Emilie Whitaker

Dr. Emilie Whitaker is an established ethnographer and sociologist at the University of Salford, where she serves as the Director of Postgraduate Research for the School of Health and Society since 2024. She also holds visiting lectureships in Sociology at Cardiff University and DePaul University, Chicago. From 2024-2026, she is on secondment for two days per week to the Central Analysis and Science Strategy Unit in the civil service.

Her research focuses on:

• Ethnographic methods and writing
• Place-making and spatial sociology
• Sociology of everyday life
• Objects and material culture
• Temporal aspects of social life
• Creative qualitative methodologies

Dr. Whitaker's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on methodological innovation in qualitative research, with particular attention to reflexivity, ethnographic practice, and the application of sociological theories to contemporary social issues in healthcare and social work settings. Her work bridges academic research and practical applications in human service contexts.

Her notable professional roles include:

• Director of Postgraduate Research for School of Health and Society
• Visiting Lecturer positions at two international institutions
• Secondment to civil service analytical unit
• Membership in Centre for Research on Inclusive Society

As an educator, Dr. Whitaker maintains a strong commitment to building research capacity across student populations. Her teaching reflects her expertise in ethnographic methods and theoretical sociology, particularly in final year undergraduate modules on precarity, constructions of childhood, and dissertation preparation. She is actively involved in PhD supervision, with particular interest in ethnographic projects and creative qualitative methodologies.

Dr. Whitaker's research group contributes to understanding social experiences through ethnographic approaches that emphasize inclusion and equity, particularly in healthcare settings and social service organizations.