Dr Dorit Kunkel PhD

Senior Research Fellow/Lecturer, Senior Research Adviser for the RDS

Dorit is a physiotherapist by background with a specialty in neurological rehabilitation and 18 years’ experience in managing mixed methods research studies and trials.

We all know it is important to stay active. My recent research has shown that sustained exercise attendance is more likely if exercise is one component of an enjoyable social activity because “Having fun, makes it less obvious that it's an exercise!”

In 1997 Dorit started her MSc part-time and then progressed to a PhD. In this research she explored specific fall-related factors, examined issues surrounding balance and attention using exploratory studies and an experimental design. Dorit successfully completed her PhD in 2002. Her PhD research work led to a funded study on predicting people who are at risk of falls following a stroke.

In 2004 Dorit was appointed as a Senior Research Fellow on the Stroke Association Rehabilitation Research programme grant which explored recovery and rehabilitation following a stroke.

In recent years, she was the Principal Investigator on:

• a feasibility randomised controlled trial with an embedded qualitative study exploring dance for Parkinson’s,
• a mixed methods study exploring foot problems and footwear in people with stroke and Parkinson’s
• an EPSRC funded project exploring the use of wearable sensors
• and supported the set up and running of a multi-centre HTA fall prevention in Parkinson’s trial.

In November 2017 Dorit joined the Research Design Service South Central team as a Senior Research Adviser.
She contributes to the teaching of neuro physiotherapy and research skills at undergraduate and postgraduate level and received a vice chancellor teaching award in recognition of her contribution to teaching through innovation and using technology in 2018.

Her current research is focused on exploring novel interventions to promote independence, activity and stability, with the overarching goal of improving the quality of life in people with Parkinson’s, stroke and other long term conditions. Her main methodological interests are to find practical, pragmatic and sustainable solutions when designing and evaluation complex health care interventions.