Helen completed her PhD at the University of Edinburgh in the Institute of Immunology and Infection Research. She worked as a STEMNET Ambassador during her PhD and after graduating continued working in Science Communication and Engagement in Scottish schools, colleges and universities. Helen is a National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) Academy Associate and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Her Public Engagement with Research was recognized as a leading example of engaged teaching and learning by the NCCPE (2018). She was selected as a keynote speaker at SciShops Europe Conference and was a co-author of the SciShops Europe Guide (2019). Helen currently leads the Interdisciplinary Community-University Research Programme – EPSRC Our Health and its newly formed sister programme Our Health – InlightenUs, at the University of Edinburgh. EPSRC Our Health aims to tackle health inequalities by improving health research and knowledge integration skills through community-based participatory action research.