معرفی
Laura Towers is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the Sociology Department at the University of Manchester. She also holds a Visiting Research Fellow position at the University of Bath from October 2024 to September 2027. Her research focuses on the social aspects of death, dying, and bereavement, with particular attention to sibling bereavement following suicide.
Her primary research interests include:
- Grief and bereavement processes
- Sibling relationships after suicide
- Family dynamics in bereavement
- Identity reconstruction following loss
- Workplace experiences of caregivers for dying individuals
- The longevity of grief experiences
Dr. Towers' recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the social dimensions of bereavement, particularly examining how individuals and families navigate loss through narrative and relational frameworks. Her work often employs qualitative methodologies to explore personal experiences of grief, with a special emphasis on sibling bereavement by suicide. She has also investigated how cultural and social capital operate within UK death administration systems.
She was co-convenor of the British Sociological Association's Social Aspects of Death, Dying and Bereavement Study Group from 2017 to 2022 and has recently co-edited a book titled "Death, Dying and Bereavement: New Sociological Perspectives" as part of the BSA's 'Sociological Futures' Series.
Dr. Towers is actively involved in the Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives as a Principal Investigator. While her current fellowship restricts her from being a primary PhD supervisor, she welcomes opportunities to serve as a third supervisor for projects aligned with her expertise.
Her research contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to well-being and social inclusion.
