Dr Amrit Kaur Purba is a Senior Research Associate at the Digital Mental Health Group led by Dr Amy Orben at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge. Her work, supported by national and international funders, organisations, charities, and foundations, is recognised through high-impact, peer-reviewed publications, including contributions to the prestigious British Medical Journal. These contributions have informed health policy, educators, and caregivers on a global scale. She plays a pivotal role in public health initiatives that address the impact of social media on youth health and mitigate health inequalities. Dr Purba’s expertise has guided the United Nations, 10 Downing Street, international governments, health organisations, academic institutions, and the public, helping to harness social media to promote health rather than hinder it.

Dr. Purba earned her DPhil and Master’s in Public Health from the University of Glasgow, where her doctoral research explored the potential causal relationship between social media use and youth engagement in health-risk behaviours, such as anti-social behaviour and substance use. Her career spans public health practice, industry, policy, and academia, including her time at the Oxford Internet Institute and as an Associate Member of St Antony’s College, University of Oxford. Dr. Purba has received several prestigious awards, including the Sigma Theta Tau International Honour Society Award and the Royal College of Nursing Foundation Trevor Clay Award for her work in addressing health inequalities. Her research and commentary have been featured at various UK and international conferences, and she has appeared in media outlets such as the BBC, The Times, and The Scotsman.

To see a list of publications, please visit this page.