Irene Rafanell

Dr. Irene Rafanell is a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of the West of Scotland, teaching social theory, sociology of gender, and sociology of the body. She holds a PhD in Social Sciences from the University of Edinburgh, an MSc in Sociology (Gender Stream) with Distinction, and a BA in Social Anthropology, History, and Geography from Universidad Central de Barcelona.

• PhD in Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh
• MSc in Sociology (Gender Stream), University of Edinburgh
• BA in Social Anthropology, History, and Geography, Universidad Central de Barcelona

Her research bridges sociology of the body, social theory (Bourdieu/Foucault), post-structuralist feminist theory (Judith Butler), and micro-interaction dynamics. Key contributions include alternative frameworks for analyzing affective sanctioning mechanisms in collective behavior, with empirical work spanning Glasgow gangs, online bereavement communities, and darknet cryptomarkets.

Recent publications focus on cybercrime collectives’ emotional infrastructure, digital localization in illicit markets, and reconceptualizing authority relations in education. She has received competitive fellowships from the University of Edinburgh and Higher Education Academy (HEA), alongside research grants for cybercrime analysis and international collaboration projects.

• HEA Fellowship (2020)
• Honorary Fellow, University of Edinburgh (2022)
• PhD Research Traveling Support (1996)
• Big/Thick Data Cybercrime Grant (2017)
• PhD Research Studentship, University of Edinburgh (1995)