Ian Merrell

Ian Merrell is a Research Fellow at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), focusing on rural economy, communities, and land reform. He holds a PhD from Newcastle University's Centre for Rural Economy, specializing in rural enterprise hubs and territorial innovation models. His work bridges rural development, governance, and policy analysis.

Merrell has extensive experience across institutions including Newcastle University's National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise and the University of Exeter's Centre for Rural Policy Research. His current projects include Scotland's Land Reform Futures and Sustainable Rural Economies, funded by Scottish Government's RESAS program.

Research interests span land use policy, rural sociology, and innovation systems. Notable outputs include studies on land valuation, ownership, and farmer investment behavior. He collaborates on interdisciplinary projects addressing climate action, community resilience, and natural capital.