Jane Gray

Professor Jane Gray is a prominent sociologist at Maynooth University, affiliated with the Department of Sociology under the Faculty of Social Sciences. She is also associated with the Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI), IQDA, and QSA*Net. Her research focuses on families, households, social change, and qualitative methodologies. Currently, she leads the LINLOSS project, funded by an ERC Advanced Grant, exploring social loss and innovation, and coordinates the QSA*Net initiative promoting open research in qualitative social science. She has held leadership roles in the Irish Qualitative Data Archive and the Digital Repository of Ireland.

Her research interests include comparative-historical sociology, qualitative longitudinal analysis, and data management for reuse. Recent projects emphasize poverty resilience during crises and the sociological implications of social loss. She has authored/co-authored numerous books and articles, including Family Rhythms: The Changing Textures of Family Life in Ireland (2017) and contributions to Poverty, Crisis and Resilience (2020). Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary social challenges, often using biographical and longitudinal methods.

Professor Gray has secured significant funding, including €2.5M for LINLOSS (2023-2028) and €91,384 for QSA*Net (2023-2025). She collaborates internationally, with projects involving institutions like the University of Leeds and Technological University of the Shannon. Her contributions extend to policy-relevant studies on in-work benefits and family dynamics, reflecting a commitment to both academic rigor and societal impact.