Find Academic Supervisors

Cristina IannelliView profile

Professor

• Social Stratification in Education
• Social Mobility
• Youth Transitions
• +3 more

Professor Cristina Iannelli holds the Personal Chair of Education and Social Stratification at the University of Edinburgh’s Moray House School of Education and Sport, affiliated with the Institute for Education, Community & Society (IECS). She is a Fellow of the British Academy and the Academy of Social Sciences. Her research focuses on social stratification in education and labor markets, social mobility, youth transitions, and quantitative data analysis. She has led major international projects like the ESRC-funded ‘Understanding Inequalities’ (2017-2021) and previously co-directed the ESRC Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN). Key contributions include analyzing educational policies, intergenerational mobility, and curriculum impacts on inequality. Her educational background includes a PhD from the European University Institute (Florence) and prior roles as a Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. She has supervised 14 PhD students across topics like educational inequality, policy analysis, and labor market transitions. Awards include ESRC research fellowships for projects on educational structure and social mobility. Recent work highlights include analyzing sibling data to study intergenerational transmission of advantage, cross-country comparisons of STEM enrollment disparities, and the role of spatial job opportunities in labor market outcomes. She chairs the European Research Network on Transitions in Youth (TIY) and advises ESRC’s Data and Infrastructure Expert Group.

Duncan AstleView profile

Professor

• Developmental cognitive neuroscience
• Brain connectivity and network organization
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• +5 more

Duncan Astle is the Gnodde Goldman Sachs Professor of Neuroinformatics at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge. He serves as a Programme Leader at the Medical Research Council's Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (MRC CBU) and is a Fellow of Robinson College. Astle heads the 4D Lab (Development, Dynamics, Disorders, Data Science), which provides a research home for approximately 15 Early Career Researchers working at the intersection of developmental cognitive neuroscience and advanced data science methodologies. Astle's research focuses on understanding childhood development through innovative analytical approaches. His work employs transdiagnostic methods to study children with attention, learning, and memory difficulties, moving beyond traditional diagnostic categories. He investigates how neural systems develop in childhood, how they relate to developmental disorders, and how they respond to intervention. His research integrates network science, machine learning, and generative modeling to capture the complexity of neurodevelopmental diversity, examining how cognitive skills, literacy, numeracy, and mental health interrelate over developmental time. His publication record reveals a strong focus on brain connectivity and organization across development. Recent work explores structural and functional neurodevelopmental trajectories, brain wiring economics, and the impact of environmental factors on neural development. Astle's research frequently employs advanced data science techniques to identify sub-populations of children with different cognitive or brain profiles, regardless of diagnosis, and to map non-linear relationships between brain organization and cognitive difficulties. His work has increasingly focused on transdiagnostic approaches to understanding developmental disorders and the application of computational models to developmental neuroscience. Astle actively supervises PhD students and has built a substantial research group that contributes to major projects including the Centre for Attention Learning and Memory (CALM) and Resilience in Education and Development (RED). His work has been supported by prestigious funding bodies including the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Medical Research Council, and the Economic and Social Research Council, as well as multiple charitable foundations. The 4D Lab, under Astle's leadership, utilizes state-of-the-art facilities at the University of Cambridge, including on-site magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography scanners. The lab contributes to building specialist cohorts such as CALM (800 children with cognitive difficulties plus 200 comparison children) and RED, which study children's development, resilience, and educational outcomes. Astle's team explores how growing up in adverse environments affects children's brains, behavior, and mental health, with the aim of identifying early markers of risk and resilience.

Anna TraianouView profile

Professor

• Education Policy
• Teacher Expertise
• Research Ethics
• +6 more

Professor Anna Traianou is a distinguished academic at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she serves as Professor of Education and Director of the Centre for Identities and Social Justice. Her work spans multiple dimensions of educational research with a particular focus on the intersection of policy, practice, and ethics in contemporary educational contexts. Her research interests center on culture, learning and teacher 'expertise' in contemporary policy and politics; the contestation of education policy in contemporary Europe, austerity and the changing form of the education state; and philosophical perspectives on ethics and their implications for researcher autonomy. She has published extensively on these topics, with notable works including 'Understanding Teacher Expertise in Primary Science: a sociocultural approach' (2006) and 'Ethics in Qualitative Research: Controversies and Contexts' (2012) co-written with Martyn Hammersley. More recently, she co-edited 'Austerity and the Remaking of European Education' (2019) with Ken Jones. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on education policy under austerity conditions, particularly in Greece, where she has examined the role of trade unions in education reform and the intricacies of conditionality in policy implementation. She has also made significant contributions to research ethics, particularly regarding the concept of vulnerability in social research and its application to studies involving political elites. Professor Traianou teaches on the BA (Honours) Education Culture and Society, MA Education: Culture Language and Identity, and MPhil/PhD Education programmes. Her doctoral supervision focuses on education policy, particularly the interplay between supranational policy influence and national traditions; learning and teacher 'expertise' in contemporary policy and politics; and research ethics as situated practice. She has secured significant research funding, including from the British Academy (2019-2022) for research on structural adjustment in Greece (2010-2018) and from the National Education Union (NEU) for her current project on teachers' curriculum autonomy. Her recent report 'Are you on slide 8 yet?' examines the impact of standardized curricula on teacher professionalism.

• Pedagogy
• Philosophy of Education
• History of Educational Thought
• +2 more

Katarzyna Wrońska is a Professor at the Institute of Pedagogy, Jagiellonian University in Kraków , where she also serves as an Erasmus+ Programme Coordinator . Her academic work spans pedagogical theory, educational philosophy, and historical analyses of learning systems. She teaches courses including History of Pedagogical Thought and Practice , Philosophy of Education , and Contemporary Pedagogical Trends , primarily for graduate students. Her research focuses on intersections between liberalism and education, historical pedagogical models (notably John Locke's theories), Christian humanism in curriculum development, and ethical dimensions of self-instruction. She examines autonomy in universities, competition dynamics in learning environments, and civility as an absent pedagogical discourse. The 15 most recent publications reveal trends in three domains: (1) Liberal Educational Philosophy (2012-2024), analyzing autonomy, competition, and state roles; (2) Historical Pedagogy (2011-2021), particularly Polish Enlightenment-era reforms; and (3) Educational Ethics (2005-2023), covering Christian values, civil society, and moral instruction during authoritarian regimes. She supervises doctoral and master's students in pedagogy, though specific advisees aren't named. Consultations for students occur weekly at Batorego Street 12, room 15, during academic year 2024/25, with appointments required via email.

• Social Developmental Psychology
• Intergroup Relations
• Prejudice Reduction in Children
• +5 more

Dr. Lindsey Cameron is a Reader in Psychology and Director of Undergraduate Student Experience and Student Success at the University of Kent 's School of Psychology . Her research focuses on social developmental psychology , particularly how children develop social knowledge and intergroup attitudes. Her research interests include the development of intergroup attitudes, the role of social norms and cognitive development in shaping these attitudes, and the creation of school-based interventions to reduce prejudice. She investigates the impact of intergroup contact (direct and indirect), cultural awareness, and acculturation processes in childhood. Recent publications highlight trends in intergroup relations, bullying dynamics in schoolchildren, and interventions for social inclusion. Notable areas include intergenerational contact , malocclusion and peer relationships , and gender stereotypes in children’s media . Scientific awards include her appointment to the British Journal of Developmental Psychology Editorial Advisory Panel. She has supervised PhD students such as Dr. Caitlin Baker (2020) and Dr. Lauren Spinner (2017), focusing on topics like strategic color blindness and gender socialization . Her grants span projects like "Growing up with diversity" (British Psychological Society, 2014) and "Tackling racism amongst adolescents" (Big Lottery Research Programme, 2008–09). Collaborations involve charities and diversity organizations across Europe, including One Globe Kids and Office of the Children’s Commissioner .

Falk MÜLLER-RIEMENSCHNEIDERView profile

Associate Professor

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• +4 more

Falk MÜLLER-RIEMENSCHNEIDER is an Associate Professor and Vice Dean (Research) at NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and holds a joint affiliation with NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. He leads the Physical Activity and Nutrition Determinants in Asia (PANDA) research programme. With a medical degree from the University of Cologne (2003) and advanced training in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (2005), he has built a career focused on cardiovascular disease prevention, physical activity promotion, and obesity epidemiology. His academic qualifications include a Doctoral degree from Charité University Medical Centre Berlin (2005) and Habilitation (2011). Professional roles include Senior Lecturer/Research Fellow positions at Charité (2005–2012), and administrative leadership roles such as Teaching Coordinator and Project Division Coordinator for Cardiovascular Research (2008–2012). Research interests center on lifestyle determinants of chronic diseases, with emphasis on physical activity interventions, dietary patterns, and early childhood development. Notable work includes the Singapore Preconception Study and the GUSTO cohort study, examining long-term health trajectories. Media engagements highlight his work on screen time effects in children and urban green space benefits. His recent publications (2021–2025) address mHealth intervention design, park-based physical activity, and 24-hour movement guidelines. Key themes include digital health adoption barriers, longitudinal cohort studies, and culturally tailored public health strategies.

Agar BrugiaviniView profile

Professor

• Economics
• Social Security
• Retirement Studies
• +2 more

Agar Brugiavini is a Full Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice's Department of Economics with significant institutional roles including Member of the Steering Committee of the Ca' Foscari International College, Ethics Committee member, and Coordinator of the Master's Degree Programme in Data Analytics for Business and Society. Her research focuses on: Economics of aging and retirement systems Social security policy evaluation Health economics and long-term care Labor market dynamics for older workers Impacts of demographic changes on social policies Her recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on pandemic impacts on labor markets, social care systems, and elderly populations, with methodological approaches spanning econometric analysis of survey data and cross-national comparative studies. The research shows consistent focus on vulnerable populations and policy-relevant outcomes. Dr. Brugiavini maintains active research collaborations as evidenced by multi-country studies using SHARE survey data and participates in key academic leadership positions within her institution.

• Health Economics
• Behavioral Economics
• Global Health
• +4 more

Ranjeeta Thomas is an Associate Professor of Health Economics at the Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics (LSE). She is Programme Director for the MSc in International Health Policy (Health Economics) and affiliates with LSE Health, the Behavioural Lab, and the Aging and Health Incentives Lab. Prior roles include Research Fellowships at Imperial College London and the University of Oxford. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of York. Education: PhD in Economics (University of York) Affiliations: LSE Health, Behavioural Lab, Aging and Health Incentives Lab Grants/Awards: Co-investigator on grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (USA) and European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership. Her research focuses on applied health economics, including drivers of risky health behaviors, incentives for preventative healthcare, and long-term impacts of childhood interventions. She employs randomized field experiments and large-scale data analysis in low-resource settings. Recent work addresses HIV/AIDS prevention strategies, stigma reduction, and cost-effectiveness of health interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary teams at LSE and collaborating institutions, focusing on global health challenges and behavioral interventions.

Helen LewisView profile

Associate Professor

• Metacognition
• Animal-Assisted Interventions
• Educational Pedagogy
• +4 more

Dr. Helen Lewis is an Associate Professor in Education and Childhood Studies at Swansea University's School of Social Sciences. She serves as the School Education Lead and Programme Director for the Primary Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Her work bridges teacher education, metacognitive development in children, and innovative uses of animal-assisted interventions in schools. Her research focuses on two pillars: 1) fostering children's thinking skills and metacognition through pedagogical frameworks like Project Zero's VSRD methodology, and 2) exploring how school dogs enhance pupil well-being, learning, and resilience. Recent projects include an ESRC-funded initiative creating best practice guidelines for canine-assisted education. Professionally, she holds certifications in animal-assisted play therapy and canine intervention strategies. She actively contributes to academic governance as an External Examiner at institutions like University College London and serves on national committees such as the National School Dog Alliance and Let's Think Forum. Her career highlights include leadership roles in program development (BA Education Studies, MA Education), peer review for academic journals, and governance as a primary school inspector for Estyn. She balances rigorous scholarship with practical advocacy for evidence-based educational practices.

Fiona MorrisonView profile

Lecturer

• Children's Human Rights
• Domestic Abuse
• Participatory Research Methods
• +3 more

Dr. Fiona Morrison is a Lecturer in Childhood Studies and Programme Director of the BA Childhood Practice at the University of Edinburgh's Moray House School of Education and Sport. She holds a PhD in Social Policy and MSc in Childhood Studies from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Community Learning and Development from the University of Dundee. Dr. Morrison specializes in children’s human rights with a socio-legal focus, particularly addressing domestic abuse and participatory methodologies. Her research bridges academia and policy, influencing national and international frameworks. She leads projects funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and ESRC, collaborating with organizations like Children’s Parliament and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. Dr. Morrison co-leads the CAHSS Childhood and Youth research theme and chairs ethics leadership for the Children and Young People Thematic Hub. Her work emphasizes ethical research practices, policy advocacy, and child participation in legal and social contexts. Education: PhD Social Policy, University of Edinburgh MSc Childhood Studies, University of Edinburgh BA Community Learning and Development, University of Dundee Research Interests: Children’s rights accountability, domestic abuse, participatory research methods, socio-legal frameworks, and policy implementation. Key Roles: Member, Children and Young People Thematic Hub Leadership Group Co-lead, CAHSS Childhood and Youth Research Theme Core member, Observatory of Children’s Human Rights Scotland Grants: Includes RSE Personal Fellowship, ESRC grants, and Legal Empowerment Fund projects. Her teaching focuses on the BA Childhood Practice program, and she supervises PhD students exploring children’s rights in domestic abuse and policy contexts. Dr. Morrison’s publications span children’s rights under pandemic conditions, legal frameworks, and participatory methodologies, reflecting her commitment to translating research into tangible societal impact.

• Digital Well-Being
• Online Platform Data Donation
• Online Trace Data
• +7 more

Andrew K. Przybylski is a Professor of Human Behaviour and Technology at the University of Oxford's Oxford Internet Institute (OII). His research bridges psychology and digital technology studies, focusing on how virtual environments like social media and video games influence motivation, health, and well-being. He advocates for open, reproducible science and collaborates with policymakers to address digital-age challenges. Recent appointments include Honorary Professor at The Educational University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Psychosocial Health. Education: Undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees from the University of Rochester (United States). Research Interests: His work explores digital well-being, online platform data donation, social media's psychosocial effects, and video game engagement. Key themes include open science, meta-science, and the intersection of technology with adolescent mental health. Article Trends: Recent studies analyze digital harms, social media's impact on youth, and reproducibility in tech research. His projects span neuroscience (e.g., screen time's effect on brain organization), behavioral analysis (e.g., gaming and affective responses), and policy-oriented work (e.g., multiverse approaches to internet use). Collaborations with institutions like the Ashmolean Museum highlight his interest in digital culture's therapeutic potential. Scientific Awards: Honorary Professor at The Educational University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Psychosocial Health Grants & Collaborations: Funded by the Huo Family Foundation, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), The British Academy, The Leverhulme Trust, Barnardo’s, and the University of Oxford’s John Fell Fund. He contributes as a scientific advisor to the Sync Digital Wellbeing Program. Labs & Projects: Leads initiatives like the Programme on Adolescent Well-Being in the Digital Age, Capturing Digital Footprints of Video Game Play, and Understanding Video Game Play and Mental Health. These projects emphasize open-source data collection and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Gary MitchellView profile

Associate Professor

• Nursing
• Gerontology
• Palliative Care
• +4 more

Dr. Gary Mitchell is a Reader (Education) in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen's University Belfast, with a focus on aging populations, dementia care, and healthcare education. He leads postgraduate education initiatives and co-develops digital educational tools to enhance nursing practice and public health awareness. Director of Postgraduate Taught Education at the School of Nursing and Midwifery Academic Lead for the Future Ready Evidence-Based Practice Champion Programme Former Chair of the Royal College of Nursing's Older People's Forum Editorial Board Member of BMC Geriatrics and Nursing Reports His research interests span qualitative methodologies, care home nursing, and the integration of digital education. Key projects include co-designing interventions to improve dementia care, pain management, and diabetes education in long-term care settings. Dr. Mitchell has authored over 260 publications, focusing on topics like restrictive practices in care homes, the psychosocial impact of chronic illnesses, and educational games for public health awareness. Awards: MBE (2023), Queen's University Teaching Awards (2024, 2023, 2021, 2020) He supervises PhD students in aging care and collaborates internationally on projects funded by agencies like the Burdett Trust for Nursing and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Development
• Infant and Child Behavior
• +5 more

Professor Merideth Gattis is a cognitive psychologist at Cardiff University's School of Psychology, specializing in how interactions between individuals and their environments influence cognition and communication. She leads research on parenting cognitions during pregnancy and infancy, developmental cascades, and the role of natural environments in social interaction. Her work bridges developmental psychology with environmental and cross-cultural studies. Education: B.A. (Psychology, Gordon College, 1985); Ph.D. (Cognitive Psychology, UCLA, 1995). Academic roles include Professor (2014–present), Reader (2011–2014), and Senior Lecturer (2007–2011) at Cardiff University. Honors include Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (2016) and completion of the Professorial Leadership Programme (2022). Research focuses on developmental cognition, parent-infant interactions, and environmental influences. Key projects include the Baby Care Questionnaire (BCQ) to measure parenting beliefs, studies on preterm birth effects, and collaborations with organizations like the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) to evaluate nature-based interventions. Her work emphasizes innovative methods like remote research tools and longitudinal studies. Teaching includes research design and methods at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a focus on developmental psychology and mixed methodologies. Supervises PhD students on topics like parenting knowledge, pro-environmental behavior shifts, and sensorimotor patterns in parent-child interaction. Grants and collaborations involve European Research Council (ERC) funding and partnerships with institutions globally. Active in academic service as a reviewer for major journals and committees including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Peer Review College.

• Educational Technology
• Applied Linguistics
• TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
• +3 more

Dr. Andy Bown is a Lecturer in Languages and TESOL at the University of Tasmania's Faculty of Education. He holds a PhD from Macquarie University (2015) and has over 30 years of experience in language education across Thailand, France, the UAE, and Australia. His research focuses on educational technology, second language acquisition, and culturally diverse learning contexts. He currently coordinates courses like EPR215 and EMT609, and supervises PhD candidates exploring technology's role in language learning. Education: PhD, 'Using a virtual learning environment for the development of L2 academic reading' (Macquarie University, 2015) MEd, 'The usefulness of guided feedback in a web-based IELTS reading programme for Arab learners' (University of Manchester, 2004) BA (Hons) in French and Linguistics (University of York, 1992) Research Interests: Dr. Bown specializes in Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), mobile-assisted language learning, and second language reading strategies. His work emphasizes technology's role in linguistically diverse classrooms, particularly in developing countries. Recent projects include studies on social media for vocabulary development and culturally responsive pedagogy. Grants & Engagements: UTAS representative on the Modern Language Teachers’ Association of Tasmania Led the 'Early Language Learning' case study ($5,000 grant, 2017) Co-lead of the LinguaLab research group Labs/Teams: Co-leads the LinguaLab, a collaborative space exploring language education innovations.

Michelle DonnellyView profile

Lecturer

• Child and Family Law
• Youth Justice
• Children's Rights
• +3 more

Dr Michelle Donnelly is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Strathclyde, returning in 2021 after roles at the University of Stirling and earlier positions at Strathclyde. She specializes in socio-legal research on child and family law, focusing on compulsory state intervention in cases of child protection and youth justice. Her work emphasizes improving rights assurance and procedural fairness in legal processes affecting children and families. Donnelly holds a PhD from Strathclyde (2017) and a PgCert in Learning and Teaching (2019). Her research explores the Scottish children’s hearings system, joint referrals in youth justice, and safeguarders’ roles. Notable projects include the British Academy’s Childhood Policy Programme and an international comparative study on family intervention led by Viadrina University. She contributed to Strathclyde Cares, earning a team medal for supporting care-experienced students. Donnelly’s awards include teaching excellence nominations and recognition for equality initiatives. Her current projects address justice inequalities for children in conflict with the law and human rights in child welfare. She teaches family law, children’s rights, and legal research methods.