Jessica Renzella

Jess commenced a DPhil with The Centre on Population Approaches for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention  in October 2016. Before joining NDPH, she completed a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne. Jess is editor of PLOS Global Health Blogs and previously worked with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (Australia) and NCDFREE as Strategic Director and founder of Feast of Ideas. Her 2016 internship at the World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva produced publications relating to the Double Burden of Malnutrition.

Jess’ DPhil focusses on urbanicity and diet-related NCD outcomes in Sri Lanka – from data collection to policy decision-making. She uses quantitative and qualitative research methods. Jess coordinates the accredited Short Course on Prevention Strategies for Non-Communicable Diseases in collaboration with the Department for Continuing Education. To date, the course has run in the UK, Iran, and Nigeria. Jess lectures and tutors home and visiting students on the Year 3 Human Sciences Health and Disease Option Course, and lectures on the Year 5 Clinical Course in Public Health.  

She is Co-Chair of the WHO Research Connect Steering Group and lead facilitator of the WHO/GCM NCDs Community of Practice on Multisectoral Action for NCDs. She is currently working on an analysis of global NCD knowledge networks.

Jess is a trained peer supporter and an active member of the NDPH student welfare team, Research Student Group Committee, the NDPH Athena Swan committee, and the Big Data Institute Green Team.