Professor Marshman joined the School of Clinical Dentistry at the University of Sheffield in 2002 as a Clinical Lecturer and specialist registrar in Dental Public Health. Professor Marshman is recognised globally for bringing child centred approaches to dental research. She pioneered a whole range of methodologies with children, most specifically innovative participatory methods. She established the CREATE research group at the School of Clinical Dentistry which, through her inspirational leadership, has become a centre for child centred research throughout South Yorkshire and beyond. A good example of her approach to research can be found in the development of a self-help Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) resource to reduce children’s dental anxiety which was designed drawing on participatory methodologies. She has also contributed significant expertise to many NIHR-funded trials including the Fiction trial and the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber ARC looking at parental supervision of toothbrushing in young children.
Professor Marshman is the Academic Director of the Oral and Dental Directorate of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and member of the Dental School’s Research Committee in this senior leadership role. Whilst doing all of this she leads our teaching in dental public health to all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She provides supervision to hygiene and therapy students, masters students and a significant number of PhD students. She also provides expertise for Public Health England. She is one of our rising stars and is a thoroughly positive force around the School, always bringing a very practical “can do” attitude to every situation.
What is the one thing that has helped you the most in your career to date?
Supportive colleagues and family – at every stage of my career to date I have really benefited from having supportive colleagues to supervise and collaborate with me. At home, we take very much a team approach to paid work, house work and childcare which has made the long hours possible.
What is the key thing that has hindered or challenged you to date in your career?
It has certainly been a challenge working and being a mum to two daughters who are now 9 and 11 years of age. At times it’s been a difficult juggling act especially in the sleep deprived early years and now more recently with home schooling but I think my girls are proud of me……most of the time!
What advice would you give to young female academics starting out on their careers now?
My advice to any young academics would be to try to follow the research direction that suits your skills and passions and to steadily build networks of colleagues you enjoy working with.