Biography

I was awarded my PhD in 2004. My doctoral research was in the area of public health nutrition and explored the reasons women gain weight at mid-life, as a sub-study of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). I worked full time as an academic while writing my thesis, and thus focused on this as my main publication in the period 2001-2003. Since then I have re-focused my efforts towards C1 publications.

I have achieved publication in high impact journal. My work on the strategies women choose to control their weight (Williams, Germov & Young, 2007) appeared in the International Journal of Obesity (IF: 4.482). I have presented the results of my research at conferences both within Australia and internationally. I commenced supervising RHD candidates soon after completing my own PhD, and I have supervised 2 students to completion and am currently supervising 6 students on a variety of topics.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle, 2004
• Graduate Diploma of Social Science, University of New England
• Bachelor of Science, University of New England
• Graduate Diploma in Dietetics, Deakin University
• Post Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion, Curtin University of Technology, 2004
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of New England, 1986

Research

Research keywords

• Nutrition & Dietetics
• Obesity and weight gain
• Public Health Nutrition
• Women's health

Research expertise

I have expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. My published work is in public health, and in the social sciences as well as the behavioural sciences. My PhD work has been presented and published internationally.

Collaboration

I have several research collaborations.

My interdisciplinary collaboration has been with my sociologist colleague, A/Prof John Germov, from the School of Humainites and Social Science. I have contributed to, and helped foster, the relatively new research area of the sociology of food and nutrition. Food and nutrition have traditionally been examined from a biomedical perspective, but by collaborating, we have strengthened the sociocultural exploration of food and nutrition. Over the past decade we have published on the social determinants of food habits (Williams & Germov 2005; Germov & Williams 2004a), gendered eating and dieting (Williams & Germov 2004b, 2004c; Germov & Williams 1999, 1996a, 1996b), weight control (Williams, Germov & Young, in press, accepted December 2006), social determinants of obesity (Germov & Williams 2005). Lauren co-edited all 3 editions of the academic reader and text, A Sociology of Food and Nutrition: The Social Appetite (3rd edn, Oxford University Press, 2008), and has also co-authored several chapters within the book.

I am an Associate Investigator with the Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, which is a Priority Research Centre of the University of Newcastle.

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health & Ageing

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Dietitians Association of Australia

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• member - Australasian Society for the Study of Obesity (ASSO)
• Member - International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity
• member - Public Health Association of Australia

Appointments

Awards

Other

Recognition.

Invitations

Administrative

Administrative expertise

Experienced at chairing committees, and have been Vice president of the Dietitians Association of Australia. I am the Program Convenor for the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics, and am the elected representative of the

School of Health Sciences on Faculty Board (Health). I have managed collaborative projects in conjunction with external agencies, (eg I am currently implementing a program for Veterans in the Hunter and Central Coast Areas in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs (funding agency), and NSW Health under a memorandum of understanding).

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• community nutrition
• nutrition education
• overweight and obesity
• public health nutrition

Teaching expertise

Dr Williams works full time as a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences, in the Faculty of Health. As a Senior Lecturer, her role comprises teaching, research and service (governance and community).

My key teaching is in the area of community and public health nutrition to students enrolled in nutrition and dietetics, and I co-ordinate that entire degree program. I have previously provided nutrition education to students in other professional groups (medicine, consumer science, primary and secondary education, early childhood).

I have had two RHD completions. The theses are entiled: 'The Role of Cow's Milk Protein in Children with Chronic Functional Constipation' and 'Exploring the Barriers to Introduction of a Best Practice Nutrition and Dietetics Modle in Rural Areas'.

I am currently supervising 6 research higher degree students and 3 honours students.