Anna Whittaker

Professor Anna Whittaker is a Professor of Behavioural Medicine at the University of Stirling's Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport. Her expertise spans stress, aging, physical activity, and immunity, with a focus on their interplay in health outcomes. She holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham (2005) and has led major grants like the GOALD project and the PANINI European Commission initiative. Recognized internationally, she has received awards including the American Psychosomatic Society's Early Career Award and the British Psychological Society's Fellowship. Her research emphasizes interventions to mitigate frailty and promote healthy aging through multidisciplinary approaches. She actively engages in public outreach, including the Stirling Science Festival, and has mentored over 11 early-stage researchers via the PANINI ITN program.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology, University of Birmingham (2005)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Birmingham (2006–2010)
• Research Councils UK Fellowship (2006–2011)

Research Interests:

• Cardiovascular Psychophysiology and Stress Reactivity
• Psychoneuroimmunology and Inflammation
• Frailty and Physical Activity in Aging Populations
• Digital Interventions for Health Promotion

Her work integrates behavioral, physiological, and biomedical factors to develop preventive strategies for age-related health decline.

Awards & Recognition:

• Herbert Weiner Early Career Award (2010)
• Neal Miller Early Career Award (2010)
• Fellow of the British Psychological Society (2016)
• Wall of Fame Research Culture Awards (2024)

Grants & Projects:

• Generating Older Active Lives Digitally (GOALD) – Co-Led (2020–2024)
• PANINI Marie Curie ITN – Project Lead (2016–2020)
• SPARKLE Group: Behavioral Impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults

She has secured over £2M in funding for aging-related research.

Teaching & Mentorship:

• Director of Postgraduate Research Studies at University of Stirling
• External Examiner for 10+ universities including University College London and University of Sydney
• Recipient of multiple mentoring awards (2022–2024)

Labs & Collaborations:

• SPARKLE Group – Focus on social and behavioral health in aging
• International collaborations with 20+ institutions via PANINI ITN

Her work bridges academia, industry, and third-sector partners to maximize societal impact.