Rachel Lewis

Rachel Lewis is a Reader in Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck Business School, University of London, working part-time in a job-share arrangement with Dr. Jo Yarker. She specializes in work, health, and well-being, particularly focusing on stress and mental health in high-stress occupations. She co-directs the Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology and MRes in Professional Practice, both dual-accredited by the BPS and HCPC. Her research addresses workplace resilience, leadership development, and absence management, funded by organizations like HSE, CIPD, and Cancer Research UK. She is a Director of Affinity Health at Work, a consultancy/research group.

Education:

• PhD, University of London, 2010

Research Interests: Rachel’s work explores how individuals manage stress in demanding roles, with a focus on evidence-based interventions. Her research encompasses workplace mental health, teleworking dynamics, distributed worker safety, and leadership competencies for well-being. Recent projects include developing tools for return-to-work strategies and evaluating flexible work policies.

Articles Trends: Her publications emphasize practical applications of psychology in organizational settings, with recent themes including remote work challenges, leadership mindfulness, and gender equity in leadership roles. Collaborations span academia and industry, translating research into actionable guidelines.

Awards:

• Excellence in Research (BPS DOP, 2020)
• Practitioner of the Year (BPS, 2014)
• Practitioner Book of the Year (BPS, 2014)

Advising & Grants: Supervised 5 doctoral students at Birkbeck and externally. Her consultancy work informs national policies on workplace well-being, including guidance for lone workers in rail and mental health interventions. She has secured funding from HSE, DWP, and ISOS Foundation.

Labs/Teams: Affinity Health at Work, Birkbeck Business School’s Occupational Psychology Group.