Advanced Care Research Centre

The Academy Team

The ACRC Academy team.

Prof Ian Underwood - Director

Ian Underwood - headshot

Ian Underwood is Professor of Electronic Displays in the School of Engineering where he is Deputy Director of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Sensing and Measurement, reflecting his current research focus on miniature sensor systems in a range of applications including biomedical and healthcare. 

He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of the SID and sits on the technical program committee of the International Solid State Circuits Conference, the International Displays Research Conference and the Society for Information Display's Annual International Symposium.

Ian is Director of the ACRC Academy.

Prof Heather Wilkinson - Deputy Director

Heather Wilkinson - headshot

Heather Wilkinson is Professor of Dementia Practice and Participation and the director of the Edinburgh Centre for Research on the Experience of Dementia. She was co-founder of the Scottish Dementia Working Group. Her work relates strongly to the increased focus on knowledge exchange and impact. She has a longstanding involvement in qualitative dementia research and activism and is also a practising psychotherapist.

She is the academic lead for Understanding the Person in Context and deputy director of the ACRC Academy.

Dr Susan Shenkin - Deputy Director

picture of dr shenkin

Susan Shenkin is University of Edinburgh Reader, and NHS Lothian Consultant, in Geriatric Medicine. She is NRS Ageing Specialty Lead and co-chair of ENRICH (Enabling Research in Care Homes), and her research focusses on the causes and impacts of ageing, particularly for people with dementia or delirium, and those who live in care homes.

She is an academic lead for New Models of Care and deputy director of the ACRC Academy.

Kate Morris - Academy Project Manager

Kate Morris

Kate Morris is the Project Manager for the ACRC Academy. Prior to this, she was Project Manager for ThermaSMART, an international research project with 18 partners on five continents. She also worked as Project Manager on the teaching response to Covid in the School of Engineering.

She has a background in publishing, where she was a non-fiction editor for firms including HarperCollins and Bloomsbury, and was Publications Manager for the Basic Skills Agency, a national educational charity. 

Rooney Smyth - Academy Administrator

Rooney Smyth

Rooney Smyth is the Academy Administrator for the ACRC. Rooney previously worked in communications for Australian Parliament House and administration for Body Safety Australia, gaining an interest in systems and process management. He later completed a research degree in English Literature at Deakin University and moved into freelance virtual administration and research assistance before coming to work for the ACRC.