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Research Associate, SAFE SEAS, University of Bristol

My primary research interest is the governmental function of the psychological sciences. More specifically, I examine how behavioural insights derived from the cognitive and neuro-sciences are deployed in diverse contexts for political, governmental and commercial ends. As a political theorist, my driving interest is to show how understandings emerging from the life sciences influence or undermine extant political vocabularies, like those associated with liberalism and democracy.

My thesis targets a particular manifestation of this process, namely the consolidation of 'behaviour change' discourse in UK politics and the associated influence of behavioural economics in political spheres. In particular, I examined evidence submitted to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee's 2010-2012 inquiry into behaviour change interventions.

Since completing my PhD I have developed a second research interest in maritime security and piracy studies. I currently work as a Research Associate for SAFE SEAS, a pilot project that studies lessons from maritime security capacity building practices in the Western Indian Ocean. SAFE SEAS is funded by the British Academy and is part of the UK's Global Challenges Research Fund initiative.

Experience

  • –present
    Research Associate in Politics, University of Bristol

Education

  • 2017 
    University of Bristol, PhD