Biography

I currently work part-time as an Early Career Research Fellow in the Sociology Department at Lancaster University, where I lead a work package on changes in clothing, personal comfort and heating use during the pandemic. Previous to this, I lead a small project reviewing research into the relationships between clothing, thermal comfort and energy use, where I considered different futures engaging with this neglected aspect of ‘sustainable fashion’ and energy demand. Both  projects are part of CREDS, the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions.

From 2019 to 2021, I also worked part-time as a research assistant on the Doctors within Borders project at Lancaster University, a networking project that explored the healthcare experiences of mobile populations, such as refugees and migrants.

From 2014 to 2019, I was a Senior Research Associate in the DEMAND Centre, based within the department of Sociology at Lancaster University. My main project investigated the changing roles of digital devices and services in everyday life and the implications for patterns of energy demand and energy policy. I also helped draw together and communicate some of the most important insights generated by the Centre.

Much of my work is interdisciplinary and collaborative. I have experimented with innovative combinations of methods, including using fine-grained energy and environmental sensor data alongside interviews and time diaries. My PhD, also at Lancaster University, was based in the School of Computing and Communications and the department of Sociology, and explored how to make sense of variations in cooking, computing and thermal comfort-related practices and energy use.

I have supervised one PhD student, have taught on a human geography programme, and also studied environmental philosophy and psychology. I also worked in local government on sustainable development, and as a research consultant and project manager at a technology company.