Skip to main content

Meet The Team

Professor Louise Waite - LSSI Director

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.

Professor Kate Pangbourne - LSSI Deputy Director

Professor 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 - LSSI Deputy Director

Professor Gehan Selim is a the Hoffman Wood 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 - LSSI Deputy Director

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 - LSSI Manager

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.

Alison Lundbeck - LSSI Research and Innovation Development Manager

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 Jackson - Communications and Graduate Co-ordinator

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. Natalie is also the link administrator for the University of Leeds White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP).

Sherif Youssef - Partnerships and Engagement Officer

Sherif Youssef is the Partnership and Engagement Officer at the Leeds Social Sciences Institute. He is an organisational theorist with a background in marketing and public policy. Before joining Leeds Social Sciences Institute, he used to work as a Teaching Fellow at The Sustainability Research Institute in the University of Leeds.

Elliot Payne - Support Officer – LSSI and Environment

I am the Support Officer for LSSI, and I play a key role in supporting the delivery of activities and workshops within LSSI and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA). My responsibilities also involve providing assistance for the IAA events, and working closely with the Faculty of Environment Research & Innovation Office. I contribute to the smooth execution of these initiatives, ensuring their successful implementation.

Wider LSSI Community & Governance Groups