My academic journey has taken me from studying education and law at the University of Glasgow to exploring climate change research at Queen’s University Belfast. Along the way, I have developed a growing interest in how people experience the world around them, how institutions shape everyday life, and how research can help us understand the challenges facing society.
I am now undertaking a PhD at Ulster University through the Centre for People’s Justice. My research explores how people’s perceptions of their own income influence the way they interact with the welfare system. I am particularly interested in the relationship between subjective financial circumstances, social mobility and the legitimacy of policies and events, and in what people’s experiences can tell us about how welfare systems are understood and experienced.
My earlier climate change research has also shaped my interests, particularly in how environmental change affects communities and the decisions that influence their futures. I enjoy bringing together different perspectives and exploring questions that sit between disciplines, especially where research can contribute to a better understanding of people’s lives.
Outside of academia, I enjoy arts and crafts, which give me a chance to be creative and take a break from research. I am always interested in learning something new, meeting people with different perspectives and finding connections between the things I study and the world around me.
