Dr Tanja Križaj

Programme Lead for MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) Programme

Lecturer in Occupational Therapy

Co-Chair Faculty of Health Ethics & Integrity Committee

Qualitative Researcher

Occupational Therapist and Occupational Scientist

PhD Health Studies (Plymouth University, 2017)

MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy (Plymouth University, 2009)

BSc in Occupational Therapy (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2003)

Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Registered with Health and Care Professions Council

Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, UK

Committee Member for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT South West)

Occupational Science Europe (OSE) Board Member

Programme Lead for MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) Programme

Leading modules and teaching on BSc and MSc Occupational Therapy Programmes

Personal tutor and Link tutor for students on practice placement

Supervisor for BSc and MSc research projects and dissertations

Currently a Director of Studies for two PhD students

I am a qualitative researcher and lecturer with 16 years’ experience in higher education, both in the UK and previously in my home country Slovenia. My current role involves leading a postgraduate programme, coordinating module teams and facilitating students’ positive overall experience. My teaching involves the theory of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Foundations for Occupational Therapy practice, Qualitative Research Methodology, Evidence-Based Practice. Integrating clinical practice and theory, I am also incorporating my clinical experience in the area of Traumatic Brain Injury and Older Adults.

2017 - 2021: External Examiner for BSc Occupational Therapy at the University College Cork (Ireland)

2021 and 2023: External Assessor for a PhD progression at the University of Huddersfield 

My principal research interests lie in the area of older adults, healthy ageing, transition into residential care and occupational science. For my PhD I explored Slovenian older people’s experiences of engagement in meaningful occupations and their transition into residential care homes. I was using qualitative methodology based on phenomenology, more specifically Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and Ethnographic research methodology and methods, including observations and Thematic Analysis. I published my doctoral research in high quality journals (The Gerontologist, Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology) and presented nationally and internationally in Japan, Netherlands and Slovenia. Since completing my PhD in 2017 I have been working on multidisciplinary research projects, focusing on older adults, everyday life and technology. I am a peer-reviewer for Journal of Occupational Science, The Gerontologist, Ageing & Society and Slovenian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 

2021: PhD Studentship (An Exploration of Occupation and Technology for Older People in Extra Care Housing). (Main applicant)
2021: ESRC Research Grant (Connectivity and Digital Design for promoting Health and Well-Being across Generations, Places and Spaces) (Co-Applicant)
2020: Higher Education Innovation Fund: Student-led Knowledge Exchange Challenge Fund for Digital Health (Co-Applicant)
2019: Cornwall Council: Echo Spot Care Home Project (Co-Applicant)