Julie Walsh

Dr. Julie Walsh is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Sheffield's School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, where she has been employed since 2016 (promoted to Lecturer in 2018). Her work bridges academic research and community practice through critical examinations of family dynamics within migration and welfare contexts.

Her educational background includes:

• BA (Hons) International English from University of Hull
• MSc Applied Social Research from University of Hull
• PhD in Sociology, Anthropology & Gender Studies from University of Hull

Walsh's research investigates how immigration policy intersects with social care practice through the lens of 'everyday bordering,' examining impacts on migrant families and practitioners. Her work explores cross-cultural constructions of family, state-family relationships, and community connectivity using innovative qualitative methodologies. She emphasizes collaborative community engagement and challenges dominant narratives about family structures in diverse societies.

Analysis of her publication trends (2013-2025) reveals consistent focus on transnational family practices, social work decision-making in migration contexts, and theoretical development around 'family display.' Her recent work (2021-2025) increasingly examines policy-practice gaps in welfare systems across European contexts, while maintaining methodological innovation in ethnographic approaches.

Walsh actively supervises undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students while leading an ESRC New Investigator grant project on 'Everyday Bordering in the UK.' She previously contributed to the NORFACE-funded Family Complexity and Social Work Project as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Additionally, she serves as Co-convenor of the British Sociological Association Families and Relationships Study Group, facilitating national scholarly exchange.

Her collaborative work spans international teams including researchers from England, Sweden, Bulgaria, Ireland, and Norway, reflecting her commitment to comparative welfare state analysis. Current projects focus on migrant family experiences under restrictive immigration policies and methodological adaptations for online ethnographic research.