Dr Sharon Lambert joined the teaching staff in the School of Applied Psychology in 2015 following a number of years working within community based settings that provided supports to socially excluded groups. Sharon’s research interests revolve primarily around the impact of psychological trauma on development, its link with homelessness, substance dependence and mental health, and consequent considerations for service design and delivery. Sharon is interested in trauma at individual and systemic levels, for example, the social determinants of health such as poverty, homelessness, ethnicity and how social exclusion such as low SES or experiences of discrimination are a toxic stressor with the potential to be experienced as a trauma. Sharon has particular expertise with trauma aware, trauma sensitive and trauma informed service design projects. Sharon regularly provides guidance to national and international organisations on designing trauma sensitive services and policies.

Sharon conducts research projects based within community settings in collaboration with relevant stakeholders –these organisations span statutory, community and voluntary sector organisations. Sharon has completed research projects with Focus Ireland, Novas Limerick, HSE Inclusion Health, YouthRise, An Garda Siochana, Alcohol Action Ireland, National Family Support Network, Youth Work Ireland, the National Ambulance Service, Traveller Visibility Group and many more.

Sharon is a member of the Psychological Society of Ireland, sits on a range of internal and external committees. 

Social determinants of health and well being in particular the relationship between early trauma (inter-personal and community levels of adversity in childhood i.e. toxic stress) and later life outcomes and the consequent implications for service design and delivery. Areas of interest: Service User Perspectives; Mental Health and Substance Use. Homelessness. Adversity in Childhood. Secondary Traumatic Stress. Mental Health Literacy. Social Exclusion. Drug Related Bereavement. Trauma Informed Service Design.

Service Design and Evaluation, Psychological Principles in Working with Children and Families, Trauma Informed Care, Substance Use, Psychological Impacts of Homelessness

Alexandra Duque	PhD for Higher Education Professionals	Prof Orla Lynch
Zulijana Anastasova	PhD for Higher Education Professionals	Dr Katy Dineen, Sarah KittelSchneider, Prof Orla Lynch
Kelly Buckley	PhD	Dr Fiadhnait O' Keeffe
MaryClare Clarke	PhD	Prof Orla Lynch
Margaret Noonan	PhD Nursing	Dr Patrick Cotter, Prof Josephine Hegarty, Dr James O' Mahony
Selena O Connell	Doctorate in Clinical Psychology	Dr Daniel O Callaghan, Dr Eve Griffin (NSRF)
Marcus Anton	PhD  Archaeology	Dr Griffin Murray
Nina Halbert	PhD  Applied Psychology	Dr Sarah Foley
Victoria Seaman	PhD Criminology	Prof Orla Lynch

 

Dr Daniel O Callaghan (2025) Thesis Title: Drug related deaths – addressing a contemporary risk for families, communities and services.

Dr Evan Hunt (2024) Thesis Title: Childhood Trauma and Trauma Informed Care in Early Intervention in Psychosis. 

Dr Darren McDonnell (2023) Thesis Title: The experience of having a partner in prison.

Dr Donal Moynihan (2021) Thesis Title: Young Men Who Leave A & E without next care recommendations following an episode of self-harm.