Jennifer Riley

Dr. Jennifer Riley is a Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, affiliated with the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History. She holds a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship and specializes in religious studies and the study of death and dying, particularly focusing on grave goods in contemporary Britain and pandemic impacts on funeral practices. Her work bridges healthcare, anthropology, and philosophy.

Education: BA (Hons) Theology (Durham, 2016), MA Religious Studies (Lancaster, 2017), PhD Theology and Religion (Durham, 2020), and FHEA (2021).

Research Interests: Investigates objects placed in graves, environmental concerns, afterlife beliefs, and healthcare narratives. Recent publications address hybrid funerals, anticipatory grief in dementia care, and legal burial reforms. Her TEDxAberdeen talk on 'Identity' (2024) was an 'Editor's Pick.'

Awards: Leverhulme Fellowship (2024), FHEA (2021), and recognition as Durham’s 'Women Making a Difference' (2020).

Grants: ESRC-funded 'Care in Funerals' (2021) and 'Educating for Inclusive Communities' (2022-23). Collaborates with the Law Reform team on burial policy.

Professional Roles: Represents the Association for the Study of Death and Society (ASDS), serves as Events Officer for the British Sociological Association’s Sociology of Religion Study Group.