Your Health Psychology MSc teaching team

The Psychology teaching team have many years’ experience in psychology and they understand the pressures of balancing study around work and family commitments.

Professor James Elander
Professor of Health Psychology

James Elander is an HCPC-registered health psychologist who conducts research on chronic illnesses including haemophilia, sickle cell disease, end-stage renal disease, spinal pain, and dysmenorrhea. He also has a longstanding interest in the psychology of learning and teaching, especially student writing.

University of Derby academic Dr Claire Hampson
Dr Claire Hampson
Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Claire has worked at the University of Derby since 2011. She has a BSc. (Hons) Psychology degree, MSc. in Health Psychology and PhD in Clinical Psychology. She worked as a Research Associate within the Psychopharmacology Department at the University of Nottingham testing novel treatments for Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer's and Addiction problems.  

Professor David Sheffield
Professor of Psychology

David Sheffield is a Professor of Psychology at the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care. He is also Head of Research and Director of Professional Psychology Programmes at the University of Derby Online Learning. He also supervises PhD and Doctorate students. David's work has helped us to understand the impact of stress and pressure on health, wellbeing and performance.

Paul Staples
Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Paul is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Derby. He has been teaching psychology for the past 27 years, initially at the University of Manchester, then at Staffordshire University and from 2006 here at the University of Derby.

Elaina sitting on a red and blue couch, smiling.
Dr Elaina Taylor
Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Dr Elaina Taylor is a Lecturer and Chartered Psychologist. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, full member of the Division of Health Psychology and Chartered member of the British Psychological Society.

Dr Sophie Williams outside
Dr Sophie Williams
Assistant Head of Discipline: Psychological and Behavioural Sciences

Programme director for Psychology, Dr Sophie Williams is a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS). Sophie's research interests lie in women’s health and long-term conditions, her research particularly focuses on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and quality of life.