Dr Sophia Amenyah

Dr Sophia Amenyah is a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow and Assistant Professor in Nutrition at Northumbria University, UK. Her interdisciplinary research sits at the intersection of the biomedical and social sciences. It is focused on addressing inequalities in ageing and nutrition through co-production, Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) and community development.

Sophia has established a strong track record of research leadership rooted in Teams Science principles. As an early career researcher, she has an outstanding funding portfolio, having secured over £869,297 across 12 competitive projects (8 as Principal Investigator) within the past 4 years. Her research is supported by prestigious funders, including the NIHR, Vivensa Foundation, UKRI (BBSRC/MRC) Food4Years Network, and Alzheimer’s Research UK, reflecting the relevance and impact in addressing critical public health challenges. She has contributed to large-scale international research, leading the evaluation of the European Regional Development Fund project ASPIRE: Adding to Social Capital and Individual Potential in Disadvantaged Regions, which aimed to strengthen social capital and opportunities with individuals living with obesity and unemployment from underserved communities.

Her research delivers impact through co-developing practical, community-based models with underserved populations and supporting healthy lifestyle practices in later life. She is particularly recognised for equitable partnerships with communities and embedding lived experience in research design, ensuring that interventions are inclusive, culturally-tailored,  contextually relevant, and scalable. Her work advances understanding of the biological and social determinants of ageing, informing policy and shaping practice across public health and health and social care.

Sophia holds a PhD in Nutrition and Genomic Medicine and is a Registered Nutritionist. She has a strong and growing publication record, including 15 peer-reviewed articles (nine as first author and six as corresponding author) and 16 published abstracts in leading bioscience and public health journals, contributing to evidence that informs both academic and applied settings. She has co-produced seven practitioner and community-facing resources that empower communities and enable the effective translation of research into practice. Please find the link to publications: Google Scholar. Her methodological expertise includes mixed-methods research, genomics, systematic reviews, realist synthesis and evaluation, community development, and community-based participatory methods such as Photovoice and community asset mapping. She applies established frameworks, including NIHR INCLUDE and the MRC guidance for complex interventions, to design and deliver rigorous, impactful research with clear pathways to implementation and impact.