Dr Aventin is a social psychologist who specialises in sexual and reproductive health research. She is expert in complex behavioural intervention development, optimisation and evaluation. Her research focuses on pregnancy loss, perinatal mental health, relationships and sexuality education, and addressing global challenges in sexual and reproductive health.

Dr Aventin is Principal Investigator of The PEARL Study, which involves development of an intervention for women experiencing pregnancy loss bereavement, and Chair of the Northern Ireland Pregnancy Loss Research and Policy Network.  She is also Co-Principal Investigator of the If I Were Thabo trial, which examines the feasibility of a relationships and sexuality education intervention in South Africa and Lesotho.