Dr Kai Thomas

(he/him)

BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, FHEA

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

Current Research

My research is focused on understanding the experiences of eating disorders in autistic, ADHD, and gender diverse populations, and how best to support these groups. Despite being at greatly increased risk for eating disorders (Amodeo et al., 2022; Christensen et al., 2019; Jones et al., 2016), neurodivergent and gender diverse people face significant barriers to accessing early and effective treatment and support (Babb et al., 2021; Joy et al., 2022). They also present with more severe eating disorder symptoms, more complex needs, and require more intensive support than individuals without one or more of these co-occurrences (Ferrucci et al., 2023; Li et al., 2022; Mensinger et al., 2020; Testa et al., 2020).

My Health and Care Research Wales Advanced Fellowship aims to improve our understanding, awareness, and recognition of eating disorders in autistic people, people with ADHD, and gender diverse people. We are working in partnership with Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity, as well as an advisory board of people with lived experience and specialist clinicians and academics. 

You can find out more about my research in a Full of Beans podcast episode I recorded here, with an accompanying blog post. Alongside my colleagues at Cardiff University and University of Edinburgh, we recently collaborated with Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity, to produce a research summary on eating disorders in transgender and non-binary people, which can be found here. 

How to get involved in our research

Keep up-to-date with our work by following our social media channels or contact us via our project email address: [email protected]

Collaborations

I am currently working on research projects alongside internal and external collaborators:

• Dr Catherine Jones, Cardiff University
• Dr Kate Cooper, University College London
• Dr Marc Williams, Cardiff University
• Dr Josie Henley, Cardiff University
• Jo Whitfield, Beat
• Umairah Malik, Beat
• Eleanor Speakman, Beat
• Dr Robyn Jackowich, Cardiff University
• Dr Amy Paine, Cardiff University
• Prof John Fox, University of Sheffield
• Prof Laura G. E. Smith, University of Bath
• Dr Annabel Burnley, University of Oxford
• Luka White, University of Edinburgh
• Kai Schweizer, University of Western Australia
• Laurence Cobbaert, University of New South Wales
• Dr Sam Chawner, Cardiff University
• Dr Fiona Duffy, University of Edinburgh
• Dr Emy Nimbley, University of Edinburgh

Funding

• Paine, A. L., Birdsey, N., Thomas, K. S., Martin, F., Walsh, L., & Mannello, M. (2026). Enhanding Paediatric Care Through Playful and Humourous Communication. UKRI Harmonised Impact Accelerator Award (Co-I).
• Thomas, K. S., Chapman, L., Downs, J., Carnegie, A., Maloney, E. (January 2026 – September 2026). Special Interest Group on Co-Producing Eating Disorder Research. Mental Health Research Incubator Seed Fund 2025 (PI).
• Jones, C. R. G., Fox, J., Thomas, K., Strange, H., McDonald, S., Langley, K., Williams, M., McNamara, R., Roestorf, A., Wetton, R. (2026-2027). Improving eating disorder services for autistic people and people with ADHD. NIHR PGfAR Programme Development Grant (Co-I).
• Thomas, K. S. (2024-2027). Improving awareness, understanding, and support for neurodivergent and gender diverse adults with eating disorders in Wales. Health and Care Research Wales Advanced Fellowship (PI).
• Gamerio, S., Morey, R., Thomas, K., Snow, K. (2024). FAIR Voices – Co-creating guidance to make qualitative data FAIR. Cardiff University Research Culture Fund (Co-I).
• Paine, A. L., Martin, F., Birdsey, N., & Thomas, K. (2023-2024). Supporting the Wellbeing of Children in Hospital with Humorous Play. UKRI Harmonised Impact Accelerator Award (Co-I).
• Thomas, K. S., Cooper, K., & Jones, C. R. G. (2023). The intersection of autistic and gender diverse identities in eating disorders: stakeholder engagement. Economic and Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Account: Rapid Response Fund (PI).
• Thomas, K. S. & Jones, C. R. G. (2023). The intersection of autism and gender diversity in eating disorders. Cardiff University Learning & Teaching Academy Summer Placement (PI).
• Paine, A. L., Robinson, C., Thomas, K., & Smilie, I. (2021-2022). Laughing all the Way to Better Wellbeing in Childhood. Innovation for All Civic Mission Fund (Co-I).
• Gambi, C., Paine, A. L., Thomas, K., Hughes, A., Langley, K., Jones, C., Gerson, S., Shelton, K., & Smilie, I. (2021-2022). Co-producing developmental science: Working with educators and children to set priorities for research that matters. Innovation for All Public Engagement Fund (Co-I).
• Vanderwert, R. E. & Thomas, K. S. (2019). Understanding risk factors for disordered eating behaviours in children. Cardiff Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme.
• Thomas, K. S. (2018 - 2022). Graduate Teaching Assistant Studentship, School of Psychology, Cardiff University.
• Thomas, K. S. (2017 - 2021). ESRC DTP PhD Studentship (1+3).

Previous projects

During the summer of 2023, I conducted stakeholder consultations with 6 autistic and/or gender diverse people with eating disorders, as well as 5 clinicians working across the Cardiff and the Vale Eating Disorder Service, Integrated Autism Service, and Welsh Gender Service. We discussed the intersections of eating disorders, gender diversity, and neurodivergence, and research priorities in this area. My collaborator, Avalon Ross, has designed an infographic to present the shared and unique themes identified by people with lived experience and clinicians:

My PhD research focused on the relationship between children’s mental health and their cognitive, emotional, and neural functioning. Primarily, this was centred around eating behaviours, anxiety, and mood, which I have also previously explored in undergraduate populations. By increasing our understanding of why and how these difficulties develop, we are better able to establish new evidence-based treatment and intervention options. I used a variety of methods in my research, such as neurocognitive tasks, electroencephalography, social/behavioural tasks, and questionnaires. As part of my PhD, I gained extensive experience in engaging with primary schools to recruit and conduct testing sessions with children. I also recruited and collected data from individual families from the community in the laboratory and online.

Avalon Ross has produced accessible written summaries of two of my published PhD papers here:

A research summary: disordered eating, basic psychological need satisfaction and anxiety in children

A research summary: disordered eating, internalising symptoms and response inhibition in children

Teaching

My current teaching responsibilities involve supervising undergraduate final year projects and MSc dissertations in my research area.

Previous teaching experience

• During my PhD, I was a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), delivering group seminars to first-year undergraduate students. I also marked essays and provided feedback.
• In the last year of my PhD, I took on the role of Lead GTA. In addition to normal GTA duties, I liaised with module leaders to ensure all seminar content was up-to-date and improved based on feedback.  Another key area of my role was providing support for eight other GTAs.
• During my lectureship, I delivered lectures, tutorials and workshops on research methodology and academic skills to all undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I was a personal tutor to undergraduate students at all levels.

Biography

Postgraduate education

2018 - 22: PhD Psychology, Cardiff University

2017 - 18: MSc Social Science Research Methods (Distinction), Cardiff University

Undergraduate education

2013 - 17: BSc Psychology with Professional Placement (First Class Honours), Cardiff University. (2015 - 16: Placement Student, Ty Catrin, Low Secure Mental Illness and Personality Disorder Service, Cardiff)

Teaching

2024 - present: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2022 - 2024: Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Employment

2024 - present: Research Associate, School of Psychology, Cardiff University.

2022 - 24: Lecturer, School of Psychology, Cardiff University.

2021 - 22: Lead Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of Psychology, Cardiff University.

2018 - 21: Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of Psychology, Cardiff University.

2016 - 19: Research Assistant, Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, Cardiff University.

Honours and awards

• Pinc List 2026 (most influential LGBTQ+ people in Wales) - Named as 'One to Watch' 

• Mastering Diversity Cognitive & Neurodiversity Champion 2025

• NIHR Mental Health Research Incubator GROW Researcher Development Programme 2025 (funded place)

• GW4 Mental Health Research Network's Networking and Bid Development Workshop (funded place), September 2024

• (Nomination) Personal Tutor of the Year, Enriching Student Life Awards, March 2024

• Stonewall Cymru Future LGBTQ+ Leaders Programme, January 2024

• HCRW Fellowship Development Workshop (funded place), September 2023

• Hadyn Ellis Prize for Best PhD 2023

Professional memberships

• Wales Cross Party Group on Mental Health and Eating Disorders
• Trans Wales Partnership

Speaking engagements

Invited talks (selected)

2026      Qualitative Research Network, Cardiff University Centre for Trials Research

2026      Panel member, SAPC Primary Care Mental Health Conference, Nottingham University

2026      Department of Psychology Seminar Series, York St John University

2026      Health and Care Research Wales Faculty Showcase

2026      Academic Seminar Series, Surrey Adult Eating Disorders Service

2026      Academic Panel member, Beat Social Media and Eating Disorders Workshop

2026      Department of Psychology Seminar Series, Nottingham Trent University

2025      Invited guest lecture on Gender Dysphoria for Developmental Psychopathology module, University of Bath

2025      Invited guest lecture on Disordered Eating as part of MSc module ‘The Process of Psychology’, Swansea University

2025      Academic Seminar Series, Cardiff and the Vale Service for High Risk Eating Disorders

2024      Invited guest lecture on Gender Dysphoria for Developmental Psychopathology module, University of Bath

2023      School of Psychology Seminar Series, Swansea University

Other presentations (selected)

2026      BPS Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity Conference (poster)

2026      Appearance Matters 11 Conference (talk)

2026      Adult Eating Disorders Research Consortium meeting (talk)

2024      Cardiff University Research Community Showcase (talk)

2024      Appearance Matters 10 Conference (poster)

2024      Cwpan Seicoleg, BPS Division of Clinical Psychologists Wales Branch (talk)

2023      CUCHDS Colloquium: Under-represented groups in mental health research (talk)

Committees and reviewing

2026: Beat, Invited Reviewer of Autism and Eating Disorders report

2026: National Autistic Society, Autism Advisor on Gender and Sexuality

January 2025 - present: Associate Editor for Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

October 2024 - present: EDI committee member, School of Psychology, Cardiff University

September 2023 - present: Early Career Academic (ECA) forum member, School of Psychology, Cardiff University

Supervisions

Current supervision

Grace Williams

Graduate Researcher