Miss Effie Marathia

I completed my bachelor's degree in Legal Studies and Psychology at the University of Aberdeen in 2018, followed by an MSc in Health Psychology from the same university in 2020. During my MSc, I worked for Momentum Scotland, a charity that helps disabled and socially isolated individuals return to work.

In 2020, I was awarded a PhD studentship at the University of Dundee, funded by the Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences. My research focuses on self-regulation strategies that support unassisted smoking cessation (self-quitting). As part of this project, I collaborate closely with ASH Scotland, a non-profit organisation working to reduce the harm and inequality caused by smoking.

Currently, I am a Research Fellow working with Professor Julia Allan on the ASICA project, funded by Cancer Research UK, which aims to optimise a digital intervention that helps melanoma survivors self-check their skin for recurrences.

Since 2021, I have also served on the British Psychological Society’s Division of Health Psychology Scotland Committee.

My research explores the dynamics of unassisted smoking cessation through the lens of self-regulation and behaviour change, aiming to understand how individuals navigate health behaviour change independently. Another line of my research is around digital interventions and extending applications to areas like melanoma care. Overall, my work seeks to inform public health policy and design strategies that empower individuals to achieve sustainable health outcomes.