Julia Jones is Professor of Public Involvement and Health in the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care (CRIPACC) in the School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences.  Julia leads the  Public Involvement and Engagement in Health and Care research theme in CRIPACC and chairs the Public Involvement in Research group (PIRg) and the Service User and Carer Core Group (SUPI) which co-ordinates user and carer involvement across the School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences.

Julia is Co-Chief Investigator of the NIHR funded Public Health Interventions Responsive Team (PHIRST) CONNECT, based at the University of Hertfordshire (2020-2030).  She is co-lead of a NIHR funded Programme Development Grant to explore the use of creative methods with people with learning disabilities and/or autism. 

 Julia is a health geographer by background.  She has expertise in qualitative and mixed research methods and public involvement and engagement in research. Julia is an experienced PhD supervisor and examiner, with six doctoral student completions and four current doctoral students undertaking mixed methods and qualitative research studies.

Current research interests include:

• Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in health and care research
• Public health research 
• Involving people with learning disabilities and autistic people in research
• Psychosocial support for people with kidney disease and their carers/family members

Teaching experience includes:

• Qualitative and mixed methods research
• Conducting research on sensitive topics
• Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research
• PhD supervision

Julia leads public engagement and involvement activities in research, learning and teaching across the School of Health, Medicine and Life Science,  in collaboration with service users and carers through the Service User and Public Involvement Group (SUPI).  

CRIPACC has strong partnerships with local community groups and organisations including the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East of England, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Hertfordshire Healthwatch, Hertfordshire County Council, Stevenage Borough Council, Carers in Hertfordshire and Viewpoint, a charity for people with drug and alcohol challenges.