Caitlin Nunn

Dr. Caitlin Nunn serves as Reader in Migration and Youth Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she leads research at the intersection of refugee studies and youth studies with emphasis on refugee-background young people's lived experiences. Her work is anchored in the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies (MCYS) and involves significant collaboration with institutions including Manchester Museum and UKRI-funded initiatives.

Her educational background demonstrates interdisciplinary training:

• PhD in Australian Studies (2013), University of Melbourne
• MA Preliminary (Honours equivalent) in Development Studies (2005), La Trobe University
• Graduate Diploma in Development Studies (2004), La Trobe University
• Bachelor of Dramatic Arts in Theatre Production (2000), Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne

Professional qualifications include Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, Certificate II in Applied Language (Vietnamese), and CELTA certification.

Nunn's research program critically examines refugee youth resettlement through innovative participatory and arts-based methodologies. Key thematic strands include:

• Rural and regional refugee resettlement dynamics
• Environmental dimensions of migration and belonging
• Transnational generational relations among refugee families
• Decolonizing research approaches with displaced communities
• Creative interventions for refugee wellbeing

Her work consistently centers youth agency while challenging conventional integration paradigms.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals evolving methodological sophistication with increasing emphasis on environmental migration, cross-disciplinary collaboration (particularly with ecological sciences), and co-produced knowledge generation. The research demonstrates consistent focus on rural resettlement contexts and creative methodological innovations while expanding into digital engagement (e.g., AI/data co-production projects).

Current research leadership includes:

• NERC Future of UK Treescapes Grant (£2m, 2021-2024): 'Voices of the future' exploring children's relationships with treescapes
• UKRI Citizen Science Collaboration (£343k, 2021-2023): 'Ancient History, Contemporary Belonging' with refugee-background youth
• EPSRC Public Engagement Scheme (£197k, 2022-2025): 'PEAs in Pods' for AI/data research co-production

She actively supervises doctoral research including Nobila Bano's work on intergenerational knowledge transfer and Ahmad Al Shahma's research on equitable ESOL policies.

Nunn maintains significant professional engagement as Member of the Editorial Board for Qualitative Research, Member of the AHRC Peer Review College, and Member of the UKRI Interdisciplinary Assessment College, demonstrating her disciplinary leadership beyond direct research outputs.