Meet the team

The Usher Institute’s excellence in research will be embedded within the programme. The teaching will be led by several established and emerging research leaders. The programme will provide a supportive and nurturing learning experience to students.   

 

For more information, please contact our administrator in the first instance by writing to futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

 

Core team  

Our online MSc Epidemiology postgraduate programme aims to equip the epidemiological leaders of tomorrow with key foundational knowledge and a portfolio of statistical and data science skills to tackle contemporary challenges.  

To help you get to know the team behind the programme, here is an overview of the fantastic achievements and areas of interest in the team.  

 

Dr Caroline Jackson 

Programme Director

I completed my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences with honours in immunology at the University of Edinburgh. During this time, I developed a keen interest in population health and was fortunate to be able to complete my own MSc in Epidemiology via online learning and a PhD in Stroke Epidemiology, whilst working as a research associate. Since then, I've worked with various groups in the academic sector and spent a few years in Brisbane, Queensland. I still miss the blue skies, the sound of the kookaburras and the dramatic storms! 

My research focuses on multimorbidity, particularly the interplay between mental illness and physical disease through the use of routinely collected linked electronic datasets and large cohort studies. Given my own MSc experience, I am delighted to be the online Epidemiology programme director and to be contributing to improving access to higher education. I'm thrilled to be working with such a wonderful team of colleagues. 

With two small children, I'm kept pretty busy outside of work! However, when I do get a free moment, I play the piano and enjoy reading. I particularly love a bit of escapism via fantasy fiction and am re-discovering the joy of children's books through bed-time stories with my kids! With a love of food (particularly Mexican and Thai food!) I’m secretly hoping that one of my children might one day become a chef.

Mental illness linked to worse heart attack outcomes - University of Edinburgh news

 

Dr Niall Anderson

Programme Deputy Director

I am a medical statistician by profession, having completed a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Edinburgh in 1989 and then a Ph.D. in Statistics at the University of Glasgow in 1992. I stayed in Glasgow to begin my professional career, initially within the Department of Statistics as a research assistant for 3 years, and then moved to the Department of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences as a lecturer in statistical genetics.

I stayed there until 2003, when I moved back to Edinburgh to a new lectureship in the Usher Institute (although it was not called that at the time!) intended to support genetic epidemiological research. I then gradually shifted to collaborating on more general (non-genetics) health research problems and became more and more involved in teaching medical statistics on the Master of Public Health (on campus) programme, helping to run that programme and then eventually taking on its Director role. That experience put me in an ideal position to help launch the MSc in Epidemiology as Deputy Director. 

Away from the University, I am kept pretty busy by a family of two boys and one cat. I am very passionate about traditional music from Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia, and have been known to play these with other enthusiasts in informal music sessions around Edinburgh (I play cittern and guitar). I am also involved in campaigning for safer road infrastructure for cycling in Edinburgh and across Scotland - something that would have both huge sustainability and public health benefits.

 

Lucy Courage

Programme Administrator

After completing my undergraduate degree in 2017, I spent four years working in a couple of different positions, primarily administrative roles in the education sector. My most recent role was with an education consultancy company in London, where I was responsible for organising and delivering academic support to students applying for university; during this time I also did some private tutoring. In 2021, I decided to return to higher education myself by applying for an MSc in Classics here at the University of Edinburgh, which has been a wonderful experience; I particularly enjoyed writing my dissertation, which focused on the translation and analysis of a Late Antique Roman martyr passion.

As Programme Administrator, I'm here to make sure your programme runs smoothly, so please do come to me with any administrative questions you might have, or even general queries – if I’m not able to help you myself, I’ll be able to direct you to the right person to solve your problem.

Outside of the office, I enjoy baking, rock climbing, and playing D&D with my friends (don’t knock it till you’ve tried it). Now that I’ve finished my postgraduate degree, I hope to use my free time to explore the beautiful Scottish countryside, and will be training to run a half marathon in March 2023.

 

Dr Sophie Marion de Procé

Statistics Teaching Fellow

I have a background in biological research, I obtained a BSc in Ecology and Biodiversity in Wellington, New Zealand, and a Master’s degree in Ecology, Biodiversity and Evolution in Toulouse, France. I moved to Scotland to do a PhD in population genetics and settled in Edinburgh. I have worked as a research fellow on several research projects involving fruit-fly genetics, human DNA evolution and cancer detection.

Throughout my career, I’ve developed a keen interest and extensive knowledge in bioinformatics, statistics and programming.

I recently joined the MSc Epidemiology team as a Statistics Teaching Fellow and Lecturer. I love learning and helping others learn, so I’m enjoying my role very much.

My spare time has massively decreased since I had my son, but when I get the chance, I enjoy learning languages, reading, trying to play the guitar, performing improvised comedy. I also find cycling a great way to get around, and it’s the only way I will do exercise! On holiday, I really like to travel and discover new places, as well as visit my family in France.

 

Dr Regina Prigge

Lecturer

I am a post-doctoral epidemiologist within the Usher Institute. I completed my undergraduate degree in Health Sciences and Master in Public Health both here in Edinburgh and in my home country of Germany. Alongside my studies, I gained work experiences at the Robert Koch Institute, the German government’s central scientific institution, and as a Senior Information Analyst at NHS Lothian where I coordinated a project to update an international comparison of glycaemic control among people with type 1 diabetes. With a particular interest in the comorbidity of mental and physical health conditions, I completed my PhD in Population Health Sciences at the University of Edinburgh in 2019 and my first post-doctoral position in 2022. Since then my time has been split between two posts, one of which is a position as Epidemiology Teaching Fellow for the M.Sc Epidemiology. In my second position I work as a Research Fellow where I coordinate the Lothian Public Health Survey in collaboration with NHS Lothian.

When I am not in the office, you will most likely find me in one of Edinburgh’s parks, the Pentland Hills or on a Scottish Munro with my partner and two year old daughter. We love spending time outdoors: hiking, camping, kayaking, windsurfing, you name it. And if it was up to my daughter, then we would take a football everywhere we go!

 

Dr Kevin Wing

Lecturer

I am an epidemiologist currently leading research on how randomised controlled trial-analogous cohorts in non-interventional data can help improve the understanding of drug treatment effects in people underrepresented in trials. Other recent research includes development of standards for performing pharmacoepidemiological research, drug-induced liver injury, and studies of Ebola from the 2013-16 West African outbreak. During and following the COVID-19 pandemic I have been performing research on COVID and long COVID using the OpenSAFELY platform. I love designing and delivering teaching, and joined the MSc Epidemiology Team in October 2022. Currently my time is split between my teaching role at the University of Edinburgh and a research role at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

When I’m not working on teaching or research, I spend most of my time taking on the much more challenging job of looking after my two young children, ideally in an outdoor setting away from any screens! I recently started reading fiction again following about 10 (..20?) years of only reading “facts”, and getting back into reading (and libraries) has been a revelation. Any time left is spent on campaigning for environmental and social justice, (slow) swimming/running and (very slow) woodworking projects.

 

If you have any questions about this programme, please email futurestudents@ed.ac.uk or if you want to read more details about the programme and start an application, please visit our degree finder page.

Link to MSc Epidemiology application page