Dr Jessica Gates

Research Fellow – SKIM

Dr Jessica Gates, ARC NENC Research Fellow (SKIM)

Northumbria University

Jess is a Research Fellow at Northumbria University, with a background in Psychology (BSc) and Health Psychology (MSc). During her time at Northumbria University and in previous non-academic roles, Jess developed an interest in health services research and the health workforce. In 2019 she began working in the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health as a research assistant and through the support of colleagues, and then began her PhD which she completed in 2024.

Her PhD research explored workforce perceptions of the establishment of primary care networks during the COVID-19 pandemic. This PhD research cemented her interest in health systems and complexity.

Jess is experienced in several methods through engaging in continuous research assistant work throughout her PhD, however, is most passionate about qualitative research and co-design approaches.

She has explored a diverse range of topics to date including primary care networks; ageing and digital exclusion; military widowhood and peer support; fatigue in the healthcare workforce; NHS access and consultation experiences of the deaf community; and hydration education in care home settings.

Jess also has a personal interest in bringing an applied health perspective to the rare disease space, namely a group of rare eye conditions known as ‘MACS’ conditions (microphthalmia, anophthalmia and coloboma) and is working towards addressing an evidence gap in this area.

In her role as an ARC Fellow, Jess is excited to use research and knowledge in innovative ways, to improve health and care across the North East and North Cumbria region, and use SKIM principles to support colleagues within and across the ARCs.

Her plans over the coming years are to develop a strong programme of research in implementations science and knowledge mobilisation, that will help drive these several of these topics forward.

`Areas of interest 

  • Implementation science and knowledge mobilisation
  • Applied qualitative health research
  • Complex health systems
  • The NHS workforce
  • Marginalised groups and experiences of NHS access and consultation
  • Applied health perspectives to rare disease research

Recent or relevant publications 

  • Osborne, A.K., Wilson-Menzfeld, G., Mann, E., & Gates, J. (2024). Integration of research into EMDR practice / Exploration of methods. In: Kiernan, M. D., Schubert, S, & Farrell, D (Eds.), Oxford Handbook in EMDR Therapy. London, Oxford University Press.
  • Wilson, G., Gates, J. R., Vijaykumar, S., & Morgan, D. J. (2023). Understanding older adults’ use of social technology and the factors influencing use. Ageing & Society, 43(1), 222-245.
  • Wilson-Menzfeld, G., Gates, J. R., Moreland, M., Raw, H., & Johnson, A. (2023). Learning digital skills online: empowering older adults through one-to-one, online digital training provision. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1545.
  • Marston, H. R., Morgan, D. J., Wilson-Menzfeld, G., Gates, J., Maddock, C. A., Philips, J., … & Nicholson, J. (2023). Employing citizen science to understand the contemporary needs of older adults accessing and using technology in a pandemic. In Routledge International Handbook of Participatory Approaches in Ageing Research (pp. 390-401). Routledge.
  • Gates, J. R. and G. Wilson-Menzfeld (2022). “What Role Does Geragogy Play in the Delivery of Digital Skills Programs for Middle and Older Age Adults? A Systematic Narrative Review.” Journal of Applied Gerontology: 07334648221091236.

 

Get in touch

Email:  Jessica.gates@northumbria.ac.uk
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8934-025X

X: @jessravengates