Emma Beard

Dr. Emma Beard is a Lecturer (Teaching) in Statistics and Quantitative Methods at University College London's Department of Epidemiology & Public Health. She holds a PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health (2011) and has expertise in medical statistics, having earned Graduate Statistician Status (2014). Her academic journey includes roles as Principal Research Fellow and Senior Research Associate across UCL departments. Her research focuses on public health, particularly smoking cessation, alcohol use, and behavioral health interventions.

Dr. Beard's work includes establishing the Alcohol Toolkit Study—a collaborative national surveillance initiative—and advising policy bodies like NICE and ASH. She has contributed to studies on tobacco tax impacts, digital health tools (e.g., Smoke Free app), and the effects of e-cigarette policies. Her fellowship from the NIHR SPHR (2014) underscores her commitment to translational research.

• Education:
  • BSc Experimental Psychology (University of Bristol, 2007)
  • MSc Health Psychology (King's College London, 2008)
  • PhD Epidemiology & Public Health (UCL, 2011)
  • MSc Medical Statistics (2014)

Her research spans clinical psychology, health services, and epidemiology, with a focus on policy-relevant outcomes. Recent projects include evaluating regional tobacco programs and analyzing the pandemic's impact on health behaviors. She also engages with public health advocacy, including roles with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Grants and Collaborations: Dr. Beard's work is supported by interdisciplinary collaborations, including the HEBECO study on pandemic health behaviors and the Smoking and Alcohol Toolkit Study. Her research has informed policy decisions on tobacco packaging, e-cigarette regulation, and alcohol reduction strategies.