Isobel Johnston

Isobel Johnston is a Research Fellow in Criminology at the University of Manchester. She currently works as a Research Associate on the NIHR-funded ADVANCE programme, a digital perpetrator intervention project aimed at reducing domestic abuse by men who misuse substances. In this role, she collaborates with colleagues across the Universities of Manchester, Kings College London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff to collect and analyze data from men serving community sentences and their current or ex-partners.

Her primary research interests focus on improving forensic mental health care and outcomes of offending behaviour interventions, with particular emphasis on therapeutic relationships between clinicians and service users. More broadly, she specializes in qualitative methodologies and innovative approaches to involving experts by experience in research design, analysis, and co-production. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.

Ms. Johnston has extensive experience leading process evaluations on complex multi-site intervention studies, including the NIHR-funded EDITION (enhancing de-escalation techniques in adult acute and forensic services) and TULIPS (Talk, understand, listen in inpatient settings) projects. Her research profile shows consistent publication output with articles appearing as recently as 2025.

• Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (Division of Forensic Psychology)

She completed her Master in Science in Forensic Psychology and Mental Health at the University of Manchester in July 2022. Prior to and during her academic studies, she gained practical experience across acute, PICU and forensic inpatient psychiatric settings and substance detoxification centres where she worked in support roles.