Personal profile
Biography
I am a Lecturer in Applied Psychology and Human-Computer Interaction. My research focus is on the experience of healthcare and role of technology. I completed my PhD in 2019, which examined the role of design and technology in dementia care. My current research projects include work on women's health and qualitative methodologies. I am a founding member of the Ireland Network for Pluralism in Qualitative Research (INPQR) based in the School of Applied Psychology. I am a member of the People and Technology Group in UCC, and a PI in the Research Ireland Lero Centre for Software Engineering.
Teaching Activities
I teach across all programmes in the School of Applied Psychology.
I am Deputy Director of Research in the DClinPsych Programme, and First Year Head for the Psychology and Computing Undergraduate Programme.
I teach on modules covering:
-Qualitative Research Methods
-User Experience
-Social Computing
Recent PhD Students
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Student |
Project |
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Christina Geery |
An exploration of digital therapy: the therapeutic alliance online and psychologists’ experiences and reflections on offering online therapy (2019-2022) |
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Laura Moore |
The experiences of autistic adults accessing healthcare services (2020-2023) |
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Anna Navin Young |
A mixed methods investigation of temporal experiences, time interventions, and wellbeing in the contexts of the COVID-19 pandemic and hybrid working practices (2020-2025) |
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Olugbenga Oti |
User-Centred Design of Technologies to Enhance Students' Access to Mental Health Support (2020-2025) |
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Stephanie Murphy |
A Qualitative Examination of Safety Needs and Support-Seeking in Online Social Platform Engagement after Pregnancy Loss (2021-2026) |
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Doireann Peelo |
In Fitness And In Health: Women's Safe Navigation of Fitness on Social Media (2021-2026) |
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Topaz Shresta |
User-Centred Design of Technologies to Enhance Students' Access to Mental Health Support (2021-2026) |
Current PhD Students
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Sarah Nestor |
Tempo and Timing in Women’s Healthcare |
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Stephanie Wall |
Workplace Identity, Menopause and Experiential Narratives |
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Andrea Keeney |
Intergenerational Narratives of Menopause |
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Emily Boylan |
Partner Support During Menopause |
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Ciara Cahill |
Co-Design of Digital Resources for Autistic Mothers |
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Nina Halbert |
Foster Carers and Play |
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Ella Doran |
Digital Interventions Against Cancer Misinformation |
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Alison Warren-Perry |
Post-Diagnostic Support for Autistic Adults |
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Orla Healy |
Identity Narratives in Women with PCOS |
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Racheal Crean |
Third Wave Therapies in Endometriosis Care |
UCC Futures (primary)
- Collective Social Futures
Other research affiliations
- UCC Futures - Future Ageing and Brain Science
- FSRC - Future of Health
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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What we chose to (Not) share: Unpacking how HCI researchers self-disclose in interactions with participants with stigmatised identities
Ruitenburg, Y., Noh, H., Li, J., Amirkhani, S., Jo, H., Van Kleek, M., Kang, Y., Foley, S. & Lee, M., 2026, In: International Journal of Human Computer Studies.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluating the Feasibility, Effectiveness, and Acceptability of the Reflective Time Journal (RTJ) and Time Awareness Coaching (TAC) Interventions to Support Hybrid Workers’ Work-Time Practices and Wellbeing
Young, A. N., Hunt, E., Di Blasi, Z. & Foley, S., 10 Nov 2025, In: International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology. 10, 66.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Factors influencing the effectiveness of nature-based interventions (NBIs) aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing: An umbrella review
Shrestha, T., Voon Yi Chi, C., Cassarino, M., Foley, S. & Di Blasi, Z., Feb 2025, In: Environment International. 196, 109217.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
It might be able to produce a text, but it’s not able to produce knowledge: qualitative researchers’ perspectives on the use of Generative AI in research
Foley, S., Dempsey, M., O’ Sullivan, C. & Frost, N., 2025, In: Qualitative Research in Psychology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Sharing, Support-Seeking, and Managing Safety: A Qualitative Study of Online Platform Engagement After Pregnancy Loss
Murphy, S., Hickey, A., Dennehy, D. P., Morrissey, K., McCarthy, J. & Foley, S., 2 May 2025, In: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. 9, 2, CSCW167.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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UCC CACSSS Research Impact Narrative Prize
Shrestha, T. (Recipient), Di Blasi, Z. (Recipient), Foley, S. (Recipient) & Cassarino, M. (Recipient), 14 May 2025
Prize
Press/Media
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'Your symptoms are part of being a woman': UCC study to explore diagnostic delays for women
23/10/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
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