Emma Smith is a Professor in the Department of Education Studies at the University of Warwick, where she has been a faculty member since 2017. Previously, she held Chairs at the Universities of Birmingham and Leicester. With a background as a secondary school chemistry teacher and special educational needs coordinator in South Wales, her work bridges academic research and practical educational experience. Her research focuses on social justice in education, particularly how policy can reduce inequalities and improve participation and achievement across all educational levels. She has published extensively on STEM graduate career trajectories and is an expert in using large-scale secondary datasets to address questions of educational equity. Her research has been supported by major funders including the ESRC, Nuffield Foundation, and the European Union. Analysis of her recent publications (2014-2023) reveals a strong emphasis on STEM education, graduate outcomes, and educational policy. Her work often employs longitudinal data to track career paths and assess policy impacts, with a growing interest in special educational needs and inclusive assessment frameworks. Scientific awards: No awards mentioned in the provided text. Professor Smith actively supervises doctoral students in education policy and inequality. Current research projects include: Faith based schooling in Wales: including young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Society for Educational Studies, 01 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2025) BERA - state of the discipline: A survey of education researchers' perceptions of their work and identities (British Educational Research Association, 06 Dec 2021 - 01 Sept 2022)







