Ru Jia

Dr Ru Jia is a researcher working on behavioural interventions that help improve population health. She is part of the Sustainable Healthy Food Group. Her research interests lie in biopsychosocial approaches to health. Her current work focuses on co-designing preventative interventions for the whole population to prevent multiple morbidities. These interventions aim to lead to policies addressing alcohol, diet, tobacco, and obesity. An example of her current work is an online study investigating the impact of healthier or more sustainable food and drink advertising on food selection. Her work is funded by the Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (Oxford Health BRC).

Ru completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology in China, and an MSc in Health Psychology at the University of Southampton. During her PhD in Primary Care, Ru investigated the relationship between pre-treatment mood, lifestyle, the hormone cortisol (i.e., the stress hormone), and outcomes of assisted reproductive treatment. She also led and conducted several research projects investigating the physical and mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the role of biopsychosocial factors in these associations.