Dr Sara Louise Wheeler
I am a Research Associate for the WISERD project: Researching Civic Participation in Wales, in place and over time. I am based at Bangor University where I took up post in October 2014, having previously worked at the universities of Chester, Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores. I am also currently a Visiting Research Fellow at Glyndŵr University, where I am studying towards the HEA Associate Fellowship.
I am originally from Wrecsam and am a fluent Welsh speaker. I am involved in various civic participation activities in North Wales and I have a plethora of related research interests. I am also from a Deafhearing family and my civic participation and research interests encompass this phenomenon, including being a member of a sign singing musical group.
My PhD research explored doctor-patient communication and Medically Unexplained Symptoms in the primary care milieu and I have worked on research projects in the sphere of health, including: behavioural epidemiology and the night-time environment; type-1 diabetes in adolescents; leadership and team-working in junior doctors; and habilitation training for children and young people with a vision impairment.
Prior to my career in academic research I worked in equality and diversity and also childcare and education-related roles in bilingual settings, including Catalonia and the Basque country. I also worked for nine years as an Independent Public Appointments Assessor for the Welsh Assembly Government. I therefore have a variety of research interests relating to health, disability, minority languages, devolution and equality and diversity.
I am a sociologist with a particular interest in qualitative methodologies, particularly Creative Analytical Practice (CAP). My research interests also include the early career trajectory and the sociology of diagnosis.
I live in a small village in the Wirral peninsular and many of my personal interests relate to rural life and wildlife.
Tinnitus: A Deafhearing Phenomenon (PDF document)
Email: s.wheeler@bangor.ac.uk
Twitter: @serensiwenna