Dr Lourdes Santos-Merx

My expertise covers business and enterprise management, strategic planning, and leadership, with additional interests in professional communication and inclusive management approaches. I combine a strong academic foundation (I have four degrees in total) with a breadth of professional experience both in the UK and overseas. 

After working as a Researcher at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences in Ukraine, I embraced diverse roles that broadened my expertise - from serving as a city council Press Secretary to working as a journalist and later for a leading UK contract supplier of PPE (Personal protective equipment). I completed my Master’s in Enterprise Management at UCB, receiving the Vice-Chancellor and Principal’s Award for exceptional endeavour and attainment, before progressing from a Graduate Teaching Assistant role to Lecturer in the Business and Enterprise department. 

My higher education teaching career has taken me to Singapore, Spain, Portugal and, of course, the UK. I collaborated with international colleagues and taught nutrition and eating behaviour, which ultimately developed my interest in health promotion - a crucial area for tackling obesity and disordered eating behaviour. My research has resulted in peer-reviewed publications covering topics from school menus and portion sizes to the perception of genetics and lifestyle in chronic disease development. I was honoured to receive the ‘New Investigator Award’ from the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior early in my career. 

I’m passionate about teaching, and I really enjoy our lively class discussions and practical case study sessions. I feel inspired whenever I engage with students and colleagues on current, important issues in nutrition and public health. My students appreciate the wide range of projects and placements offered as part of the courses I teach, many of which are based in the community (e.g. in schools, nurseries, and local food retailers). They also often comment on my enthusiasm, use of practical examples, and sense of humour - I do try to keep my lectures fun.