Alice Robinson

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate on the Developing Humanitarian Medicine (DHM) project, a Wellcome-funded initiative led by Professor Bertrand Taithe at the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI). My current research examines the historical development and political dynamics of Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) and the EMT Initiative. This work draws on archival research and oral history interviews to explore the position of EMTs within the changing landscape of humanitarian medicine.

My broader research interests include histories of humanitarianism, drivers and dynamics of humanitarian system change, and labour relations and the nature of work in aid organisations. I completed my PhD at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where my doctoral work explored the intersections of ‘localisation’, locally led aid, and labour dynamics in aid organisations in South Sudan, using ethnographic research and life-work history interviews. I also taught on courses on research methods, and on NGOs and civil society.

Beyond my PhD, I have led, worked on and contributed to studies on a wide range of topics, including humanitarian protection, innovation, climate adaptation, and the relationship between stigma and health inequalities.