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Personal profile

Biography

I am Director of Institute of Humanities, Education and Arts Research (IHEAR) and Associate Professor at CRELLA at University of Bedfordshire (UK) 

With a background in Applied Linguistics and Language Education, I specialise in language assessment. I have led over 30 externally funded research projects as PI. My research looks at the design and validation of high-stakes language assessment, L2 language processing and integrated/multimodal skills.

The outcomes of my research provide practical solutions for better fit-for-purpose assessment methods to diagnose learners' profile and more effective L2/EFL teaching and learning pedagogy. I also research the nature of language use in the digital age and use of technology in language testing, informing innovation in the design of assessments that help people learn English more effectively. 

In addition, I have conducted research for the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Midwifery and Nursing Council (MNC) regarding practice and policy on language testing requirements. 

I provide consultancies and conduct professional training workshops on language assessment literacy, various aspects of language test development, and mixed-methods research.

I have published widely in the areas of language testing, academic reading/writing, and second language learning with over 30 publications. In the REF 2021, five of my publications was part of a submission of which 72% is classed as world leading (the highest possible rating). I am the author of 'Defining Integrated Reading-into-Writing Constructs: Evidence at the B2-C1 Interface' (Cambridge University Press, the English Profile series 08, 2018) and  'Research and practice in assessing academic English: the case of IELTS. Studies in Language Testing' (Cambridge University Press, Studies in Language Testing 51, 2019).

External positions

Editor-in-Chief , Research Synthesis in Applied Linguistics (Taylor & Francis)

1 Jan 202515 Dec 2030

Chair of Membership and Nominations Committee, UK Association of Language Testing and Assessment

1 Jun 202431 Dec 2025

Member, Committee for Linguistics in Education (CLiE) GCSE English Reform Working Group

11 Jan 202431 Dec 2024

Editorial Board Member, Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching (Taylor & Francis)

1 Jun 2023 → …

Member of Membership and Nominations Committee, UK Association of Language Testing and Assessment

1 Jan 20221 Jul 2024

SIG co-ordinator, British Association of Applied Linguistics

1 Sept 20211 Oct 2025

Convenor, British Association of Applied Linguistics Testing Evaluation Assessment SIG

1 Jan 201831 Dec 2021

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