Zoe Darwin

Zoe Darwin is a Reader in Health Research at the University of Huddersfield, School of Human and Health Sciences, Department of Allied Health Professions, Sport and Exercise. She is also a member of the Centre for Applied Research in Health and holds an adjunct faculty position at Manipal Academy of Higher Education. She joined the University of Huddersfield in 2020, having previously worked at the University of Leeds and the University of York. She is accepting PhD students and actively supervises postgraduate researchers.

• University: University of Huddersfield
• School: School of Human and Health Sciences
• Department: Department of Allied Health Professions, Sport and Exercise
• Position: Reader in Health Research
• Adjunct Role: Adjunct Faculty, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
• Professional Affiliation: Chartered Member, British Psychological Society

Her educational background includes training in Applied Health Research, though specific degrees are not listed. She is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society, indicating advanced professional recognition in psychology.

Zoe Darwin's research focuses on the psychosocial aspects of reproduction, with a strong emphasis on perinatal mental health and wellbeing across all parents, including LGBTQ+ individuals, minoritised groups, and fathers. Her work spans maternal and paternal health, trauma in birth, post-traumatic growth, coercive control, and global maternal health, particularly in Nepal. She is committed to applied research that influences policy and practice. Her methodological expertise includes qualitative research, mixed methods, randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, and scoping reviews.

Her recent publications highlight a strong trend toward inclusivity, equity, and global health. Themes include LGBTQ+ experiences in perinatal care, mental health inequalities, pandemic impacts on maternity services, co-design in low-resource settings, and the role of non-gestational parents. She frequently collaborates on multi-site studies and contributes to policy-relevant research, including commissioned reports on reducing inequalities in perinatal mental health care.

Zoe Darwin is actively involved in scholarly service, including:

• Committee member, Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology
• Editorial board member, Birth and Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
• Special advisor, Editorial Board for Baby Buddy

She has supervised numerous PhD projects on topics such as midwife-father communication, weight management in pregnancy, body image, traumatic birth, perinatal mental health in co-mothers, and maternal health in Nepal. She has secured and contributed to research grants, including projects on inequalities in perinatal mental health care, the COSI trial (Circle of Security Intervention), and Ready to Relate. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. She also engages in public outreach through podcasts, media interviews, and public talks on fatherhood and perinatal mental health.

Zoe Darwin is involved in research networks and collaborations, particularly with institutions in the UK and Nepal. She contributes to knowledge translation through public engagement, policy reports, and editorial work. Her research team includes collaborators from psychology, midwifery, public health, and global health disciplines.