Research

My PhD thesis, 'Working-class Diets in Discourse and Practice: Manchester and Coventry 1780-1850', delves into the evolution of working-class diets in Manchester and Coventry during the industrialization era, offering a unique lens into the rhetoric and reality of British working-class life. It reexamines the historical debate on living standards during the Industrial Revolution, incorporating cultural perspectives on food, hunger, and consumption. The project, employing an interdisciplinary approach with a diverse array of primary sources, also connects to contemporary discussions about working-class dietary rights, echoing historical struggles for adequate nutrition.

Supervisors: Professor Rebecca EarleLink opens in a new window, Professor Mark KnightsLink opens in a new window

Wider Research Interest

My research interests encompass the intricate dynamics of daily life, with a keen focus on the politics of the everyday. I am fascinated by how food shapes and reflects identity, exploring this theme within the context of global food history. Additionally, I delve into the relationships between food, land, and population, examining these elements from cultural and ethnographic perspectives.

My focus is on uncovering how the lived experiences of common people-- their ways of life, their challenges, and their perceptions of their surrounding world-- intersect with the larger narratives and historical trends. This perspective allows for a rich exploration of history, viewing it not just as a series of events, but as a rich tapestry woven from human experiences and interactions with the environment.

Conference

• • 8 June 2024: 'The Broth of Politics: Coventry's Soup Kitchens, 1798-1861' (New Voices in Midland History Conference)

Experiences & Involvement

• Organising Committee Member, University of Warwick Postgraduate Conference, 2024
• History PGR Student Representative, University of Warwick, 2023-2024
• Archives and Collections Volunteer, "Our Town Hall Project" in Manchester, 2023
• Academic & Research Tutor, Lumist, 2022-2023
• Philosophy Editor, Falsafa, 2021
• Organisor & Researcher, Chinese Culture Association at UCI, 2020-2021
• Field Investigator & Oral History Researcher, Chinese Local and Clan History Association, 8/2020 & 5/2021
• History and Philosophy Tutor, University of California-Irvine, 2020

Education

PhD History- University of Warwick, in-progress (2023 onwards)

MA History (Merit)- University of Manchester, 2023

BA History with a Philosophy Minor (First Class)- University of California-Irvine, 2021