Personal statement

Matson is a Research Associate with the NORFACE-funded CILIA-LGBTQI+ study, based at the School of Education, examining intersectional lifecourse (in)equalities among LGBTQI+ people in four European countries.

    Prior to this role, he most recently worked on the TransEdu Scotland research and wider TransEDU project based at the University Strathclyde. Funded by the Scottish Funding Council, the research examined the experiences of, and current provision for, trans and non-binary applicants, students and staff in colleges and universities across Scotland. In 2018, the project was awarded a Guardian University Award, a Herald Scotland & GenAnalytics Diversity Award, and a Strathclyde Medal Team Award.

    Matson's forthcoming co-authored book – Supporting Trans and Non-Binary Students and Staff in Further and Higher Education: Practical advice for colleges and universities – will be published by Jessica Kingley Publishers in spring 2019. Matson has also led Creative Scotland-funded research on young disabled and D/deaf people’s access to arts provision with Birds of Paradise Theatre Company. He has worked extensively with intersectional LGBTQI+ communities in the third and arts sectors, through roles at LGBT Health and Wellbeing and CCC! Intersectional Arts.

    Matson holds an interdisciplinary Doctorate in Law and Applied Social Sciences from Durham University examining young adults’ perspectives on pornography and its legal regulation, and has been a Research Assistant on several gender-based violence projects.

    In 2018, Matson completed a secondment at the Scottish Funding Council as a Senior Policy / Analysis Officer, with responsibility for the implementation of the Gender Action Plan in colleges and universities across Scotland.