About me

I am an equine geneticist and veterinary data analyst, Programme Coordinator for the postgraduate Equine Science MSc programme and Teaching Fellow on the veterinary medicine programmeat the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. My research and teaching are underpinned by an interest in how we generate, evaluate and use evidence to make better decisions about animal health, performance and welfare.

My research sits at the intersection of equine genetics and genomics, veterinary clinical data, exercise physiology, performance and welfare. I am particularly interested in complex problems where genetics, environment and human management interact, and in developing approaches that bring different forms of evidence together to understand these problems.

For me, evidence-informed decision-making is not simply about having more data. It involves asking good questions, understanding how evidence has been generated, recognising its strengths and limitations, and considering how — and whether — it should be applied to a particular decision. This perspective runs through both my research and my teaching, and is reflected in my accreditation as a Data Analyst by the Royal Statistical Society.

Beyond academia

Outside academia, I am a lifelong horse rider with particular interests in dressage and eventing, and have experience breaking in young horses and coaching young riders. My practical experience with horses continues to inform my interest in the relationship between research evidence and real-world equestrian practice.

I am also an active rugby union referee and was named Scottish Rugby’s 2025 National Community Referee of the Season.