Rochelle Embling

What Faculty are you based in?

I am currently a researcher within the Swansea Nutrition Appetite & Cognition (SNAC) Research Group, based in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine Health & Life Science.

How did you come to study at Swansea University?

I first came to Swansea University as an undergraduate student on the BSc Psychology course. During the second year of my studies, I completed a summer internship funded by the British Psychological Society with Dr Laura Wilkinson. This position allowed me to experience the day-to-day activities of being a researcher, and I was encouraged to apply for a 1+3 studentship funded by the ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership. I recently submitted and defended my PhD thesis, before starting my current postdoctoral position.

What is your research topic?

My PhD research focussed on understanding how factors in a meal can influence food intake and body weight management, such as when we have a variety of foods available to us or have foods in larger portions.

My current research focusses on how we can support consumers to try and buy food products that contain ‘novel’ ingredients as part of a healthy and sustainable diet. This includes seaweed and algae, which are high in vitamins and minerals, and have the potential to be included in more than just sushi!

What led to your interest in this area?

Eating behaviour is a wide-reaching area of research. It’s a topic that is important for health and wellbeing, but also one that we’ve been talking more about in relation to the climate emergency in recent years. Understanding how we can help support access to a healthy and sustainable diet is what continues to drive my interest in this research.

What do you hope to achieve with your research?

The ultimate goal is to have a real-world impact with my research, and help contribute towards positive change in our food system.

What are the best things about conducting your research at Swansea University?

One of the best things about being at Swansea is the people. The support from my supervisors, fellow PhD students, and the wider PGR team has made the whole PhD journey feel like less of a lonely one, as there’s a real sense of community.

What are your future plans?

I am looking forward to further developing my skills as a researcher, and to exploring big questions as I work with new collaborators – both within and outside of academia.