Dr Xiaodong Lin

Dr Xiaodong Lin has joined the School as Associate Professor in the GSD Department. Prior to joining Warwick, Dr Lin was Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of York. He is editor of The Sociological Review, the oldest sociology journal in the UK, where he leads on the Journal’s internationalisation strategies. Dr Lin will be leading the GSD postgraduate research community as Director of Postgraduate Research.

Dr Lin has a prominent research profile in the studies of food, gender and migration, men and masculinities. He has research experience of working with the business sector and government agencies. This includes his latest research project on the role of food in older adults’ everyday lives, through which he has developed collaboration with the Marks & Spencer Company Archive. His current research is in collaboration with colleagues in Leeds, Sheffield and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) on the role of parenting in addressing the issues of double burden of childhood malnutrition in China, which is funded by the BBSRC Global Challenge Research Fund. He is also working on a Special Issue: ‘Cultural Landscapes of Care’, with Dr Daryl Martin (York) and Dr Bo-Wei Chen (Taiwan), which will be published in the journal of Health & Place. You can find out about Dr Lin's specific research interests on his profile page.

"I am delighted to join GSD at a time when the University is investing in the School for Cross-faculty Studies’ research profile. I am looking forward to working with colleagues and students in continuing to shape a unique research culture for the School and to engage with issues of global challenges in times of crisis."

Dr Nikoleta Jones

Dr Nikoleta Jones has joined the School for Cross-faculty Studies as Associate Professor in the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD). After completing her PhD in Greece (2009) on the impact of social capital on environmental policies, Dr Jones moved to the UK with a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship (FP7, University of Birmingham, 2011-2013). She then worked at the Open University (Lecturer in Human Geography, 2013-2015), Anglia Ruskin University (Senior Lecturer and Reader in Sustainability and Human Geography, 2015-2019) and the University of Cambridge (Principal Research Associate, 2019-2021).

Nikoleta's expertise lies within the field of environmental policy and governance with a specific focus on controversial policy initiatives, such as making space for water due to climate change and designation of new protected areas. She uses mixed methods with a particular interest in behavioural predictive models incorporating spatial and temporal dimensions. Nikoleta has published over 60 papers and has been involved in the writing of successful research grants since 2008, which collectively have raised over £2 million in external research funding. The most recent is the project FIDELIO funded by the European Research Council (2019-2024, €1.5 million) exploring social impacts and public support for conservation policies in Europe. Nikoleta is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has undertaken significant teaching responsibilities including the full coordination of one MSc course and the design of several modules.

"It is great to join such a vibrant and interdisciplinary group of colleagues in the School for Cross-faculty Studies. As the new Director of Research I am looking forward to working with everyone in the School to further strengthen research activities while expanding our collaborations with different parts of the University of Warwick and beyond. I am also looking forward to getting to know our undergraduate and postgraduate students. It is always extremely fulfilling to support students in their learning journey while building together pathways for a more sustainable future."

Sam Gane

Sam has joined the GSD Department as Joint Degrees Programmes Coordinator (undergraduate). Sam has worked at Warwick since 2008 and has experience working in various professional services roles across the University. Sam's most recent role prior to joining the School for Cross-faculty Studies was in the Department of Film and Television Studies as a Graduate and Admissions Secretary.

"I am really excited about joining the School and getting to know new colleagues and students. I am looking forward to learning more about the School and the fantastic opportunities it offers students across a range of disciplines."

Sheree Thompson

Sheree has joined the GSD Department as Interdisciplinary Programmes Officer (undergraduate). Sheree has worked at Warwick since 2000 and has experience working in various professional services roles across the University. Sheree has spent most of her time working in Warwick Business School as Programme Coordinator across postgraduate programmes.

"I am delighted to be joining this new and vibrant department and working with new colleagues and undergraduate students. I am looking forward to learning about the School and the impressive opportunities it offers its students across a range of interdisciplinary courses."

Shehzadi Aziz

Shehzadi, a Class of 2021 Liberal Arts graduate, has joined the Liberal Arts Department as a Research Intern over the summer.

"I am very grateful to be doing this internship. I hope to gain more experience about academic policy-making and Liberal Arts pedagogy by helping to do market research for the upcoming postgraduate Liberal Arts degree. I also hope that this internship will help me to learn more about the ultimate career paths of Liberal Arts students, by speaking with Liberal Arts alumni."

Ella Jones

Ella, a second-year single honours GSD student, has joined the GSD Department as a Research Intern over the summer.

"I’m hoping to work on data analysis, market research and interviewing GSD alumni as well as helping with promoting the new GSD Masters programme. In the few weeks that I have been interning with the GSD Department I have been able to work on projects with the careers, postgraduate and communications teams. It has been a great way to get involved with the department and to help with organisation, planning and marketing. I am looking forward to speaking with alumni to help provide resources to current students and to help promote the course."