Rebecca Foster

Dr. Rebecca Foster is a Lecturer in Criminology at Edinburgh Napier University's School of Applied Sciences. She joined the university in September 2022, teaching and supervising undergraduate and Masters Criminology programmes.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Criminology from the University of Glasgow
• MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh
• LLB (Hons) (First Class) from the University of Edinburgh

Dr. Foster's research focuses on inequality, marginalisation, and their manifestations in society. She has particular expertise in the lived experience of the criminal justice system (especially prison), problem substance use, and homelessness. Methodologically, she specializes in qualitative research, creative methods, ethnographic approaches, and peer research.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on drug policy, harm reduction strategies, and the intersection of homelessness and substance use. She has conducted significant research on drug consumption rooms in Scotland, opioid overdose prevention, and peer-delivered interventions for homeless populations experiencing substance use issues.

Dr. Foster has received recognition as an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and serves as a grant reviewer for the European Research Council. She has also reviewed for numerous academic journals including Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy; Families, Relationships and Societies; and Current Issues in Criminal Justice.

She leads and contributes to several research projects, including the Modern Studies teaching development work (2023-2024) funded by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, and a major NIHR-funded study on peer-delivered interventions for homeless populations (2024-2027).