Miss Sitira Williams

Sitira holds 9 years of research experience and has contributed to existing body of scientific literature and experimental pilot, feasibility and impact and evaluation mixed-methods research designs. She has managed several international research projects to advance livestock health and productivity and has previously worked on research projects to assist in health and social sciences, epidemiological and socio-economic studies. She is now undertaking a PhD exploring the lived experiences of transgender and gender-expansive youth transitioning and parental dynamics across the UK.

East Midlands Doctoral Network – EMDoc 
CRR Centre for Reproduction Research 
Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity: Early Career Race Network
Generation UK: China Network
The Operational Research Society

• Cherry, G., Kazantsev, N., Rai, T., Williams, S., Wright, A., Street, T., Wells, K., Cook, A., Brown, A., Kanellos, T. (2023). Semantic Sensing for Data Innovation. International Conference on AI and the Digital Economy, 9^th (Venice, Italy, 26/06/2023 - 28/06/2023). CADE 2023. Available from: https://openresearch.surrey.ac.uk/esploro/outputs/conferencePaper/SEMANTIC-SENSING-FOR-DATA-INNOVATION/99782966602346#file-0
• Cherry, G., Rai, T., Boyden, L., Williams, S., Wright, A., Brown, R., Chu, V., Cook, A., and Wells, K. (2023). Comparative Analysis of Pet-parent Reported Pruritic Symptoms in Cats: Data from social media Listening and Surveys Similar. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. 17(7). Accessed from: https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/167663/comparative-analysis-of-pet-parent-reported-pruritic-symptoms-in-cats-data-from-social-media-listening-and-surveys-similar
• Cherry, G., Rai, T., Wright, A., Brown, R., Williams, S., Wells, K., Street, T., Cook, A. (2022). Understanding Feline Pruritus from The Pet Owner’s Perspective: Can Social Media Listening Identify and Describe A Pet Patients Pathway Through A Disease Process In Veterinary Medicine? ISPOR. Accessed from: https://www.ispor.org/docs/default-source/euro2022/msr87georginacherry-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=aa35c460_0
• Clutterbuck, D., Haddock-Millar, J., and Williams, S., (2020) When to say ‘no' to coaching assignments: a decision-making framework. International Journal of Human Resource Development: Practice, Policy & RESEARCH. ISSN 2397-4583 (Accepted/In press). Accessed from: https://cphrbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IJHRD-Vol-5-1-FINAL-2.pdf
• Humphrey, A., Fagan, L., Carruthers, E., Yuan, J.M., Ogynlana, K., Alfred, J., Nagasivam, A., Stevenson, K., Aldridge, R., Stevenson, F., Williams, S., and Burns, R. (2023) Perspectives on registration to primary care from inclusion health groups in England: a mixed-method study. The Lancet, 402, pp. S53.
• O’Leary, S., Lieberman, S., Gulyas, A., Ogilvie, M., Bates, D., Heath, T., Pelz, C., Williams, S., and Shalet, D. (2023). Management actions to address the climate emergency: Motivations and barriers for SMEs and other societal micro/meso-level groups. International Journal of Management Education. 21(3). Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1472811723000691?via%3Dihub
• Vudriko, P., Ekiri, A. B., Endacott, I., Williams, S., Gityamwi, N., Byaruhanga, J., Alafiatayo, R., Mijten, E., Tweyongyere, R., Varga, G., and Cook, A. (2021). A Survey of Priority Livestock Diseases and Laboratory Diagnostic Needs of Animal Health Professionals and Farmers in Uganda. Frontiers in veterinary science. Accessed from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.721800/full
• Williams, S., Cherry, G., Wright, A., Wells, K., Rai, T., Brown, R., Street, T., Cook, A., (2023). Exploring Symptoms, Causes and Treatments of Feline Pruritus Using Thematic Analysis of Pet Owner Social Media Posts. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. 17 (03). Accessed from: https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/159381/exploring-symptoms-causes-and-treatments-of-feline-pruritus-using-thematic-analysis-of-pet-owner-social-media-posts
• Williams, S., Endacott, I., Ekiri, A., Kichuki, M., Dineva, M., Galipo, E., Alexeenko, V., Alafiatayo, R., Mijten, E., Varga, G., & Cook, A. (2022). Barriers to vaccine use in small ruminants and poultry in Tanzania. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 89(1), 11. doi: https://ojvr.org/index.php/ojvr/article/view/2007/2375

Sitira is experienced in supervising MSc in Global Health dissertations and managing research teams. She is skilled in employing different methods of data collection, analysing quantitative and qualitative data and report or protocol/manuscript writing.

Sitira is experienced using Qualtrics to collect survey data, SPSS (Quantitative Data Analysis) and NVivo (Qualitative Data Analysis). Her research interests include intersectionality, social identity theory and the impacts of climate change.

De Montfort University

09/2025
PhD in Health Studies. Grade: Pending

De Montfort University

04/2021
Academic Professional Development Certificate: The effective Learning and Teaching at De Montfort University programme. Grade: Pass

De Montfort University

07/2018
MRes: Research in Applied Health Studies. Grade: Pass

De Montfort University

07/2016

BA Hons: Advertising and Marketing Communications. Grade: 2:1

University of Cyprus

06/2015
BA Hons | Undergraduate Erasmus-Overseas : Business and Public Administration

Earned ECTS: 41.00 | Points: 258.00 | GPS: 6.29

Miami International Seminary

12/2014
BATS Program: Systematic Theology

Total credits: 3 | Grade: 93 | Ltr Grade: A

12/2023 – Climate Action Awards 2023 - Enterprise for Climate Action.

06/2023 – Certificate of Participation on the Staffordshire Connected & Intelligent Mobility Innovation Accelerator (SCIMIA) programme.

03/2023 - Certificate of Best Presentation Award. ICVBD: XVII International Conference on Veterinary Big Data.

08/2022 - Women in Poultry: Sitira Williams.

07/2016 - The Highest Achieving Student on the Business Works Module. De Montfort University, Leicester.

03.2016 - Student shares #DMUglobal experience to encourage others to study in China.

11/2015 – Lean Sigma Green Belt Certificate. Future Learning Systems Ltd.

12/2023 - Annual Climate Awards as part of COP 28 at DMU

06/2023  - International Conference on AI and the Digital Economy. CADE 2023. Venice, Italy.

06/2023 - International Conference on Veterinary Big Data, Toronto, Canada

03/2023  - ICVBD 2023: XVII. International Conference on Veterinary Big Data, London, United Kingdom

09/2022 – UK-CSR Symposium Climate Change: The contribution of UK universities to addressing climate change from a sustainability perspective. - ‘The Climate Emergence in Business, Community and Campaign Groups – Driving Change for the Common Good.’

06/2022 - African Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement (A.L.P.H.A) Initiative 5^th Year Anniversary Conference.

06/2019 - The University Forum for HRD 20th Anniversary Celebratory Conference.

05/2017 - Trans-Forming Medicine 2017: Perspectives on Transgender Health.

03/2016 - Generation UK: China Network, the Golden Era of UK-China relations.

Upcoming conferences

03/2024  - Artificial Intelligence: ‘Seize the opportunities, Avoid the Hazards International Symposium. De Montfort University, Leicester.

Title

The lived experiences of transgender and gender-expansive youth (TGEY) transitioning and family dynamics across the UK: An Intersectionality Approach.

Abstract

This project will explore the lived experiences of transgender and gender expansive youth (TGEY) as well as the dynamics between them and their parents while transitioning. The aim of the research is to explore the experiences and expectations of TGEY towards their parents, and parental attitudes and reactions around their child’s transition. The study will explore TGEY experiences through an intersectionality perspective and contribute to the literature on intersectionality, TGEY, and parental dynamics. The study draws on ethnographic research methods to investigate through semi-structured interviews the experiences of TGEY in transitioning and their dynamics with parents, as well as the experiences of parents with TGEY, in particular their understanding of gender transitions. The findings of my research will lead to recommendations to support health and social care professionals on how best to provide care that is suited to the diverse ethnic-cultural backgrounds of TGEY and parental dynamics.

Dr Zowie Davy and Dr Cathy Herbrand