Biography
From 2009- 2011, I read Psychology at the University of Portsmouth BSc (Hons). In 2012 I was awarded postgraduate funding to complete an MRes in Research Science exploring how carers of people with dementia access information. My BSc (Hons) dissertation was published in 2015 titled ‘A personal approach: an empirical study of the process of studying my son’s problem with computer games’ and in 2016 I was a successful in obtaining a full studentship to complete a PhD at the University of Southampton. The title of my PhD: Exploring objects, people with dementia and the perception of risk in care homes: An ethnographic study.
From 2011 – 2015 I worked at the University of Portsmouth starting as a research assistant, leaving as Senior Research Associate. In that time I worked as part of a systematic review team funded by the European Food Safety Agency relating to food allergy. I also worked on 2 projects in relation to dementia the arts, the first was funded by the Alzheimer’s Society which evaluated art, drama and music groups for people with a dementia. The second was a project which set up a community based group in a local art gallery, this looked at the effectiveness of art groups for people with a dementia, a self-run carer group situated within the gallery and also the sustainability of community run groups.
Research Interests
My main research interest is exploring ways to reverse the malignant positioning of people with a dementia. I am interested in ecological psychology, materiality and citizenship.
Funding research awards
- Ms Kellyn Weir & Dr Julie Udell, Apsex Visual Arts Trust £16,817.00 30/03/15 – 31/03/16
- Dr Julie Udell, Mr Derek Ward, Ms Kellyn Weir & Dr Karen Burnell, Hampshire Creative Arts project for people with Dementia £17,024 9/12/13 – 8/10/14
Publications/reports/conference abstracts
2015 – A personal approach: an empirical study of the process of studying my son’s problem with computer games Weir & Costall 2015 International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 14, 5, p. 1-10
2014 – Prevalence of fish and shellfish allergy: a systematic review Moonesinghe, Harriet., Kilburn, Sally MacKenzie, Heather Turner, P. J., Venter Carina & Ms Kellyn Weir 2014 p. 700
Prevalence of peanut allergy: a systematic review Dr Heather MacKenzie, Dr Carina Venter, Dr Sally Kilburn, Moonesinghe, H., Ms Kellyn Weir & Professor Tara Dean 2014 p. 699
2013 – Literature searches and reviews related to the prevalence of food allergy in Europe Professor Tara Dean, Dr Heather MacKenzie, Dr Sally Kilburn, Moonesinghe, H., Ms Kellyn Weir, Dr Kate Maslin & Dr Carina Venter 4 Nov 2013 Parma: European Food Safety Authority. 343 p.