Brian Heaphy

Prof Brian Heaphy is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester, affiliated with the School of Social Sciences. He holds a PhD in Sociology and a first degree in Cultural Studies. His research focuses on social change, sexualities, families, aging, and digital culture, particularly examining LGBTQIA+ identities and relationships. He has led ESRC-funded projects on dating apps during/after the pandemic, HIV implications, and same-sex partnerships. Previously, he served as Head of Sociology, Director of Research in the School of Social Sciences, and Vice Dean.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology
• Bachelor's in Cultural Studies

Research Interests: Prof Heaphy explores how social change impacts personal life, including non-heterosexual families, aging sexualities, dating app dynamics, and qualitative methodologies. He co-leads the Morgan Centre for the Study of Everyday Life and contributed to national research methods initiatives via the Realities NCRM node.

Grants & Projects:

• ESRC-funded study on dating apps during the pandemic
• Research on same-sex relationships and health policy
• Analysis of civil partnerships vs. marriage

Advising & Training: Supervised PhDs on topics like LGBTQIA+ identities, global queer parenthood, and HIV narratives. Organized research capacity-building workshops for the ESRC NCRM.

Labs/Teams: Co-founder of the Morgan Centre for Everyday Life Studies, collaborating on projects about intimacy, digital sociality, and aging.