Skip to main content

Judith Eberhardt

Judith headshot

Dr Judith Eberhardt

Associate Professor of Psychology

What area does your research focus on?

My research is mainly in health psychology and public health. My research interests are broad, and include vaccine hesitancy, health behaviour change, the acceptability of and attitudes towards male hormonal contraception, and psychosocial aspects of long-term conditions. The main focus of my research, however, lies in psychosocial aspects of preventative health behaviours.  Through my work I aim to contribute towards helping people lead healthier, longer, and happier lives.

What are the other key aspects of your role?

I teach on the MSc Health Psychology. I supervise undergraduate and masters dissertations. I am director of studies for several PhD students and co-supervise many more. I also supervise professional doctorate students. I am Deputy Chair of the Psychology Research Ethics Committee. A member of the Centre for Applied Psychological Science, I am also deputy lead for Team Alpha, the Co-Producing Alcohol and Public Health Research theme of the Centre for Social Innovation at Teesside University.

I have links with other academics and practitioners both nationally and internationally. I am a founding member and board member of INRePAR, the International Network for Research into Psychosocial Adjustment and Rehabilitation, as well as a member of INEBRIA, the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol & Other Drugs. Furthermore, I am an associate member of Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, and CPIG, the Crisis and Pandemic Interest Group at Liverpool John Moores University.

Through my research, I have worked with community champions, local and national charities, and local authorities as part of community-focused, national, and international public health research. I am a Middlesbrough Council Health Champion and have conducted research in collaboration with organisations such as Public Health South Tees, Public Health England, Healthwatch, and James Cook University Hospital. My work has informed local public health campaigns.

I have received funding from regional and from national funding bodies and have been principal investigator and co-investigator on research projects funded by the NIHR Clinical Research Network, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, NIHR Public Health Research, Prostate Cancer UK, and Public Health England. I peer review for a variety of journals across psychology and public health.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I like to spend time with my family – I have three daughters. I play the oboe. I enjoy reading and listening to music.

What do you think you could particularly offer mentoring support with?
  • Research career planning/development.
  • Integrating impact into your research from the beginning.
  • Networking and collaboration.
  • Dealing with the challenges of developing your research career as a person of colour in a White-dominated research environment.