Michael Bryden

Michael Bryden is a Research Fellow at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). As a Chancellor's Postdoctoral Indigenous Research Fellow, his work focuses on policing, legitimacy, Indigenous self-determination, and epistemological consilience. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (2022), where his doctoral research examined police self-legitimacy among recruits in the UK's Greater Manchester Police through a longitudinal mixed-methods approach.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Criminology and Politics, Monash University (2009–2012)
• MPhil in Criminological Research, University of Cambridge (2014–2015)
• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge (2015–2022)

Research interests include decolonizing criminal justice systems, Indigenous epistemologies, and the intersection of policing legitimacy with marginalized communities. His work incorporates ethnographic methods, mixed-methods designs, and participatory approaches with incarcerated populations and Indigenous communities.

His podcast Rethinking Deviance explores critical themes in criminology and justice, featuring experts like Professor Lawrence Sherman. He has also contributed to policy initiatives, including a funded review of First Nations overrepresentation in the ACT criminal justice system (2024–2024).

Key collaborations include mentoring Indigenous Australian students via the Aurora Education Foundation and leading interviews with incarcerated Indigenous Australians in Victoria. His funded research emphasizes practical policy implications for equitable justice systems.