Dr Aoife Stephenson

Aoife obtained her a degree in physiotherapy (BSc Hons) in 2010, and a research masters degree (MSc) in 2012, both from University College Dublin (UCD). Aoife was awarded her PhD in 2018, by Ulster University, UK. Her PhD was based around a programme of work that has led to the development and evaluation of a technology-enhanced behaviour change intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour in the workplace. Aoife has worked as a researcher in the School of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland, Australia and in the School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, before moving to RCSI in July 2020. She worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Digital Health at RCSI from July 2020- March 2023.  Dr Stephenson held a visiting academic position at University of Southampton, School of Health Sciences (2021-2023). Aoife is also an honorary lecturer at the RCSI School of Physiotherapy and has been the module coordinator for the “Methods of Enquiry” module since 2021.

Dr Stephenson has been a member of the RCSI MAINTAIN programme since its inception in 2020 which aims to explore maintenance of physical activity in people with long-term health conditions. In April 2023, Aoife began work as the Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow on the MAINTAIN Activity in Arthritis research programme.

Aoife’s research interests involve leveraging interventions and emerging technologies to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in different populations. She has a particular interest in co-design, behaviour change theory, and user-informed development/evaluation processes.