Julia Jones

Professor Julia Jones is a leading academic in public involvement and health at the University of Hertfordshire's School of Health and Social Work. She holds a Professorship in the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care (CRIPACC), leading the Public Involvement and Engagement in Health and Care research unit. Her career includes a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Verona (2003-2005) and prior roles at City, University of London (2005-2016). She co-leads the NIHR-funded PHIRST CONNECT team and multiple mental health studies, including the READY Trial and MINDS study. Her research focuses on patient/public involvement (PPI), mental health of youth, physical health in mental illness, and psychosocial support for kidney disease patients.

• PhD in Health Geography (university unspecified)
• Marie Curie Fellowship at University of Verona
• NIHR Programme Development Grant Co-Lead (creative methods for learning disabilities/autism)
• NIHR grants for READY Trial (youth depression intervention) and MOODMAPS (renal depression management)

Research interests emphasize PPI, youth mental health, and interdisciplinary healthcare collaboration. She supervises PhD students and collaborates with local NHS trusts, councils, and charities like Live Life. External roles include Honorary Research Fellow positions at City, University of London and University of Verona.

Her projects span societal adaptations post-pandemic digitalization (Bootstrap project), young people's research advisory groups (YPAG), and kidney disease care improvements (EDNA study). She co-leads the Creative Learning Abilities Partnerships (CLAN) project addressing autism and social care needs.

Publications highlight boundary spanning in mental healthcare, workplace wellbeing in SMEs, and depression management in chronic illnesses. She actively engages service users/carers through the Service User and Public Involvement Group (SUPI).