Richard Brunner

Dr. Richard Brunner is a part-time Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of Glasgow, affiliated with the School of Social and Political Science and the School of Health & Wellbeing. He holds an interdisciplinary focus on disability studies, mental health, and public policy reform. His research emphasizes marginalized groups' experiences, particularly in Scotland, with a focus on social justice and the capabilities approach.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Sociology (University of Glasgow, 2011-2015)
• MSc. in Social Policy (LSE, 2002)
• MSc. in Social Research (Glasgow Caledonian University, 2010)
• Bachelor's in Sociology (University of East London, 1989)

Research Interests:

• Disability rights and social care reform
• Mental health stigma and recovery frameworks
• Capabilities approach to policy analysis
• Collaborative action research with public services

Grants & Advising:

• Supervised PhD candidate Amanda Ptolomey (third supervisor)
• Supported over 10 master’s theses on topics including mental health stigma and social media
• Secured grants totaling £50k+ for projects like participatory budgeting frameworks and pandemic impact studies

Labs/Teams: Centre for Disability Research, collaborations with Glasgow Disability Alliance and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.