About
Michelle James is a Research Associate in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath. She recently completed her PhD on the impact of social protection on the wellbeing of UK asylum seekers, supervised by Prof. James Copestake, Prof. Ruth Forrester-Jones, and Dr. Jane Dixon. Her work contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to poverty, inequality, and wellbeing.
- PhD in Social & Policy Sciences, University of Bath (awarded 22 May 2024)
Her research focuses on social protection, asylum seekers, refugees, poverty, and behavioural change, with a strong emphasis on qualitative and human-centred methodologies. She explores how welfare provision and community-based interventions affect the wellbeing of vulnerable populations, particularly within the UK context. Her work often integrates ethical considerations in participatory research, as seen in her recent publication on photographic methods with asylum seekers.
Her publications span topics such as human-centred design in asylum support, community-based social protection, and international anti-poverty programmes. The majority of her recent work (2021–2023) centers on qualitative assessments of social protection systems, ethical research practices, and policy evaluation, reflecting a consistent focus on social justice, equity, and methodological innovation in social science research.
While no formal scientific awards are listed, her research has been cited multiple times and has reached policy audiences, including being referenced in policy sources. She has collaborated with leading academics and institutions, contributing to impactful interdisciplinary research.
Michelle James does not currently supervise students, and there is no indication of grant leadership or lab affiliation. However, her involvement with the Centre for Development Studies and her PhD work suggest strong integration within research networks at Bath. She is actively publishing and contributing to academic and policy discourse in social policy and development studies.
