معرفی
Dr Robyn Jackowich is a Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Cardiff University, specializing in clinical and health psychology with a unified focus on sexual and reproductive health. Since 2023 she has held this faculty position, having previously completed a post-doctoral Research Associate role at Newcastle University (2022–2023).
Education
- PhD, Clinical Psychology – Queen’s University, Canada (2022)
- Clinical Psychology Residency (Health-Rehabilitation Track), The Ottawa Hospital, Canada (2022)
- MSc, Clinical Psychology – Queen’s University, Canada (2016)
- BA, Psychology – University of British Columbia, Canada (2010)
Research Interests
Dr Jackowich’s programme applies biopsychosocial theory to understand sexual and reproductive health concerns and their effects on mental health, relationships, and daily functioning. Her work is organised around three pillars: (1) clarifying the nature and impact of conditions such as persistent genital arousal disorder/genito-pelvic dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD), severe period pain, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder; (2) evaluating and improving healthcare access and equity, with recent focus on postnatal contraceptive care; and (3) developing person-centred interventions and resources informed by stakeholders and lived-experience collaborators.
Publication Landscape
Across 30+ peer-reviewed outputs, her scholarship spans epidemiological surveys, psychometric validation studies, mixed-methods investigations, and knowledge-translation campaigns. Themes include the prevalence and correlates of PGAD/GPD, fear-avoidance mechanisms in genito-pelvic pain, psychosocial sequelae of vestibulodynia, and digital group interventions for pelvic floor education. Collaborative work also explores COVID-19 impacts on sexual adjustment and dyspareunia.
Scientific Awards & Honours
- Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal (2023)
- Andrew McGhie Prize for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis (2023)
- Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Awards – Doctoral & Masters levels
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2017-2020)
- ISSWSH Scholars Grant & Young Investigator Awards
Funding & Supervision
She is principal investigator on a 2023 Health and Care Research Wales grant (£269,577) investigating severe period pain management in primary care and a UKRI MRC Impact Acceleration grant (£49,220) digitising endometriosis symptom reporting. Dr Jackowich welcomes PhD applicants interested in sexual health, reproductive psychology, and mixed-methods health-services research.
Laboratory & Collaborative Networks
She is an active member of Cardiff’s Fertility Studies Research Group and maintains international collaborations with clinicians, policymakers, and patient-advocacy groups to co-produce research that bridges psychology, medicine, and public health.
