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Penny Woolnough is a Reader in Forensic and Investigative Psychology at Abertay University and Associate Director of the Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR), leading the Evidence and Investigation Network. Her research focuses on missing persons, crime investigation, vulnerable populations, and policing strategies. She pioneered behavioral profiling for missing persons cases, now used by UK police forces and international agencies. She holds HCPC registration as a Forensic Psychologist and advises the National Crime Agency. Notably, she contributed to Scotland’s first National Framework for Missing Persons and has advised over 100 high-profile cases globally.
Woolnough’s research has been recognized with awards like the ESRC Impact Prize (2015) and the Scottish Policing Award (2013). She has extensive media coverage and collaborates with Interpol, Police Scotland, and academic institutions. Her work emphasizes translating research into actionable policies, such as national e-learning tools for police. She chairs international conferences and supervises students across BSc, MSc, and PhD programs in forensic psychology and related fields.
Her funding includes SIPR/Abertay grants (e.g., a 2021-2024 PhD studentship on missing persons risk assessment tools) and ESRC projects like the 'Geographies of Missing People' initiative (2011–2014). Current research explores repeat missing adults, mental health linkages, and police use of social media in investigations.
