معرفی
Marta-Marika Urbanik is an Associate Professor in the Sociology Department at the University of Alberta, specializing in urban ethnography with a focus on gangs, policing, and drug policy. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology (Criminology specialization) from the University of Alberta and an M.A. from the University of Toronto’s Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies. Her research explores gang violence, policing practices, neighbourhood redevelopment, and the intersection of social media with street culture. She currently serves as Acting Director of the BA Criminology Program and Book Review Editor of The Canadian Journal of Sociology.
- Education:
- Ph.D., Sociology (Criminology), University of Alberta (awarded SSHRC Bombardier, Killam Memorial, and President’s Doctoral Prizes)
- M.A., Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, University of Toronto
Her research interests include gang dynamics, policing strategies, drug policy, and the impact of urban redevelopment on criminal networks. Recent projects focus on invasive policing in Toronto’s inner-city, supervised consumption sites in Calgary/Edmonton, and prison gangs in Western Canada. She combines ethnography with digital methods to study emerging phenomena like ‘cuckooing’ and social media’s role in perpetuating gang culture.
Her work has been showcased at major conferences (e.g., American Society of Criminology, Eurogang Network) and published in top journals like British Journal of Criminology and Qualitative Sociology. She frequently engages with media to discuss drug policy, policing, and urban crime.
- Key Awards:
- Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Joseph-Armand Bombardier Award
- Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship
- University of Alberta President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction
Teaching includes courses on criminology, deviance, and gangs, alongside supervising undergraduate/graduate research assistants and field placements. She emphasizes bridging academic research with community engagement and policy advocacy.
