Research Community

Professor Gavin Oxburgh is Professor of Police Science and Assistant Director of The Northern Hub for Veteran and Military Familes Research with a focus on the Criminal Justice research agenda. Gavin is a 22 year Veteran of HM Royal Air Force Police where he was a senior detective specialising in child protection and sexual offences. He is an HCPC Registered Forensic Psychologist, a Chartered Psychologist and Scientist, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, the Royal Society of the Arts and the UK Higher Education Academy. Gavin's research draws upon, and contributes to, the broad area of military Veterans' research, together with legal and criminological psychology including: international human rights, the prevention of torture, ethical and non-coercive interviewing, false and recovered memories, and (cyber) crime in the cloud.

Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith is a Professor within the Edinburgh Napier Business School and is the founder and Director of the Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement, also at Edinburgh Napier university. Gerri is also the lead for the new Scottish Armed Forces Evidence and Research (SAFE&R) Hub and the University Research Lead for Military Research. Gerri’s research work rests within three key disciplines: human and organisational development, management, and wellbeing.

Professor Glyn Howatson is an Army Veteran and is currently a Professor in Human and Applied Physiology. His research interests predominantly lie in optimising human performance (from clinical populations to elite athletes). He focuses on understanding the stress-recovery-adaptation continuum using training and nutritional interventions to manipulate human physiology. His work has encompassed the interaction of bio-psych-social factors influencing the human condition and the sex differences affecting human performance.

Professor John Brewer is a Professor of Post Conflict Studies and Senior Fellow at The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast. Professor Brewer has extensive research experience into Veteran transition and most recently worked on two FiMT-funded projects examining the impact of counter-insurgency warfare on the post-conflict reintegration of UK Armed Forces personnel. He recently researched the negative transitioning experiences of British Armed forces ex-personnel including those who have been in prison, homeless or received mental health support. Current research interests includes analysis of online extremism, including the susceptibility of some Veterans to become involved in extreme networks, and methods to prevent this.

Professor Jonathan Bisson served in the British Army and is now a practising Psychiatrist and Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at Cardiff University. He is the Director of Traumatic Stress Wales and Health for Health Professionals, and Deputy Director of the National Centre for Mental Health. Jonathan was co-chair of the UK’s first PTSD NICE Guideline Development Group and chair of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies’ Treatment Guidelines Committee. He developed and continues to lead Cardiff University’s Traumatic Stress Research Group. He also developed and was the first director of NHS Veterans Wales and Health and Care Research Wales. Jonathan is particularly passionate about developing and evaluating effective new treatments to treat PTSD and/or following traumatic events that can be implemented into clinical practice.

Professor Lisa Scullion is Professor of Social Policy and Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Inclusive Society at the University of Salford. Lisa has delivered over 60 research projects, with a commitment to the importance of qualitative inquiry for shaping policy and practice. Lisa’s work focuses specifically on understanding the impact of UK welfare reforms. This includes leading a ground-breaking five-year FiMT funded study called Sanctions, Support & Service Leavers. This is the first in depth UK research to explore Veterans’ experiences of the social security system and has been supporting the Department for Work and Pensions in developing their work related to the Armed Forces community. Lisa is a member of the Ministry of Defence Recovery Expert Advisory Board and the Office for Veterans Affairs Academic Advisory Board, and the Centre for Evidence for the Armed Forces Community Advisory Board.