Iris Wigger

Dr Iris Wigger is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Loughborough University's School of Social Sciences and Humanities, within the Department of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy. She holds a PhD in Sociology alongside multiple advanced degrees. Her research focuses on historical racism analysis, Critical Whiteness Studies, and intersectional stereotyping, with particular expertise in Europe's racial and social histories. She leads an internationally funded research network on 'Mixed relationships and racialised boundaries in Europe' supported by the UK AHRC and Runnymede Trust, and has pioneered projects on migration discourse and media representations of racism. Her work includes co-editing Racism and Modernity and authoring The ‘Black Horror on the Rhine’. She has received significant academic accolades, including a Visiting Professorship at University College Dublin and teaching excellence awards. Wigger also co-leads EDI initiatives at Loughborough, driving anti-racism work in her school.

• Research areas: Historical Sociology of Racism, Critical Whiteness, Intersectional Analysis
• Funding: AHRC (2023/24), ISRF (2021/22), British Academy/Leverhulme (2017-2019)
• Key Projects: ‘Mixed Relationships’ network, Cologne Assaults discourse analysis, Angelo Soliman biography

Her documentaries, including They Called Them the Children of Shame, have reached 1.8M+ views, demonstrating impactful public engagement. Teaching innovations and research-led pedagogy earned her team awards for academic-practice integration.