Nicola Cogan

Nicola Cogan is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Strathclyde, holding an Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist position with NHS Lanarkshire since joining the university in October 2017. With over 15 years of NHS experience specializing in trauma-informed practice for first responders and frontline workers, she bridges clinical expertise with academic research in mental health systems.

Her educational qualifications include:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Strathclyde (2021)
• Doctor of Clinical Psychology, University of Edinburgh (2007)
• PhD in Psychological Science, University of Glasgow (2003)
• MA (Hons) Psychology (1st class), University of Glasgow (1997)

Dr. Cogan's research centers on mental health, psychotraumatology, and wellbeing within applied health contexts, with specific focus on trauma-exposed occupational groups including paramedics, military veterans, and students. She actively develops digital mental health interventions and explores AI applications in trauma care, employing psychometrics, mixed methods, and participatory co-production approaches through the International Recovery and Citizenship Collective (Yale Medical School).

Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strategic shift toward digital solutions for occupational mental health, particularly AI-enhanced trauma management tools for first responders. Concurrently, she leads significant work on student mental health in UK higher education and vaccine uptake behaviors, characterized by rigorous mixed-methods designs and stakeholder co-creation across 167 research outputs.

Key recognitions include:

• Best conference poster Prize (2023)
• BPS/POST award (2002)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

As an active PhD supervisor, she leads projects including £62,000-funded Sentinel digital trauma intervention (2022-2025) and co-investigates 'Insecure Employment and Suicide in Scotland'. Her 42 projects (7 active, 29 completed) demonstrate substantial grant capture and implementation focus, particularly in NHS and justice settings.

She collaborates internationally through the Yale-affiliated International Recovery and Citizenship Collective and serves as External Examiner for University of Edinburgh and Glasgow (from 2024), driving trauma-informed practice implementation across health, justice, and educational systems.