Julie Watson

Background

About Julie Watson

I’m a public health researcher and former Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, with a focus on improving health in development and humanitarian contexts. My work combines rigorous evidence with practical innovation to design solutions that are both effective and scalable.Over the past decade, I’ve led interdisciplinary research in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), with projects spanning East Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. I specialise in developing and evaluating behaviour change interventions, running large-scale RCTs and qualitative studies, and working in close partnership with NGOs, governments, and international agencies.Highlights of my career so far include:Co-developing “Surprise Soap”, a playful handwashing innovation now piloted by international NGOs.Serving as Co-Principal Investigator on multi-country studies addressing foodborne disease in low-income urban settings across Kenya and Mozambique.Securing and managing multi-million-dollar research grants (Gates Foundation, FCDO, Elrha).Publishing widely in high-impact journals and shaping sector knowledge through systematic reviews, blogs, media, and invited speaking.Contributing to policy and practice through global advisory roles with the Global Handwashing Partnership, WASH in Schools Network, and COVID-19 Hygiene Hub.My areas of expertise include: Public health research methods (quantitative & qualitative)| Development, design, implementation, and evaluation of behaviour change interventions | WASH in humanitarian and development contexts | Programme and research management