Lisa Scullion

Lisa Scullion is Professor of Social Policy and Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Inclusive Society at the University of Salford's School of Health & Society. She has delivered over 60 research projects with a commitment to qualitative inquiry for shaping policy and practice. Her work has directly informed government policy through her membership on the Ministry of Defence Recovery Expert Advisory Board, the Office for Veterans Affairs Academic Advisory Board, and the FiMT Research Centre Advisory Board.

Professor Scullion's research primarily focuses on understanding the impact of UK welfare reforms, with particular emphasis on veterans' experiences of the social security system. She leads the groundbreaking five-year Sanctions, Support & Service Leavers project, which represents the first substantive research to provide an understanding of veterans' experiences with the benefits system. Her research portfolio spans social security, welfare conditionality, poverty studies, migration, housing policy, and food insecurity.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of military service and social security entitlements, with particular attention to how veterans navigate the complex UK benefits system. Her work consistently employs qualitative methodologies to understand claimant experiences, with increasing attention to trauma-informed approaches and the impact of digitalization on service delivery. A significant thread throughout her research examines how policy design affects trust-building between claimants and the Department for Work and Pensions.

• Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS), conferred March 2022

Professor Scullion actively supervises PhD students in areas including social security, welfare, poverty, social policy, and veterans' issues. From December 2021 to May 2023, she undertook a part-time academic secondment to the Department for Work and Pensions, where she supported capacity building of government social researchers within the DWP In House Research Unit. Her research has secured funding from organizations including the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) and has directly influenced policy development related to veterans' support.

As Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Inclusive Society, Professor Scullion leads a multidisciplinary team examining social exclusion, inequality, and policy responses to contemporary social challenges. Her work frequently involves collaboration with third sector organizations, particularly in the areas of food poverty and urban deprivation.