[1] Her research includes a focus on early Christian identity in its historical context, and literary analysis of biblical texts.
[1] She remained at Durham to undertake postgraduate studies in theology, and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1973.
[1] She then moved to the University of Oxford where she trained to be a school teacher, completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in 1974.
[1] She undertook postgraduate research at the University of Birmingham, and completed her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1980.
[1] In 1976, she married Samuel N. C. Lieu, a historian of Manichaeism and Christianity in Central Asia and China.