Michael Smith

Michael Smith is a Professor and Head of Research & Knowledge Exchange in the Department of Psychology at Northumbria University. He holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Western Australia (2010) and has postdoctoral experience at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Curtin University. His research focuses on the psycho(bio)logical causes/consequences of stress, development of stress-alleviation techniques (e.g., expressive writing), and behavior change models.

Key research interests include stress management, wellbeing promotion, and sustainable energy behavior modification. Recent work explores dietary influences on mood and the efficacy of expressive writing interventions in healthcare professionals. Supervision includes PhD candidate Sarah Chalhoub studying menopause-related psychological risks.

Notable collaborations include studies on nitric oxide metabolism, teacher burnout interventions, and youth offending service adaptations for communication-impaired offenders. He has published widely in journals like PLoS One, Nutrients, and Psychology & Health, with a focus on translating psychological research into practical tools for mental health improvement.