Meet the COMIC Team

Meet the Child Oriented Mental Health Innovation Collaborative (COMIC) team. Our team of highly skilled researchers develop research ideas in collaboration with children, young people and their families.

A medium close up of a young women smiling towards the camera. She is wearing a patterned dress.Dr Clare Fenton​

I hold a Masters in Psychiatry from the University of Leeds, and I’m a practicing Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. ​My research interests are ​preventing and treating self-harming behaviours and eating disorders.

 

A medium close up of a young woman wearing a black shirt and blue lanyard.Megan Garside

I’m a Research Fellow, focusing on coordinating the research funding applications in the team. My main area of research interest is social prescribing for children and young people. I’m currently a PhD student at Sheffield Hallam University, exploring how social prescribing can be used to support young people accessing weight management services. In my spare time I’m a member of a local cheerleading team, and regularly compete with them at national competitions

Amelia Taylor​

I’m a Research Assistant ​interested in Social Prescribing, Co-production methods, social media and mental health, and gender identity.

I also love to travel and explore new countries. I spent two years living in Australia where I was lucky enough to work at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, cuddle a Koala Bear and do a skydive at 15000 feet.

A medium close up of a young women smiling towards the camera. She is wearing glasses, a white top and blue lanyard.Dr Zoe Jackson

I’m a Research Programme Manager​ and I am interested in patient and public engagement, ensuring those with lived experienced have their voices heard in the research projects. I’m also interested in big data projects and collaborative working between academia and the NHS.​

In my spare time I love knitting and crocheting.

A medium close up of a young women smiling at the camera. She is wearing glasses, a grey blazer and a light coloured topEllen Kingsley

I’m a Research Fellow and Trial Coordinator​. My main area of research interest is developmental trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in children and young people. I am passionate about qualitative and participatory methods, which put people with lived experience at the centre of research. My other research interests include self-harm, eating disorders, and attachment disorders.

​I am from Sheffield but grew up in Florida, USA. I love hiking, bouldering, and hanging out with my dog, Monty.

Agnes Wood​

I’m a research assistant. My main area of research interest is child development, eating disorders and anxiety disorders. I am passionate about raising the voices of children and young people in both clinical and community settings by using co-production and user led methodologies​.

I love to play rugby and spend my time going on long walks in the Peak District.

A medium close up of a young woman smiling directly at the camera and wearing a grey jumper.Dr Sophie Schumann

I’m a Research Fellow with focus on writing research grants for the team. I enjoy developing new ideas into innovative research projects and am especially excited about bringing together researchers, clinicians and those with lived experience. I have experience in data analysis and project management from my previous work at the University of Leeds. I’m a keen gardener and enjoy being active outdoors. Fun Fact: I used to play American Football in the German National Women’s League. 

Alex Tucker

I’m a Patient and Public Engagement Ambassador.  ​I have a background in Psychology and developmental disorders, more recently mental health and wellbeing in schools, with experience working with widening participation groups of young people. My particular interests are in body image research, and the overlap between Relationships & Sex Education (RSE) and young people’s wellbeing. A fun fact about me is that I’m a powerlifter – a sport I started completely from scratch at university!

Sharon Bird

Sharon has been with the Trust since 2015, supporting the COMIC team with administrative tasks and maintaining the smooth day to day running of the office. In her spare time she likes to Cross-Stitch