Ella Taylor-Smith

Dr Ella Taylor-Smith is a Senior Research Fellow at the Edinburgh Napier University, affiliated with the School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. She focuses on Information Science, Gender Studies, and Social Informatics, often bridging eGovernment and Education themes.

• Education: PhD in Participation Space Studies (2016) from Edinburgh Napier University, supervised by Dr Colin Smith and Dr Michael Smyth.

Her research explores the intersection of gender, education, and technology, with a focus on degree apprenticeships, workplace mentorship, and social media’s role in democracy. She employs frameworks like Conservation of Resources Theory and Activity Theory to analyze educational and professional dynamics.

Key trends in her 15 most recent articles (2011–2025) include gender equity in STEM, apprenticeship program evaluation, and social media’s impact on activism. Her work often connects policy analysis, practice-oriented research, and inclusive education strategies.

She supervises Maria Cecil and collaborates on projects like RiLIES (2011), Associate Student Project (2014–2023), and Gendered Information Landscapes (2022–2025). Her grants include funding from the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland.