Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien serves as a Postdoctoral Teaching Associate in the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Birmingham (2019), an MSc in Sport and Health Sciences from the University of Exeter (2013), and a BSc in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the same institution (2012).

Her research centers on the intersection of sport psychology, health psychology, and applied behavioral science, with particular focus on sedentary behavior interventions in chronic disease populations. Key areas include rheumatoid arthritis management, motivational psychology in physical activity, and nature-based therapeutic approaches for elderly populations. Her methodological expertise spans both qualitative and quantitative psychological research.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent thematic focus on behavioral epidemiology in inflammatory conditions, with growing emphasis on nature-based interventions since 2023. Her work demonstrates strong collaboration with European rheumatology consortia (IMPACT-RMD, BIOFLARE) and interdisciplinary teams spanning psychology, rehabilitation science, and public health.

• Young Investigators Award (2019)

Dr. O'Brien maintains active research dissemination through invited talks at academic conferences, with recent presentations on nature conservation interventions for older adults (April 2024) and project findings (October 2024). Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and wellbeing, with significant online engagement evidenced by Mendeley readership and social media mentions across multiple research outputs. Current research appears focused on translating behavioral findings into clinical practice through reliability studies and longitudinal intervention designs.