Meet The Team

Louise is the Director of LSSI. As a Professor of Human Geography, her research interests span migration and slavery; with a focus on global discourses of ‘modern slavery’ and exploitative work among asylum seekers and refugees.

Dr Kate Pangbourne joined the Institute for Transport Studies in June 2016. At ITS, Dr Pangbourne is developing a distinctive personal research agenda in innovative research in travel behaviour and persuasive technology for behaviour change, as well as exploring the implications of socio-technical change at the interface of transport, governance and sustainability.

Professor Gehan Selim is a Professor in Architecture. She was Fellow of The Senator George Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice (2017/18) and currently leading the Architecture and Urbanism Research Group at the University of Leeds. Professor Selim’s interdisciplinary research transcends the boundaries of disciplines across architecture, digital heritage, and urban politics, focusing on areas of liberation politics, geographies of urban conflict, co-produced knowledge, and developing sustained forms of community belonging.

Dr Sahla Aroussi joined the School of Politics and International Studies in September 2020 and received her PhD in Politics from the University of Ulster in 2011 and was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Antwerp until 2013.

Cheryl Harris is our LSSI Manager and has an overseeing role for LSSI's activities. In particular, Cheryl is closely involved with our ESRC Impact Acceleration Account and our PGR Placement Scheme.

Cheryl has worked at the University since 2006; previously working in the School of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine and Health. She worked with post graduate students and academics as the Manager of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Tissue Engineering whilst in Engineering.
More recently she has been responsible for the day-to-day management of the NIHR Global Health Research Group in Surgical Technologies and has coordinated activities for the programme with academics and stakeholders in the UK, India and Sierra Leone.

Alison supports cross-disciplinary research and innovation between and beyond the social sciences. She has extensive experience in supporting cross-institutional research, knowledge exchange, impact and strategic policy implementation in the Higher Education sector. As Research and Innovation Development Manager, Alison helps bring together different disciplinary expertise to address complex research problems. She particularly works to connect academics and stakeholders with large funding opportunities, and supports LSSI's international partnerships.

Natalie provides communications and administrative support to the Leeds Social Sciences Institute (LSSI). Ensuring that news items and opportunities are shared amongst the relevant communities within the university and that the LSSI website is up to date. Recently involved in organising the production of videos, podcasts, case studies and professional photography for the Co-production Research Toolkit, involving researchers from across the university and overseeing the design of the toolkit.

Natalie is also the link administrator for the University of Leeds White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). Promoting awareness of and engagement in the work of the DTP through participation in open days, induction, cohort meetings and training sessions. Natalie provide support to the Programme Director of the MA Social Research (Interdisciplinary), and to the Head of the Graduate School in their role as academic lead for the White Rose DTP.