Seán Columb

Dr Seán Columb is a Reader in Law at the University of Liverpool's School of Law and Social Justice. His research focuses on transnational crime, particularly human trafficking, organ trade, and illicit networks. He has published extensively on organ trafficking's intersection with organized crime and political economies. In 2023, he received the Philip Leverhulme Prize for contributions to socio-legal studies.

• Education: Doctorate in Law (university not specified)

Research interests include:

• Organized crime and transnational criminal networks
• Human rights implications of human trafficking
• Illicit markets in global health systems

His 2020 book Trading Life: Organ Trafficking, Illicit Networks, and Exploitation won multiple awards, including the Hart-SLSA prize and ESC Book Prize. Recent articles analyze criminal synergies between human smuggling and organ trade in Mediterranean routes, and corruption in organ trafficking systems.

• Professional Roles: Co-Chair of ELPAT Working Group on Organ Tourism (ESOT)
• Teaching: Module coordinator for Transnational Criminal Law and Socio-Legal Methods