Personal statement

I am a Professor of Human Development and Education Policy at the University of Strathclyde, where I have been a member of the Strathclyde Institute of Education since 2016. I also hold the position of Depute Head (Research), overseeing the Institute’s strategic direction in research and fostering an environment of academic excellence and collaboration.

I earned my PhD in Sociology from the University of Mannheim in 2013, where I developed a strong foundation in life course research and quantitative methods. From 2013 to 2015, I worked as a research fellow for the ESRC-funded Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN) at the University of Edinburgh, honing my expertise in advanced data analysis and socioeconomic research.

Generally, my research investigates the formation of socioeconomic inequalities across the life course, focusing on the interplay between education, social mobility, and labour market outcomes. My work uses advanced quantitative methods and secondary data analysis to uncover critical insights into these dynamics.

I have developed a strong research focus on the socioeconomic causes and consequences of school absences. I served as the Principal Investigator for the ESRC Secondary Data Analysis Initiative project, Family background and educational attainment: An investigation into the mediating role of school absenteeism and led the Nuffield Foundation-funded project Understanding school attendance, education, and labour market outcomes. These projects have produced impactful findings, widely disseminated through policy briefs, peer-reviewed publications, and knowledge exchange activities. For more information, see schoolattendance.org.

My research bridges academia, policy, and practice. I collaborate with civil servants, charities, and schools to address pressing challenges in education. My work on school attendance has directly influenced policy discussions, including engagements with the UK Department for Education, the Scottish and Welsh Governments, and the OECD. I have delivered keynotes and provided expert evidence to parliamentary committees and advisory groups, ensuring that my research contributes to tangible societal improvements.

I also communicate my findings to broader audiences through media outlets like The Conversation and TES Magazine. My work has been featured in major publications, including the Washington Post, and cited extensively in policy documents worldwide.

My work appears in top sociology, psychology and education journals, including Sociological Science, European Sociological Review, Child Development, AERA Open, and the British Educational Research Journal. My research on school attendance, educational inequality, and school-to-work transitions has been cited by major international organizations such as the OECD and ILO, demonstrating its relevance and global impact.

I am also a Life Course Research Affiliate at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course at the University of Queensland and serves on the Editorial Board of the British Sociological Association’s flagship journal, Sociology.I have served on review panels for prestigious funding bodies, including the ESRC, Dutch Research Council, and Swiss National Science Foundation.

My teaching reflects my research expertise, blending theoretical insights with practical applications. I lead the Sociology of Education module in the MSc Education Studies, a module I developed to address critical gaps in the curriculum. Known for its dynamic and research-driven approach, the module has been especially popular among international students.

I supervise research in child development, educational inequality, social mobility, education policy, and comparative studies, equipping students with the skills to address real-world educational challenges.