Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT) Foundation project

Alex Clarke is a consultant clinical and health psychologist.

Clare Clement has a background in Health Psychology and qualitative and mixed methods health research. Clare started her PhD in January 2023 which is developing a tool to identify the support needs of people with visible differences.

Dr Ella Guest is a Research Fellow; she is currently working with the Social Media Stream on a project aiming to understand how people with visible differences use social media in relation to their condition.

Professor Diana Harcourt is a health psychologist and, with Dr Amy Slater, the co-lead (Principal Investigator) for this programme of work. She is leading the stream of work focussing on supportive interventions, offering expertise and experience in leading large appearance-related research programmes.

Abbi Matthews is PhD student with previous experience working within the VTCT Foundation team at the Centre for Appearance Research. Her PhD involves investigating the role of social media in reducing stigma towards people with visible differences.

Dr Amy Slater is, with Professor Diana Harcourt, the co-lead (Principal Investigator) for this programme of work. She is leading the stream of work focussing on social media and has internationally recognised expertise in the area of social media use and appearance-related concerns.

Dr Maia Thornton is a Research Fellow; she is currently working on developing an ACT-based intervention focused on intimacy and relationships for adults with a visible difference, and an intervention to support parents of children and young people with appearance-altering conditions or injuries.

Dr Pippa Tollow is a Senior Research Fellow in the VTCT Foundation Research Team at the Centre for Appearance Research, as well as a Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology and HCPC-registered Health Psychologist. Her research primarily focuses on the psychosocial impact of appearance altering conditions, as well as interventions to support these individuals. 

Emma Waite joined the Centre for Appearance Research in November 2023 as a Research Associate working with the VTCT Foundation team. She completed her MSc Health Psychology in 2021 and her Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology in 2025. Her doctoral research focused on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ young people with visible differences. 

Professor Paul White is an experienced applied statistician providing guidance on projects.

Dr Fabio Zucchelli is a Research Fellow; he is currently working to develop psychological support, training and public education on visible difference in the UK.