We are dedicated to producing novel, world-leading social science research which is socially empowering and theoretically rigorous.

In a modern and diverse society it’s important that we try to better understand ourselves and others to address social problems and improve social conditions for promoting wellbeing and resilience.

The Social Sciences Research and Innovation Institute is committed to advancing social science research and innovation that not only challenges theoretical boundaries but also offers tangible, empowering solutions for our diverse societies. Our international, interdisciplinary research expertise spans psychology, sociology, human reproduction, mental health, health inequalities, education, criminology, and more. This enables us to approach complex social and cultural issues from multiple perspectives using innovative, boundary-crossing, highly engaging and creative methodologies.

Our research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on SDG 3 (Good health and wellbeing), 4 (quality education), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth, 10 (reduced inequalities), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 12 (responsible consumption and production), 13(climate action), and 16 (peace justice and strong institutions). 

The institute is underpinned by both practice- and non-practice-based research, and involves a range of non-academic beneficiaries. Our work speaks to contemporary social science theory and innovative approaches to methodology.

Research Areas

The Institute for Research in Social Sciences supports a diverse range of disciplinary areas forming a dynamic research community. 

The Institute for Psychological Sciences

With 51 active researchers, conducts cutting-edge research which draws on a research toolkit encompassing experimental design, qualitative analysis, anthropological observations, and cognitive neurological methods for investigating human cognition and behaviour. The Centre hosts several special interest clusters, including health psychology and psychological well-being, cognition and neuroscience, social, personality and culture psychology, and psychology and technology, with strengths in cross-cultural research, higher mental processing, cyber-cognition, perception, eating behaviours, psycho-oncology, neuroscience, and emotion. The Centre aims to understand and address social inequalities and prejudice both in the UK and globally.

The Mary Seacole Research Centre

With 23 active researchers, is focused on applied interdisciplinary research in mental health, migration and resilience, and health inequalities. Adopting a participatory research methodology, researchers work with diverse ethnic and cultural communities and have strong collaborative links nationally and internationally working with other researchers, statutory and voluntary sector agencies to co-create and co-produce ‘lived expertise’ knowledge that contribute to the advancement of health humanities. Current programmes demonstrate significant research impact to service users and providers, and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals that contribute to promoting global health and wellbeing.

The Centre for Reproduction Research

With 24 active researchers, conducts interdisciplinary research on the social, cultural and political aspects of human reproduction. Reproductive health is central to the strategies of national and global public health organisations. In line with this, the Centre’s goals are to develop theoretically informed interdisciplinary research with real world impact and to generate global debate about the contemporary transformation of human reproduction. The research undertaken is focused on developing new ways of thinking about the complexity of reproduction through the integration of disciplines, approaches and methods.

The Centre for Social Justice and Empowerment

With 60 active researchers, conducts interdisciplinary and applied research in regional, national and international contexts within criminology, education, and social justice. It challenges the ways in which we think about social inequalities and social justice, addressing social inequalities through anti-oppressive practice-focused research, knowledge exchange, theoretical development, and impactful policy initiatives in various spaces such as corrections, education, community development, social work, sustainable development, anti-racism, and decolonisation.
Raghu Raghavan  - Director: Social Sciences Research and Innovation Institute
We are committed to advancing social science research and innovation that not only challenges theoretical boundaries but also offers tangible, empowering solutions for our society. Our international interdisciplinary research expertise spans psychology, sociology, human reproduction, mental health, health inequalities, education, criminology, and more, enabling us to approach complex social and cultural issues from multiple perspectives using innovative, engaging and creative methodologies.
Raghu Raghavan - Director: Social Sciences Research and Innovation Institute

Our members

  • Dr Victoria (Vicki) Aldridge

    Associate Professor in Psychology

    vicki.aldridge@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 207 8158

  • Dr Lucy Ansley

    Senior Research Fellow

    lucy.ansley@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7809

  • Dr Kylie Baldwin

    Senior Lecturer

    KBaldwin@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7735

  • Dr Sara Bamdad

    Lecturer

    sara.bamdad@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Dr Maria Berghs

    Associate Professor

    Maria.Berghs@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7910

  • Miss Talitha Bird

    Head of Division, Education

    talitha.bird@dmu.ac.uk

    01162078745

  • Dr Shalini Bisani

    Lecturer in Marketing

    shalini.bisani@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Dr Marie-Josee Bisson

    Senior Lecturer in Psychology

    marie-josee.bisson@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 201 3989

  • Mrs Ravinderjit Kaur Briah

    Associate Professor

    rbriah@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 257 7827

  • Professor Brian Brown

    Professor of Health Communication

    brown@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8755

  • Dr Mei-I Cheng

    Senior Lecturer

    mcheng@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8777

  • Dr Stephanie Cook

    Senior Lecturer in Psychology

    stephanie.cook@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 2506547

  • Dr Helen Coulthard

    Senior Lecturer

    hcoulthard@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8828

  • Dr Carlos Crivelli

    Associate Professor/Reader in Affective Science and Social Interaction

    carlos.crivelli@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 250 6244

  • Dr Erika Cudworth

    Associate Professor in Education

    erika.cudworth@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 366 4622

  • Professor Jonathan Davies

    Professor of Critical Policy Studies

    jsdavies@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7818

  • Professor Shira Elqayam

    Professor of Cognitive Psychology & Cognitive Science

    selqayam@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7850

  • Dr Christopher Elsey

    VC2020 Lecturer in Health and Well Being in Society

    christopher.elsey@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8812

  • Dr Zehra Ersahin

    Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology

    zehra.ersahin@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 207 8104

  • Dr Zaheera Essat

    Midwifery Lecturer

    zaheera.essat@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 250 6565

  • Dr Angelina Wilson Fadiji

    Senior Lecturer in Psychology

    angelina.wilsonfadiji@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Dr Kriss Fearon

    Research Fellow

    kriss.fearon@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Dr Anja Finger

    Subject Lead and Senior Lecturer in Health and Wellbeing

    anja.finger@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Dr Kyriaki Giannou

    Lecturer in Applied Psychology

    kyriaki.giannou@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Ms Rajvir Gill

    Senior Lecturer

    rajvir.cheema@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 0116 2506274

  • Dr Simon Goodman

    Associate Professor

    simon.goodman@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 207 8671

  • Dr Jess Hall

    Lecturer in Psychology

    j.hall@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 250 6155

  • Professor Richard Hall

    Professor of Education and Technology

    rhall1@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8254

  • Dr Tina Hamilton

    Senior Lecturer

    tina.hamilton@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 366 4387

  • Dr Esmée Hanna

    Reader (Associate Professor)

    esmee.hanna@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 257 7119

  • Professor Cathy Herbrand

    Professor of Medical and Family Sociology

    cathy.herbrand@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)1162506422

  • Dr Rachel Higdon

    Associate Professor

    rhigdon@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7761

  • Dr Zara Hooley

    Senior Lecturer (Centre for Learning and Study Support)

    zara.hooley@dmu.ac.uk

    44 (0) 116 207 8182

  • Professor Nicky Hudson

    Professor of Medical Sociology

    nhudson@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8766

  • Mr Paul Illingworth

    Head of the Leicester School of Allied Health Sciences

    paul.illingworth@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 205 8344

  • Dr Eleni Karasouli

    Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology - Subject Lead for Postgraduate Psychology

    Eleni.Karasouli@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Dr Chris Knifton

    Associate Professor - Neurocognitive and Neurodevelopmental Education

    cknifton@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 2013 855

  • Dr Victoria Knight

    Associate Professor

    vknight@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 2577720

  • Dr Lis Ku

    Senior Lecturer in Psychology

    lis.ku@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116-250-6337

  • Dr Caroline Law

    Senior Research Fellow

    claw@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 250 6124

  • Mr Ross Little

    Senior Lecturer in Criminology

    ross.little@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8763

  • Dr Sasha Loyal

    Lecturer in Health and Wellbeing in Society

    sasha.loyal2@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 201 3896

  • Dr Su Lu

    Senior Lecturer

    su.lu@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 257 7146

  • Dr Tian Ma

    Senior Lecturer

    tian.ma@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 366 4496

  • Dr Blessing Marandure

    Senior Lecturer

    blessing.marandure@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8411

  • Dr Ruth McKie

    Subject Lead in Criminology

    ruth.mckie@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 250 6055

  • Dr Brian McShane

    Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice

    brian.mcshane@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Ms Roz Morrison

    Senior Lecturer in Community and Criminal Justice

    roz.morrison@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 250 6061

  • Dr Lamia Nemouchi

    Lecturer in Education

    lamia.nemouchi@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 3664631

  • Dr Saima Noreen

    VC2020 Senior Lecturer

    saima.noreen@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7331

  • Dr Gisela Oliveira

    Senior Lecturer in Education Studies

    gisela.oliveira@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 250 6578

  • Ms Sarah O'Neill

    Senior Lecturer

    sarah.oneill@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 366 4291

  • Dr Zoe Palfreyman

    Lecturer in Psychology

    zpalfreyman@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7881

  • Dr Theodore Parthymos

    Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology

    theodoros.parthymos@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 0116 366 4759

  • Dr Roshan Rai

    Senior Lecturer

    rrai@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7737

  • Dr Sally Ruane

    Reader in Social Policy – Director of Health Policy Research Unit

    sruane@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0) 116 207 8732

  • Dr Victoria Ruby-Granger

    Senior Lecturer in Psychology

    victoria.ruby-granger@dmu.ac.uk

    Ext 4776

  • Dr Mark Scase

    Associate Professor

    mscase@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 257 7811

  • Dr Maxine Sharps

    Lecturer in Psychology

    maxine.sharps@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 207 8262

  • angela.sibley-white@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Dr Rosi Smith

    Senior Lecturer in Education

    rosi.smith@dmu.ac.uk

    (0116) 257 4557

  • Dr Emily Smith

    Lecturer in Developmental Psychology

    emily.smith2@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 257 7498

  • Dr Monika Sobczak-Edmans

    Senior Lecturer in Psychology

    monika.sobczak-edmans@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0) 116 250 6476

  • Dr Julie Summers-Rola

    Senior Lecturer in Education

    julie.summers@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 255 1551

  • Professor Nadia Svirydzenka

    Professor of Cultural Identities

    nadzeya.svirydzenka@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 250 6483

  • Dr Josef Toon

    Lecturer in Psychology

    josef.toon@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 116 207 8769

  • Ms Di Turgoose

    Associate Professor and DMU Teacher Fellow

    di.turgoose@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 257 7281

  • Mrs Jessica Turner

    Research Fellow

    jessica.turner@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8306

  • Mr Mark Tymms

    Senior Lecturer in Education Studies

    mtymms@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8855

  • Dr Swati Virmani

    Senior Lecturer in Economics

    swati.virmani@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • Dr Christina Weis

    Senior Lecturer in Global Health

    christina.weis@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 250 6576

  • Dr Meredith Wilkinson

    Senior Lecturer in Psychology

    mwilkinson@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0) 116 250 6488

  • Dr Iain Williamson

    Senior Lecturer/ Programme Leader MSc Health Psychology

    iwilliamson@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8393

  • Ms Kath Wilson

    Associate Professor and Senior Teaching Fellow

    kwilson@dmu.ac.uk

    n/a

  • Dr Amanda Wilson

    Associate Professor Research and Innovation (Psychology)

    amanda.wilson@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 2078 815

  • Dr Motje Wolf

    Lecturer in Education Studies

    mwolf@dmu.ac.uk

    ext 8853

  • Miss Emma Wright

    Lecturer in Education

    emma.wright@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 366 4688

  • Dr Paton Yam

    Lecturer in Psychology

    paton.yam@dmu.ac.uk

    0116 207 4696

  • Dr Scott Yates

    Associate Professor

    syates@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8703

  • Dr Sarah Younie

    Professor of Education Innovation

    syounie@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 250 6341

  • Dr Hui Yu

    Senior Lecturer

    hui.yu@dmu.ac.uk

    +44 (0)116 207 8843

  • Dr Xiaoye Zhang

    Senior Lecturer in Criminology

    xiaoye.zhang@dmu.ac.uk

    N/A

  • 82

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