I'm a lecturer at the Manchester Institute of Education. My research and teaching focuses broadly on education, inequality, and social justice. 

As a mixed methods researcher, I have a particular interest in evaluation and research methods, and their underlying philosophical foundations. My work aims to provide accessible accounts in this area, including A Short Guide to Ontology and Epistemology, with a specific focus on realist approaches. 

My various research interests are united by a focus on equitable education systems. In particular, I explore the ways that education systems can reproduce inequalities, as well as the opportunities for transformation. 

My recent work has included a number of strands: 

• Access to university, with a focus on contextual admissions and UCAS personal statements. 
• Graduate outcomes from HE (students' political attitudes and graduates' job quality).
• Elite private education and its impact. 

In addition, I am active in publishing on realist approaches to research design and methodology. 

I currently supervise the following PhD colleagues: 

• Charlie Deeks "Evaluating the impact of UCAS's personal statement reform on the experiences and outcomes of under-resourced students' and their teachers"
• Luman Zhou "Chinese international postgraduate students' conceptualisation and development of critical thinking: a longitudinal study in a UK university"

Inquiries from prospective PhD researchers:

I am happy to read research proposals from prospective PhD researchers. 

I supervise projects relating to widening participation, equity and higher education. 

I am Programme Director for MSc Research Methods, and have taught on a variety of other programmes including: MA International Education, PGR Training Programme, and BSc Education. Although my teaching commitments vary from year to year, I have a particular focus on research methods. The following are indicative of my contributions: 

• EVDV70001 Research Literacy and Design
• EVDV70022 Quantitative Research Approaches
• EDUC60011 Engaging with Education Research
• EDUC60452 Research Methods II
• EDUC71331 Concepts and Practices of International Education

I am a Fellow of Advance HE (awarded in 2023).