth diseease, bluetongue, camplyobacter, salmonella, rabies, avian influenza and COVID-19. I worked as an expert for the World Health Organisation, The food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, the European Food Safety Authority  and European Animal Health Office. I  also ran numerous risk assessment courses in, for example, the United States, China, Thailand and Europe.

In 2002, I returned to the University of Strathclyde as a Lecturer in Statistics whilst maintaining my research links with VLA/APHA through a joint appointment. Since 2020 my main area of research has been focused on higher education outcomes and their association with deprivation and other equality characteristics. I am particularly interested in the effects of Widening Access measures.