![Hope Snell PhD](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/9014?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Behavioural Research UK (BR-UK) and the DECIPHer Centre here at Cardiff University. My research focuses on understanding the behavioural factors that influence health and wellbeing across the life course.
I hold a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Neuroimaging from Bangor University, where I developed a strong interest in the mechanisms underlying human behaviour and decision-making. I went on to complete a PhD by Published Works in Medicine at Swansea University, based on a portfolio of 15 peer-reviewed research articles in the field of maternal and child health.
My doctoral work reflects my leading role in the first national birth cohort for Wales, Born in Wales, which explored the early-life determinants of health and development. My interdisciplinary background spans psychology, neuroscience, and public health, and I am particularly interested in how behavioural research can inform policies and interventions to improve outcomes for families and communities.
Publication
2025
- Locke, A. et al., 2025. Impacts of global school feeding programmes on children’s health and wellbeing outcomes: A scoping review. BMJ Open 15 e093244. (10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093244)
2024
- Jones, H. et al. 2024. Investigating methods of sharing data between police, health, education, and social services: Semi-structured interviews with police service areas in Wales. Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles 97 (4), pp.731-741. (10.1177/0032258X231220864)
- Locke, A. et al., 2024. Cohort profile: Health and Attainment of Pupils in a Primary Education National Cohort (HAPPEN) – a hybrid total population cohort in Wales, UK. BMJ Open 14 e088721. (10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088721)
- Seaborne, M. et al., 2024. Mother and Infant Research Electronic Data Analysis (MIREDA): A protocol for creating a common data model for federated analysis of UK birth cohorts and the life course. International Journal of Population Data Science 9 (2) 09. (10.23889/ijpds.v9i2.2406)
- Avery, F. et al., 2024. A systematic review of non-clinician trauma based interventions for school-age youth. Plos One 19 (9) e0293248.
- Jones, H. E. et al. 2024. Echogenic intracardiac foci detection and location in the second-trimester ultrasound and association with fetal outcomes: A systematic literature review. PLoS ONE 19 (4) e0298365. (10.1371/journal.pone.0298365)
2023
- Mhereeg, M. et al., 2023. COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy: the impact of multimorbidity and smoking status on vaccine hesitancy, a cohort study of 25,111 women in Wales, UK. BMC Infectious Diseases 23 594. (10.1186/s12879-023-08555-8)
- Jones, H. et al. 2023. Breastfeeding initiation and duration through the COVID-19 pandemic, a linked population-level routine data study: the Born in Wales Cohort 2018–2021. BMJ Paediatrics Open 7 (1) e001907. (10.1136/bmjpo-2023-001907)
- Bandyopadhyay, A. et al., 2023. Weighting of risk factors for low birth weight: a linked routine data cohort study in Wales, UK. BMJ Open 13 (2) e063836. (10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063836)
2022
- Mhereeg, M. et al., 2022. COVID‑19 vaccination in pregnancy: views and vaccination uptake rates in pregnancy, a mixed methods analysis from SAIL and the Born‑In‑Wales Birth Cohort. BMC Infectious Diseases 22 (932)(10.1186/s12879-022-07856-8)
- Jones, H. et al. 2022. Population birth outcomes in 2020 and experiences of expectant mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a ‘born in Wales’ mixed methods study using routine data. PLoS ONE 17 (5) e0267176. (10.1371/journal.pone.0267176)
2021
- James, M. et al., 2021. Factors influencing wellbeing in young people during COVID-19: A survey with 6291 young people in Wales. Plos One 16 (12) e0260640. (10.1371/journal.pone.0260640)
Articles
- Locke, A. et al., 2025. Impacts of global school feeding programmes on children’s health and wellbeing outcomes: A scoping review. BMJ Open 15 e093244. (10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093244)
- Jones, H. et al. 2024. Investigating methods of sharing data between police, health, education, and social services: Semi-structured interviews with police service areas in Wales. Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles 97 (4), pp.731-741. (10.1177/0032258X231220864)
- Locke, A. et al., 2024. Cohort profile: Health and Attainment of Pupils in a Primary Education National Cohort (HAPPEN) – a hybrid total population cohort in Wales, UK. BMJ Open 14 e088721. (10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088721)
- Seaborne, M. et al., 2024. Mother and Infant Research Electronic Data Analysis (MIREDA): A protocol for creating a common data model for federated analysis of UK birth cohorts and the life course. International Journal of Population Data Science 9 (2) 09. (10.23889/ijpds.v9i2.2406)
- Avery, F. et al., 2024. A systematic review of non-clinician trauma based interventions for school-age youth. Plos One 19 (9) e0293248.
- Jones, H. E. et al. 2024. Echogenic intracardiac foci detection and location in the second-trimester ultrasound and association with fetal outcomes: A systematic literature review. PLoS ONE 19 (4) e0298365. (10.1371/journal.pone.0298365)
- Mhereeg, M. et al., 2023. COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy: the impact of multimorbidity and smoking status on vaccine hesitancy, a cohort study of 25,111 women in Wales, UK. BMC Infectious Diseases 23 594. (10.1186/s12879-023-08555-8)
- Jones, H. et al. 2023. Breastfeeding initiation and duration through the COVID-19 pandemic, a linked population-level routine data study: the Born in Wales Cohort 2018–2021. BMJ Paediatrics Open 7 (1) e001907. (10.1136/bmjpo-2023-001907)
- Bandyopadhyay, A. et al., 2023. Weighting of risk factors for low birth weight: a linked routine data cohort study in Wales, UK. BMJ Open 13 (2) e063836. (10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063836)
- Mhereeg, M. et al., 2022. COVID‑19 vaccination in pregnancy: views and vaccination uptake rates in pregnancy, a mixed methods analysis from SAIL and the Born‑In‑Wales Birth Cohort. BMC Infectious Diseases 22 (932)(10.1186/s12879-022-07856-8)
- Jones, H. et al. 2022. Population birth outcomes in 2020 and experiences of expectant mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a ‘born in Wales’ mixed methods study using routine data. PLoS ONE 17 (5) e0267176. (10.1371/journal.pone.0267176)
- James, M. et al., 2021. Factors influencing wellbeing in young people during COVID-19: A survey with 6291 young people in Wales. Plos One 16 (12) e0260640. (10.1371/journal.pone.0260640)
Research
My research interests centre on health and wellbeing across the life course. I am particularly interested in the factors that shape health trajectories from pregnancy and early childhood through to adulthood, including social, behavioural, psychological, and environmental influences.
I have a strong interest in human decision-making and behaviour, especially in how individuals and families make choices that affect their health and wellbeing. This includes understanding the cognitive and social processes that underpin these decisions, as well as the contextual factors—such as policy, community, and culture—that shape them.
Another key area of my work involves the evaluation of interventions and public health programmes aimed at improving health outcomes. I am committed to applying rigorous behavioural and population research methods to assess what works, for whom, and in what contexts, with the goal of informing evidence-based practice and policy.
Biography
Education:
PhD by Published Works in Medicine - Swansea University
MSc Neuroimaging (Distinction) - Bangor University
BSc Psychology (First Class Honours) - Bangor University
Career Overview:
Postdoctoral Research Associate - 2025-present
Research Assistant - 2020-2025
Research Intern - 2017-2018
Professional memberships
Graduate Member of The British Psychological Society
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Health and wellbeing
- behavioural psychology and neuroscience