This thesis examines who turns to AI for mental health support, rather than whether AI can be a therapist. Drawing on TherapyGPT forum analysis and ongoing experiments, the research identifies fear of judgment, trust in AI and past therapist failures as possible drivers of AI therapy use.

This research examines whether air pollution affects risk-taking behaviour. Using survey data from 40,000 Indonesians and satellite pollution measurements, it shows that higher pollution levels make people more risk-averse. Because risk preferences influence education, careers, entrepreneurship, and innovation, cleaner air may improve both health outcomes and economic decision-making.

This study examines whether opening new medical residency programs improves health outcomes. Comparing counties with and without new residency programs, the research found that mortality rates fall by 4.8% where programs are introduced. However, similar benefits were not observed in rural areas, highlighting the importance of healthcare infrastructure and training location.

This study examines the relationship between sexual position discordance, sexualized substance use, and sexual satisfaction among nearly 2,000 sexual minority men in Canada. While discordance between preferences and behaviors was common and not linked to lower satisfaction, frequent use of substances such as crystal meth and poppers was associated with reduced sexual satisfaction.

This thesis examines the Soviet AIDS epidemic as a social and political crisis rather than solely a medical one. Through newspapers, diaries, and government documents, the research reveals how AIDS contributed to growing public distrust in Soviet institutions and became part of the broader crises preceding the collapse of the Soviet Union.

This research explores how to improve STI testing uptake within African and Caribbean communities in the UK. Using evidence reviews, interviews, and co-production workshops guided by the ACE framework, the project develops community-informed sexual health interventions designed to increase trust, accessibility, and acceptance of STI testing while reducing stigma and health inequalities.

This research develops antibacterial nanostructured surfaces inspired by natural materials such as cicada wings. The engineered surfaces physically rupture bacteria using nanoscale needle-like structures, avoiding traditional antibiotics and reducing the likelihood of antibiotic resistance. The technology could improve infection control in medical devices, implants, and hospital environments.

This research reconstructs viral transmission trees using genomic sequencing data to study how human behavior shapes infectious disease outbreaks. Analyzing COVID-19 transmission in Iceland revealed differences in infectiousness across quarantined and demographic groups, informing vaccine distribution strategies that improved population-level protection and influenced national public health policy.

This research investigates the formation and chemical composition of atmospheric aerosol particles, particularly secondary organic aerosols formed through oxidation of organic gases. Using a large controlled atmospheric chamber, the work studies how environmental conditions influence aerosol chemistry, improving understanding of air pollution, climate impacts, cloud formation, and human health effects.

This research examined how COVID-19 viral loads change over time across saliva, throat, and nasal samples. The study found that different sample types detect infection at different stages, demonstrating that testing method matters. These findings could improve diagnostic strategies for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and future emerging respiratory viruses.