Dr Emma Smith has been a Research Associate at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London since 2021, contributing to interdisciplinary research spanning substance use, mental health, maternal health, and health services research.

She is a qualitative and mixed-methods health researcher whose work explores the intersections of substance use, gender, family life, and health and social care systems. Her research focuses particularly on the experiences of women and families affected by substance use, with an emphasis on understanding care pathways, service access, stigma, and inequalities across the life course.

Emma has extensive experience conducting research with underserved and stigmatised populations across community, clinical, and academic settings. Her methodological interests include qualitative longitudinal research, participatory and co-produced approaches, process evaluation, evidence synthesis, and intervention development. She has a particular interest in creative research methods, including Photovoice, digital storytelling, and arts-based approaches to research, engagement, and knowledge mobilisation. 

Emma completed her PhD at the University of Worcester where she also taught as an Associate Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Emma holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Dundee and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Georgia. 

Research Interests 

• Substance use
• Recovery paradigms
• Visual research methods
• Participatory action research