Victoria Owen - PhD Researcher

Victoria Owen

She/Her

What expertise will you bring to AI?

I hold a BSc in Public Health from St. John Fisher University, where my research largely focused on policy and health inequalities among marginalised groups. As an undergraduate, I also co-developed and co-led a module on nutrition and community health, lecturing on health behaviour theories. I then went on to obtain a MSc in Global Public Health from Newcastle University, where I investigated the relationship between group identities and health behaviours in the US context during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, I have been involved in two projects centred around dementia, one that investigated assistive technologies in the workplace, and another that examined assisted dying policies. Outside of research, I also bring more than five years of practical experience working with people living with dementia in various settings.

Research Interests 

My current research is informed by my educational and practical knowledge, and personal experience with dementia, which I am extremely passionate about. This research is at the intersection of dementia, the health and social care system, and artificial intelligence (AI). I am particularly interested in how AI tools can be leveraged in participatory co-design methods to bridge information gaps in the current system.  

What made you want to apply for CCAI?

I was initially drawn to the CCAI-CDT because of the centre’s multidisciplinary nature. A wide range of disciplines span the CCAI-CDT faculty and student body, enrichening the experience for everyone involved. Even though I do not come from a computer science background, I felt that I would be well-supported by the team and was excited for this new challenge.

What are your ambitions for AI? How do you plan to change the world?

The rapid growth of AI and its potential to address systemic issues in healthcare is happening concurrently with the rise of dementia globally. I aim to become a difference-maker in this space and have a positive impact on people living with dementia and their families.