Dr Oliver Hamer

Profile

Biography

Oliver is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow within the Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit (EPA Unit) at Edge Hill University. An experienced researcher, Oliver has six years of postdoctoral evaluation experience (PhD awarded in 2020), contributing to more than 20 evaluation projects across local authorities, the charity sector, the education sector, the NHS, and the NIHR (regionally, nationally, and internationally). He is currently a project manager on a range of health related evaluations, most notably the Welsh Ambulance Service Clinical Model Transformation programme evaluation and the BRITE programme evaluation. 

Having spent time working for a local authority, Oliver is passionate about supporting public health practitioners to embed evaluation within programmes/ services to support learning and evidence impact. His experience across the public sector enables him to bring a real-world perspective to research and evaluation, offering practical and innovative approaches to evidencing impact, especially for those who face challenges with conventional methods.

Research Experience 

Oliver has worked on research projects for different organisations across the public, third, and not-for-profit sector. He has previous experience working outside of academia within local authority as a public health researcher, and has a good understanding of how the public sector operates. He has also worked for The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC) and has a good understanding of its key research priorities. 

Funding Awards

As a Principle Investigator, Oliver has been awarded over 100k in funding from the NIHR (PHIRST) and the Institute for Applied Health and Wellbeing (LIFE). As a Co-Investigator contributing to other awards, he has been succesful in applying for 350k in contract research funding from the Welsh Ambulance Service and local authority. 

Knowledge and Interests 

Brings expertise in the epidemiology of obesity, weight management, evaluation and evidence synthesis. His interests are focused on the how lived experience can guide weight management strategies and how psychological intervention may be key to the success of weight reduction and sustained weight reduction. 

Memberships

Oliver sits on the steering group for the Evaluation Online Network  (National Network). He is also the EPA representative for knowledge exchange and the Edge Hill University Sustainability Forum. 

• Perceived challenges and enablers to evaluating a whole systems approach initiative: Reflections of embedded researchers
• Staff and parent perceptions of neonatal outreach services across the North West of England: A qualitative study
• A Themed Synthesis of Funded Research (2012 – 2022): A Report for The Health Foundation.
• Creating a collaborative and impactful research environment: community partner reflections on the DeStress-II study

• Welsh Ambulance Service - Clinical Model Transformation Programme Evaluation
• Evaluation of the National Council for Special Education (NSCE) Universal Design for Learning Support Model Pilot
• Biologics Regional Innovation Technology Ecosystem (BRITE) Programme Evaluation
• An international Delphi study of adults living with bronchiectasis to determine the key components of patient self-management in bronchiectasis