Captain Brian McJury AFNI FCILT & Nigel James AFNI in LONDON
Role of the Prudent Shipmaster: • Marine accident investigation • Charter Party disputes • Unsafe ports & berths • Due diligence • Navigation • Collisions • Groundings • Seamanship • ISM code • Hold cleanliness • Hatch covers • Cargo stowage & securing Ship operations: • Ship management • Ship performance • Seaworthiness • Passage planning • Fumigation • Liquefaction • Ship-handling • Weather routing • Containers
Mr Barmpopoulos in LONDON
Geotechnical engineering • Geotechnical analysis • Geotechnical design • Geotechnical assessment • Heavy civils • Buildings • Bridges • Basements • Maritime structures • Industrial slabs • Infrastructure • Road pavements • External paving • Site investigation • Desk study • Ground investigation • Groundwater • Seepage • Foundations • Shallow foundations • Footings • Raft foundations • Deep foundations • Bored piles • Driven piles • Rock sockets &...
Mr Mathieson in POOLE
Building contract disputes • Disrepair claims • Defective design & workmanship negligence claims • Building pathology • Building conversion & restoration • Party Wall, etc., Act Mr Mathieson is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Managing Director of Ellis Belk Associates Limited and a practising Chartered Building Surveyor with many years' experience investigating building defects of both design and workmanship. In addition to his expert witness workload, Mr Mathieson has been involved with Channel 4 and the BBC on such ...
Dr Mahony in NOTTINGHAM
Professional - Neighbourly I am appointed as party wall surveyor for building owners and adjoining owners. I frequently provide advice to parties wishing to undertake work close to or on the boundary, which may or may not fall within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This includes commercial and domestic clients. I am employed to help resolve disputes between parties over neighbourly matters, including the undertaking of building works or the removal of boundary features by one party, the position of the boundary, matters concerning access over another person’s land and proper...
Mr Wilson in MOLD
All aspects of geotechnical engineering, ground investigation, earthworks, foundations, piling, geotextiles, unforeseen ground claims • Author of SHW series 500 Drainage and Earthwork 600 series plus associated DMRB Vol 4 CUBS Expert Witness - Cardiff University Business School 2023
Dr Darley in HELENSBURGH
Investigation & testing of building & civil engineering materials & components Charles Darley Associates are independent materials testing consultants. Expertise is available in a wide range of materials and components including blockwork, cladding, reinforced and pre-stressed concrete, flooring, glazing, plaster, render, roofing systems and screeds. Dr Darley specialises in failure investigation, appraisal of latent defects and deterioration and assessment of physical damage.
Mr Evans in LONDON
Structural engineering • Civil engineering • Residential, domestic, commercial, retail, industrial, infrastructure, education, arts & leisure, oil & gas • Buildings • Retaining structures • Foundations • Basements • Car parks • Wind turbines • Industrial buildings • Heavy civils • Infrastructure • Portal frames • Tanks • Liquid retaining structures • Structural analysis • Structural assessment • Structural surveys • Structural design • Structural strengthening • Struc...
Mr Hampshire in YORK
Building pathology • Construction defects and costs • Boundary disputes • Professional negligence Other experts in the company: Mr Richard Brasnett Chartered Building Surveyor & Mr Aidan Stephenson Chartered Quantity Surveyor
Mr Scott in WOLVERHAMPTON
Provides professional services in the following field of expertise: • Construction defects • Building contract and property title disputes • Landlord and tenant dilapidations • Section 11 housing disrepair
Mr Cavell in LONDON
Structural defects • Concrete defects • Building refurbishment • Building materials • Building defects • Contractual disputes • Structural & building failures • Deleterious materials • M & E issues • Fitness for purpose • Workmanship • Contract disputes • Building fabric • Roofing • Windows • Cladding • Stone masonry • Brickwork • Render • Plaster • Mortar • Corrosion • Coatings • Cathodic protection • Concrete repairs • Durability
Mr Palos in LONDON
During the 39 years of my business life I have practised as a surveyor advising on many aspects of residential and commercial property, investment, development and management. This includes: • Valuation • Survey • Pathology • Defect diagnosis • Sale • Letting • Purchase • Management • Repair • Advice on landlord and tenant • Dilapidations • Boundary disputes • Party walls • Right to light • Building disputes I have extensive valuation experience on residential and commercial properties throughout ...
Mr Bates in HEATHFIELD
Architecture generally, particularly: • Residential work • Refurbishment, conversion & alteration schemes • Professional practice • Party Wall matters • Defects & building failures • Town planning • Educational schemes • Commercial schemes • Fee scales & payment on quantum meruit basis • Architect professional negligence
Mr Badham in SOUTHAMPTON
Building surveying • Building pathology and building defects • Construction disputes • Professional negligence in relation to building surveying and contract administration • Dilapidations • Party wall matters
Mr Norris in LONDON
Geotechnical engineering • Geotechnical analysis • Geotechnical design • Desk study • Ground investigation • Geotechnical asset management • Foundations • Shallow foundations • Deep foundations • Bored piles • Driven piles • Retaining structures • Reinforced earth walls • Gravity retaining walls • Gabion walls • Concrete walls • Modular block walls • Embedded retaining walls • Contiguous piles • Secant piles • Sheet piles • Hybrid retaining walls • Earthworks R...
Mr Magowan in TWICKENHAM
Japanese knotweed • Boundary disputes • Residential construction disputes • Leasehold enfranchisement • Valuations • Easements • Restrictive covenants
Mr De Silva in LONDON
Structural engineering • Civil engineering • Residential, domestic, commercial, retail, industrial, infrastructure, education, arts & leisure, oil & gas • Buildings • High-rise • Underground structures • Retaining structures • Foundations • Basements • Car parks • Bridges • Ports • Petrochemical facilities • Offshore structures • Wind turbines • Industrial buildings • Heavy civils • Infrastructure • Rail • Airports • Stations • Silos • Domes • Concre...
Dr Bateman in EDINBURGH
Forensic fire engineer with specific expertise in building defects, supported by an international company. The role of the fire engineer and development of fire strategy design • Iterative development of fire strategy throughout RIBA stages • Approvals processes (including fire services) • Engagement with other stakeholders and contractors Building regulations and design guidance • The Building Regulations, including Building (Scotland) Regulations, and the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland), both current and histori...
Mr Hay in SAFFRON WALDEN
• Chartered Architect • Full time Expert Witness • RIBA Register of Experts • Academy of Experts • Society of Construction Law • Experienced in architectural and contractual disputes • CPR 35 reports; has been cross-examined • Registered Mediator Expert architect in buildings and construction and professional negligence • Expertise on fire regulations, fire stopping & fire compliance • Recognised as an expert in the external envelope brick timber and cladding • Architect's negligence • H...
Mr Puller in SEVENOAKS
Expert in the design, construction & forensic analysis of defects & failures in geotechnical works including: • Deep basements • Deep foundations • Bored piles • Secant piles • Diaphragm walls • Continuous flight auger piles • Barrettes • Rock anchors
Dr Pitman in WOOLER
Wood protection, including performance of wood treated with preservatives and performance and failure of coatings • Performance of timber joinery, including doors and windows • Wood failure in service, including scaffold boards, posts and retaining walls • Wood cladding • Plywood quality • Disputes relating to quality and performance of wood products
Mr Faily in MANCHESTER
Civil engineering • Reinforced concrete structures • Pipelines and drainage works • Scaffolding and work at height • Use of ladders • Piling • Subsidence • Rising damp • Highway design • Minor structures • Slips, trip and falls • Personal protective equipment • Construction site practice • Earthworks and earthmoving equipment • Excavators and cranes • Contractual disputes • Structural surveys • Building defects • Construction regulations • Bridge design • Bridge construction
Mr Powell in RINGWOOD
Boundary disputes • Boundary demarcation • Conveyance plan clarification • Plans for vehicle accident sites • Professional negligence reports • Land parcel area calculations & reports • Land volume calculations & reports
Mr Murray in LONDON
Architecture • Planning • Building regulations • Cladding • Facades • Fire protection • Fire • Professional negligence • Defects • Remedial works • Water ingress • Damp • Roofing • Condensation • Basements • Curtain wall • Glass • Joinery • Partitions • Flooring • Corrosion • Acoustics • Contract administration • Design • Co-ordination • Appointment • Listed buildings • Waterproofing
Mr Isaacs in TOTNES
Expert Witness - Preparing reports under CPR Part 35 concerning boundary disputes, building disputes, party wall matters, professional negligence, Landlord and Tenant matters and building defects. Acting as single joint and party appointed expert witness, including numerous appearances in the county court and Landlord and Tenant Tribunals as Expert Witness. Boundary Disputes - Extensive experience undertaking boundary surveys and preparing reports for court. Professional Negligence Matters - I have experience of carrying out building surveys and Homebuyer surveys on a wide...
Mr Way in CHISLEHURST
Party wall disputes • Building contract disputes - typically domestic to a value of £250,000 • Residential service charge disputes - acting for either freeholder or leaseholder • Housing disrepair - Section 11 complaints - acting for either landlord or tenant • Building element condition and compliance for personal injury cases (and similar)
Dr Antino in CHELMSFORD
• Dispute resolution claims, adjudication and arbitration • Professional negligence claims - Philip regularly acts for parties that are seeking compensation from a negligent surveyor or representing surveyors where an allegation of negligence has been made • Expert witness reports acting as a claimant, defendant and/or single joint expert in building dispute matters • Party wall consultant and published author on the Party Wall Act, first person to undertake doctoral research into the Party Wall, etc., Act 1996 • Landlord and tenant dilapidation di...
Mr Pidding in GERRARDS CROSS
Suspended ceilings • Partitions • Raised access floors • Dry lining & drywall partitions • Glass & glazed partitions • Shaftwalls • Plasterwork (solid & cast) • External render • Stucco • Subcontract disputes (building) • Interior fit-outs • Extensive experience in acting as expert engaged on behalf of building owners, main & management contractors, subcontractors & specialists in disputes as to quantum, performance, merchantable or satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose & infringement of design copyri...
Mr de Boehmler in LONDON
Full-time expert witness experienced in technical report writing for building, development and construction project disputes and insurance claims • For claimant, defendant, contractor, employer, insurer • 40 years of professional industry experience, including 20 years at partner or director level in international property firms • Worked in the UK, Europe, US, Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai Building surveying • Building defects pathology diagnosis and causation • Inspections and survey reports • Professional negligence • Competence of...
Mr Robins in UTTOXETER
I discovered Heat & Mass Transfer whilst a student marine engineer. It set me on a career dedicated to thermal systems analysis, design and construction. I was first retained by the Department of Energy, then by the DTI Design Advisory Service and the Production Engineering Research Association (PERA). I have since undertaken 50 plant design and build projects alongside 60 process consultancies, and have successfully completed more than 20 expert witness instructions. I am a Chartered Mechanical Engineer (MIMechE), Member of the Institution of Engineering Designers (MIED), and of t...
Mr Ahmed in LONDON
Building defects • Building surveys • Dilapidations • Family disputes • Housing disrepair • Landlord and tenant compensation • Matrimonial disputes • Professional negligence • Party wall disputes • Valuation disputes
Mr Brasnett in YORK
Building pathology • Construction defects and costs • Boundary disputes • Professional negligence • Building surveying • Residential valuations
Mr Hetherington in EDINBURGH
Duty of care • Tensile structures • Lightweight structures • Mobile structures • Limited lifespan structures • Demountable structures • Temporary structures • Aluminium structures • Steel structures • Concrete structures • Timber structures • Masonry structures • Traditional buildings • Historic fountains • Staircases • Scaffolding • Engineering for public art • Structural connections • Structural glass • Glass-reinforced concrete • Piling • Foundations • Retainin...
Mr Morley in REDHILL
Building defects • Works not in accordance with Building Regulations • Reviews of design information in relation to scope • Reviews of the design/construction of external walls with respect to Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations (e.g. material specification, cavity barriers) • Performance of the architect or lead designer
Mr Davies in LONDON
Structural engineering issues relating to buildings, including but not limited to the following: • Steel, timber and reinforced/post-tensioned concrete frames. • Multi-disciplinary design and BIM. • Cladding and roofing. • Excessive deflections and vibrations. • Water ingress.
Mr Langley in WELLS
Having nearly 40 years' experience in the construction industry, working extensively with kitchen and bathroom installations, joinery, structural waterproofing and general construction in both domestic and commercial environments. Reporting on issues with floor finishes affected by incorrect screed specification or installation, caused by excessive moisture content, incorrect curing or incorrect use of expansion joints resulting in the failure of the flooring. Experienced in the design and laying of liquid floor screeds in domestic and commercial properties for nearly 25 y...
Eur Ing Symonds in BROMSGROVE
Structural engineering design • Building contracts • Settlement or subsidence problems • Insurance relating to buildings • Civil engineering • Structural failures • Drainage • Accidents: industrial & commercial
Mr Fleming in BENLLECH
Mountaineering & rock climbing/abseiling • Winter mountaineering in the UK • Overseas mountaineering • Overseas expeditions, including Duke of Edinburgh • Canyoning & gorge walking • Sea level traversing • Walking & expeditioning • Climbing walls • Rope courses & zip wires • In-house instructor accreditation schemes • National Governing Body Award instructor schemes for mountain training British Mountaineering Council Approved Expert Witness
Mr Moore in BIGGLESWADE
My field of expertise is in commercial and domestic buildings, having undertaken extensive instructions from individual clients, generally concerning defect analysis and forensic analysis of building defects within private practice (small Chartered Surveying practices and national organisations). In addition to this, I have considerable experience within the subsidence field, acting for both insurers and insured parties.
Mr Nabarro in LEEDS
Domestic building disputes • Building surveying • Valuation disputes, including professional negligence matters • Surveying & valuing • Boundary disputes • Party wall matters
Mr Cluxton in BIRMINGHAM
Market valuations for all purposes • Homebuyer reports • Building surveys • Single defect surveys • Boundary disputes and determinations • Disputes relating to building works • Design of remedial works • Party wall work • Applications to Land Registry • Expert witness reports
Mr Blake in CROPTON
Subsidence cases • Workmanship issues in construction, both commercial and domestic • Drainage issues • Paving • Concrete • Brickwork defects • Defective design 40 years' experience of the construction industry in the UK and Middle East.
Mr Levy in BOREHAMWOOD
Building surveying: • Structural surveys & valuation • Boundary disputes • Party wall administration • Building defect diagnosis • Construction & contract administration • Building disputes • Subsidence damage • Leasehold dilapidations • Duties of a Chartered Surveyor or Valuer & negligence • Double glazing & conservatory disputes • Fire damage • Fire precautions & means of escape • Kitchen & joinery installation disputes Simon Levy is the Principal of an active, multi...
Mr Firkins in WISLEY
• Expert Witness: Josh Firkins provides expert witness services for chimney systems and solid fuel appliances. • Extensive Experience: He has over two decades of professional experience. • Family Heritage: His expertise is rooted in a family heritage of chimney specialisation since 1860. • Comprehensive Consultancy: He offers comprehensive consultancy services. • Chimney Installations and Regulations: He evaluates chimney installations for adherence to building regulations and safety standards. • Solid Fuel Appliance Expertise: He demonst...
Mr Record in SHREWSBURY
I am a Chartered Building Surveyor, Chartered Project Manager and RICS Registered Valuer with over 25 years’ experience in project management and general building consultancy across the public and private sectors. I have completed the Legal Experience Training Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence and am a member of the Academy of Experts. I have prepared numerous CPR-compliant expert witness reports either as a single joint expert or a sole expert. This includes disputes over: • Professional negligence • Building and construction works • Hou...
Mr Appleyard in BINGLEY
Fenestration & Building Envelope Consultant • Glass • Glazing • Frames in wood, steel, aluminium, PVC, etc. • Curtain walling • Conservatories • Overhead glazing • Safety verification • Conservation glass • Stained & coloured glass • Rainscreen cladding • Thermal imaging • Thermography infrared surveys • Building defects • Water ingress • Thermal performance • Accredited & Registered Mediator
Mr Pereira in RICHMOND
Subsidence, heave, settlement and ground movement • Damage from back extensions and loft conversions • New house and extension foundation design • Foundation and pile design (bored piles, CFA piles, mini piles, secant and contiguous piled walls) • Retaining walls and failed retaining structures • Basements and basement impact assessment near neighbouring properties • Boundary and level difference disputes (banks, embankments, cuttings) • Ground investigation and site investigation adequacy • Geotechnical analysis and design • Slope stabilit...
Mr Giles-Carlsson in CHEADLE
Expert witness and forensic investigation services relating to civil engineering failures and disputes. Areas of expertise include: • Collapse of steel, masonry and reinforced concrete structures and buildings • Construction site, workplace and other health and safety investigations, including the review of responsibilities under CDM, risk assessments and safe systems of work • Wind-induced collapses • Failure of retaining walls • Roof collapses • Structural damage • Review of structural strengthening and remedial works ...
Dr Ryan in EPSOM
Consultancy specification & design of curtain walls, cladding, solar shading, overhead glazing, atrium glazing & bolted glass • Weatherproofing of the building facade, cladding & overhead glazing • Facade & roof specification & design • Structural design of facades, cladding & components in glass, aluminium & stainless steel • Durability of facade, roof & cladding materials
Mr Clark in LEEDS
Academy of Experts & Registered Expert Witness Consulting Engineer with more than 50 years' experience in the UK, Middle East, Far East and SE Asia. Design of numerous low- and high-rise commercial, industrial and public buildings and structures, as well as basements, foundations and retaining walls involving: • masonry • concrete • steel • timber. Investigation of defective: • design • materials • construction • fabrication • manufacturing. Investigation of: ...
Mr Hambly in LONDON
General civil & structural engineering • Reinforced concrete design • Foundations design • Settlement & subsidence • Bridges • Drainage • Waterproofing • Roofing
Mr Potter in HORSLEY
An architect with 39 years' experience on a range of building types & sizes. I advise upon claims against architects; investigate defective building fabric, especially external walls & flat & pitched roofs, condensation & air leakage & disputes concerning inspection, valuation & certification. I act in mediation, arbitration & adjudication, as an SJE, & give evidence at the TCC. I work throughout the UK for insurers, loss adjustors, building owners, contractors & material suppliers. I am included on the List of Expert Architects compiled by the Presiden...
Mr Binns in CHESTER
The geotechnical issues relating to the analysis, design, specification & construction of building & civil engineering works, e.g. residential developments, commercial developments, highways, railways, landfills • Specifically in the geotechnical areas of slope stability, quarry stability, foundation design & construction, retaining wall design & construction, highway design & construction, railway design & construction, landfill design & construction • Expert reports on all the above issues
Mr Hookham in LONDON
Structural engineering • Buildings • Retaining structures • Foundations • Basements • Car parks • Structural analysis • Structural design • Structural strengthening • Remedial works • Structural failure • Collapse • Robustness • Durability • Cracking in concrete • Corrosion • Concrete deterioration • Ground movement • Temporary works • Workmanship • Water ingress • Dynamics • Vibrations • Wind loading • Wind damage • Steel • Reinforced conc
Mr Stevenson in LONDON
Structural engineering • Civil engineering • Engineering design • Steelwork • Reinforced concrete • Masonry • Buildings • Basements • Movement • Cracking • Failure • Collapse • Waterproofing • Water ingress • Roofs • Floor slabs • Foundations • Piling • Underpinning • Retaining walls • Deep basements • Diaphragm walls • Heave • Subsidence • Ground movement • Deflection • Vibration • Railway stations • Underground stations •
Mr Naylor in STOURBRIDGE
Construction safety • Occupational health & safety • Personal injury • Slips & trips • Manual handling • Accident investigations • Flooding damage • Geotechnical engineering • Foundations & earthworks • Embankments & cuttings • Soil & rock slope instability • Subsidence, settlement & heave • Treatment of mineworkings • Landfill engineering • Stabilisation works • Retaining walls • Ground improvement • Contamination • Drainage
Mr Salvage in LONDON
I am a Chartered Building Surveyor and a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors with over a decade of surveying experience. I have also completed the RICS Expert Witness Certificate, and am familiar with providing CPR35-compliant reports. The majority of my experience is within core building surveying services, providing building surveys, building pathology and defect diagnosis, damp diagnosis and contract administration. I have a specific skillset within the heritage and listed buildings sector, providing advice on sympathetic repairs and traditional materials....
Mr Frias-Robles in BOURNEMOUTH
Building contract disputes: financial and contractual analysis • Dilapidations claims • Dampness and disrepair claims • Party Wall Act • Defective or incomplete building works • Building defects: commercial and residential Mr Frias-Robles is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS), Party Wall Expert and Fellow of the Pyramus and Thisbe Club Learned Society.
Mr Hannent in DEAL
Building control and regulations • Construction contract disputes • Negligent construction and design • Housing disrepair • Building defects and pathology • Surveyor negligence • Valuation of property, including family, proceeds of crime, land with development potential, diminution, etc. • Party wall and boundary matters Also consulting at: 140 Ewell Road, Surbiton ,KT6 6HE.
Mr Ali in MIRFIELD
Chartered Bridge Engineer with extensive experience of bridge engineering. • Bridge design to old historical standards (BS5400 and earlier) • Bridge design to current eurocode standards • Prestressed concrete and steel composite bridge design • Strengthening of substandard bridge structures • Remedial works for bridge structures • Bridge maintenance works • Bridge inspection works and training • DMRB and NR standards • Defect identification • Bridge management • Bridge defects cause
Mr Harrison in CHESHAM
Independent Expert Witness with 23 years’ experience in domestic hard and soft landscaping and garden construction, regularly instructed by solicitors and parties in dispute resolution and litigation. Reports are prepared in accordance with CPR Part 35, RICS and the Expert’s overriding duty to the Court. Expertise includes: • Landscape construction and best practice • Timber and composite decking design and installation • Paving, walling and substructure build-ups • General external works for domestic/commercial gardens Services include: •...
Mr Barham in LONDON
Nick is a Chartered Civil and Structural Engineer with over 25 years’ experience in the construction industry. He started his career working on construction sites whilst studying civil engineering, obtaining a first-class honours degree. He then worked at a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy in the UK, qualifying as a Chartered Engineer in 2009. Nick then began focusing on forensic engineering and dispute resolution work at a specialist consultancy in the UK, and has been working as an Expert Witness, in the UK and internationally, since 2012. He is a Director at Rimkus, a global ...
Ms Sheehan in LONDON
Chartered Engineer with 20 years' experience as a Fire Consultant with specific expertise in fire safety defects (internal and external) • Instructed by both claimant and defendant and has experience being cross-examined Expertise includes, but not limited to: 1. The role of the fire engineer and development of fire strategy design • Iterative development of fire strategy throughout RIBA stages • Approvals processes (including fire services) • Engagement with other stakeholders and contractors 2. Building regulations and design guidan...
Mr Billingham in AMERSHAM
Foundation failures, including heave & subsidence-related problems • Building defects of structure & fabric, including concrete, steel, timber & masonry buildings, whether prefabricated or in situ • Footbridge & cycle bridge-related problems of deck & structure • Concrete failures due to contamination, chloride attack, carbonation, sulphate attack, alkali-silica reaction, together with pollution-related problems & their effect • Prestressing & related problems, including prestressed & post-tensioned in situ concrete • Cements •...
Mr Parkin in CHORLEY
Building surveying • Building technology • Buildings • Alterations to buildings • Damp in buildings • Dilapidations • Dilapidation of buildings • Construction of buildings • Construction • Architecture • Fire • Fire safety • Building regulations • Boundary disputes • Party walls • Building design • Building defects • Construction defects • Building inspection • Building condition • Building Act • Building engineering • Building pathology • Commercial buildin
Mr Taylor in COLCHESTER
Construction disputes • Geotechnical-related matters, i.e. insurance claims for subsidence & ground engineering design • Surveyors' negligence • Boundary disputes • Civil & structural engineering-related matters
Mr Kent in LONDON
Facade design • Facade performance • Performance testing • Facade specification • Building regulations • Material and product selection • Glass • Overhead glazing • Cladding • Rainscreen cladding • Curtain walls • Unitised facades • Stick curtain walling • Windows (non-domestic) • Fenestration • Weatherproofing • Water ingress • Leakage • Installation • Workmanship • Building envelope interfaces • Defects analysis • Failure investigation • Fire safety specif
Dr Singh in MILTON KEYNES
Dry rot • Wet rot • Woodworm • Timber decay • Indoor air quality • Sick building syndrome • Flood & fire damage • Allergy problems in buildings • Conservation of historic buildings • Building defects analysis • Environmental health • Building mycologist, pathologist & environmental health scientist