We are seeking ambitious postgraduate researchers to join our mature and dynamic research culture in Social Sciences and Criminology at Edge Hill. Our research includes work on a range of diverse subjects, with a particular focus on researching with, for, and by children and young people. This includes work theorising youth and exploring youth, community and social policy, children’s worlds and peer interactions, children’s voice, young people within the policy-making process, international perspectives on childhood and youth, migration and crime, and youth justice. We also undertake research on prisons, critical autism studies, sociology of the body, child protection, critical animal studies, sociology of the climate crisis, gender, religion, sexuality, safeguarding, citizenship, and work on conflict, post-conflict transition and human rights.
At the heart of this diversity, and what draws us together, is a long-standing commitment to promoting equality and progressive social change by adopting critical social scientific perspectives and undertaking inquiry into policy-relevant areas and issues specifically designed to counter discrimination and inequality, particularly on the grounds of disability, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. Our work employs social science methodologies to give and amplify voices to the socially excluded and those often rendered invisible in the policy realm. Our research is also regularly conducted with third sector organisations.
Sociology of religion: The experience and/or exit of LGBTQ+ people in religious traditions
We are looking for people with a background in social sciences, humanities, religion, theology or education studies who are interested in working on projects relating to the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in religious traditions. A project of this nature would involve empirically based research with one or more religious tradition(s).
We are looking for people with a background in social sciences, humanities, religion, theology or education studies who are interested in working on projects relating to the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in religious traditions. A project of this nature would involve empirically based research with one or more religious tradition(s).
Potential research themes include (but are not limited to):
The experience of LGBTQ+ people in one or more religious tradition
The exit of LGBTQ+ people from religious traditions
A focus on wellbeing relating to LGBTQ+ people in religious traditions.
A specific focus on bisexual people’s experiences of/exit from religious traditions.
A specific focus on trans people’s experiences of/exit from religious traditions.
In the first instance please direct all enquiries about proposed projects on topics related to this opportunity to Professor Chris Greenough and Dr. Seán Henry.
Child abuse in sport
We are looking for people with a background in sociology, education, history, human geography, public policy, human rights, criminology, childhood studies, sport/leisure studies, or gender studies who have an interest in conducting research into national responses to the abuse of children within specific social/cultural fields, including (but not limited to) sport and leisure. We are particularly interested in individuals who wish to conduct comparative research between the UK and Germany, and/or other countries. We are looking for people who are passionate about making a difference to children’s lives through critical social research into policy, practice, and/or lived experience.
We are looking for people with a background in sociology, education, history, human geography, public policy, human rights, criminology, childhood studies, sport/leisure studies, or gender studies who have an interest in conducting research into national responses to the abuse of children within specific social/cultural fields, including (but not limited to) sport and leisure. We are particularly interested in individuals who wish to conduct comparative research between the UK and Germany, and/or other countries. We are looking for people who are passionate about making a difference to children’s lives through critical social research into policy, practice, and/or lived experience.
Potential research themes include (but are not limited to):
National / organisational responses to child abuse in sport and/or other socio-cultural domain.
Gender issues in abuse in sport.
Child protection/safeguarding policy and practice (or aspect of) within or between specific domains (e.g., sport, music, drama, dance).
Organisational responses to victim-survivors of child abuse (or a specific form of) in sport (or other domain).
In the first instance please direct all enquiries about proposed projects on topics related to this opportunity to Prof. Mike Hartill.
Sociological, cultural and political dimensions of the climate crisis
We are looking for people with a background in the environmental social sciences and/or environmental humanities who have an interest in working on projects that can illuminate the mitigation of the overlapping climate and biodiversity crises. Proposals that critically address anthropocentrism and the classed, racialised and/or gendered nature of these crises are welcome. PhD researchers will have the opportunity to be affiliated with the University’s Centre for Human-Animal Studies (CfHAS).
We are looking for people with a background in the environmental social sciences and/or environmental humanities who have an interest in working on projects that can illuminate the mitigation of the overlapping climate and biodiversity crises. Proposals that critically address anthropocentrism and the classed, racialised and/or gendered nature of these crises are welcome. PhD researchers will have the opportunity to be affiliated with the University’s Centre for Human-Animal Studies (CfHAS).
Potential research themes include (but are not limited to):
Critical engagements with leading climate discourses (e.g., Capitalocene, climate justice, net zero)
Sociological contributions to societal transition
Gendered dimensions of the climate and/or biodiversity crises
Institutional inertia against societal transformation
Climate anxiety and grief – public perceptions of crisis
In the first instance please direct all enquiries about proposed projects on topics related to this opportunity to Dr. Richard Twine.
The social, ethical and political aspects of plant-based transition
We are looking for people with experience of engaging with the challenge of sustainable food system change with a specific focus on plant-based transition. Proposals that focus on the critical analysis of human-animal relations as well as, for example, the classed, gendered, or institutional dimensions of plant-based transition are welcome. PhD researchers will have the opportunity to be affiliated with the University’s Centre for Human-Animal Studies (CfHAS).
We are looking for people with experience of engaging with the challenge of sustainable food system change with a specific focus on plant-based transition. Proposals that focus on the critical analysis of human-animal relations as well as, for example, the classed, gendered, or institutional dimensions of plant-based transition are welcome. PhD researchers will have the opportunity to be affiliated with the University’s Centre for Human-Animal Studies (CfHAS).
Potential research themes include (but are not limited to):
The cultural politics of veganism
Institutional responses to plant-based transition
Civil society and plant-based transition
Veganism and gender (e.g., relationships between gender identity and vegan practice; eco-masculinities)
Social class, food justice and plant-based transition
In the first instance please direct all enquiries about proposed projects on topics related to this opportunity to Dr. Richard Twine.
Community wealth building
We are looking for people who are interested in social policy, local economic development, social enterprise and community-owned business. The project would focus on Wigan Council’s community wealth building strategy, which aims to create sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits for its residents.
We are looking for people who are interested in social policy, local economic development, social enterprise and community-owned business. The project would focus on Wigan Council’s community wealth building strategy, which aims to create sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits for its residents.
There is scope to shape the direction of this research which would explore some of the initiatives already carried out in the region and consider the wider potential of community wealth building for social change. Successful applicants would have the opportunity to be associated with the Centre for Social Responsibility which works in creative ways to address social, health and economic inequalities and promote social justice, as well as promote civic engagement and local, place-based work.
In the first instance please direct all enquiries about proposed projects on topics related to this opportunity to Dr. Victoria Foster.
Gardens for wellbeing
We are looking for people who have an interest in exploring the benefits of community gardens and green spaces. The project would involve working with established partnerships, including the RHS Bridgewater, and potentially forging new partnerships.
We are looking for people who have an interest in exploring the benefits of community gardens and green spaces. The project would involve working with established partnerships, including the RHS Bridgewater, and potentially forging new partnerships.
We are particularly interested in projects using innovative methods to understand how asset-based community working supports resilience, wellbeing and overall community cohesion. Successful applicants would have the opportunity to be associated with the Centre for Social Responsibility which works in creative ways to address social, health and economic inequalities and promote social justice, as well as promote civic engagement and local, place-based work.
In the first instance please direct all enquiries about proposed projects on topics related to this opportunity to Dr. Victoria Foster.
Migrant welcome and social wellbeing in England: interdisciplinary multi-stakeholder analyses
We are looking for excellent researchers at the intersections of sociology, geography, public health and wellbeing, who have an interest in the broad area of migration.
We are looking for excellent researchers at the intersections of sociology, geography, public health and wellbeing, who have an interest in the broad area of migration.
Potential research themes include (but are not limited to):
Sponsorship schemes for refugees in the UK and their impact on wellbeing
Communities’ social wellbeing in the context of the recent turbulences in the North-West of England
Accommodation schemes for asylum seekers and impact on mental health
Asylum seeking children and wellbeing interventions in schools and communities
Institutional responses to anti-immigrant riots in the UK and their legacy on social wellbeing
In the first instance please direct all enquiries about proposed projects on topics related to this opportunity to Dr Zana Vathi.
Please direct all specific enquiries about proposed projects to academics listed on each advertised project. Any generic queries about research degrees in Social Sciences and Criminology can be emailed to Professor Chris Greenough, Graduate School Research Degree Coordinator.
Additional information about Social Science and Criminology research at Edge Hill can be found on our research area web pages. The University’s research repositoryalso contains further information on the research outputs of each member of staff.
