Personal profile
Biography
Sophie Atherton is a Research Associate for the ESRC-funded project, ‘Uncovering Hidden Inequality: Developing New Ways of Doing Death Administration’ led by Professor Kate Reed.
From 2023 - 2025 she worked as a Research Fellow in the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh. In 2023 she obtained a PhD in Sociology from the University of Manchester. Her PhD investigated the experiences of transgender secondary school students in the UK.
Research interests
Sophie is interested in the sociology of personal life, the sociology gender and sexuality, the sociology of health and illness, the sociology of education and youth studies. She has interest and experience in qualitative research methods, especially interviews.
Teaching
Sophie has experience as a guest lecturer, tutor, marker and supervisor. During her time at Edinburgh, Sophie has taught on a number of modules for MBChB Medicine and Master's in Public Health as a tutor, marker and project supervisor. As a PhD student in the Sociology department at The University of Manchester, Sophie was a tutor for two modules: 'Families, Relationships and Everyday Life' and 'Researching Culture and Society'.
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, An enquiry into transgender individuals’ experiences of secondary school in the UK, The University of Manchester
Jan 2019 → Sept 2023
Award Date: 14 Dec 2023
Master of Science, Sociological Research , The University of Manchester
Sept 2017 → Sept 2018
Award Date: 11 Dec 2018
Bachelor of Social Science, Sociology 1st Class, The University of Manchester
Sept 2014 → Jul 2017
Award Date: 12 Jul 2017
External positions
Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh
Jul 2023 → Aug 2025
Post-Graduate Convenor of Youth Studies Group, British Sociological Association
Dec 2019 → Aug 2023
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Rethinking the Role of HIV/AIDS Memories in Gay Men's Experiences of COVID-19 Fear: The Centrality of Social and Ethnic Inequalities
Atherton, S. & Garcia Iglesias, J., 1 Feb 2026, In: Sociology of Health and Illness. 48, 2, e70146.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Imposter Participants: A Call for Social Science Intervention
Merchant, A., Atherton, S. & Garcia Iglesias, J., 2 Jul 2025, In: Sociological Research Online.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Imposter participants? Towards a reflexive epistemology of ‘suspected participants’
Garcia Iglesias, J., Heaphy, B., Yodovich, N., Atherton, S. & Merchant, A., 5 May 2025, In: International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 24Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Researching with Young People: An Introduction to Youth-Centred Research Methods
Howard, F., Hanckel, B., Moore, K., Atherton, S. & Suppers, J., 18 Sept 2025, Bloomsbury Academic, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 280 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
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Screening for Parental Consent? Trans Youth and Informed Consent in Academic Research
Atherton, S., 7 Oct 2025, In: Sociological Research Online. 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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3 year PhD Studentship from Sociology in the School of Social Sciences at The University of Manchester
Atherton, S. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Shortlisted for the Sociology Dissertation Prize 2017 at The University of Manchester
Atherton, S. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Other distinction