McDermott earned her doctoral degree at the Lancaster University, where she studied the influence of lesbian identity and social class on wellbeing.
[1] She was a postdoctoral researcher on a project that looked to understand how people affected by cancer understood end of life issues.
[4][5] The research programme looked to understand why LGBT young people have a higher risk of suicide than their heterosexual counterparts.
[5] The programme came to be known as Queer Futures,[6] and identified that 70% of young people have experienced discrimination or bullying related to their sexual orientation.
[14] McDermot serves on the board of trustees of the Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Voluntary and Community Organisations.