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Sociology Research

 

Isabelle is an ESRC funded PhD candidate in the Sociology Department at the University of Cambridge. She holds a double first-class honours BA degree in Sociology and Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge and an MPhil in the Sociology of Marginality and Exclusion from the Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge.

Her current research, which she began as an undergraduate, focuses on the digital mediation of transnational and transracial adoption in the USA, with a specific focus on examining the ways in which intersectional inequalities are reproduced in digital environments. In doing this work, Isabelle works interdisciplinarily, drawing on research produced by scholars working in the fields of anthropology, digital sociology, race critical code studies, the sociology of ‘race’ and racism, critical race theory, decolonial theory and the sociology of reproduction.

Isabelle has received a range of awards for her academic work. As an undergraduate, these included the Winifred Georgina Holgate Pollard Memorial Prize for outstanding results from the University of Cambridge and selection by the Fulbright Commission as the sole UK candidate to attend a summer school in on Civic Engagement in the USA. As an MPhil student, Isabelle was awarded the Polity Prize by the Department of Sociology for best Dissertation. In 2022 Isabelle holds a British Research Council Fellowship at the Kluge Center, Library of Congress. She is also a Fellow at the New School’s Institute for Critical Social Enquiry.

A significant portion of Isabelle’s research is concerned with considering the nature of ethical and reflexively situated digital research and explorative mixed methods approaches. Isabelle is currently exploring these ideas as a Methods Fellow for Cambridge Digital Humanities, as well as in a seminar she teaches for the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences on Critical Methods in Practice.

Isabelle is always keen to think about ways to break down boundaries between research, activism and everyday life. This commitment is expressed in her academic organising: in 2019 she successfully relaunched the Race Research Cluster in the Department of Sociology and ran a weekly reading group on Race and Digital Technology. From 2020 - 2022 she worked to co-convene the conference 'The Post Windrush Generation: Black British Voices of Resistance', a pathbreaking event which brought together a group of leading Black academics, artists and commentators to explore the history and present-day reality of race relations in the UK. Isabelle is also working on her first novel, which draws on her experiences growing up mixed-race in rural Derbyshire in the 1990s, as well as wider experiences of her Afro-Caribbean family over three generations. She is currently receiving
mentorship for this project through Escalator - the National Centre for Writing’s annual talent development programme.

Prior to beginning her academic studies, Isabelle worked in the campaigns and policy sector with a number of national and international organisations. She focused on campaigns against intersectional inequalities experienced by children and young people, as well as holding roles which sought to challenge internal institutional inequality within organisations. She continues this commitment at the University of Cambridge in her teaching and facilitation work. Isabelle’s pedagogical approach was recently recognised by the University of Cambridge’s Student Led Teaching Awards, where she was nominated and shortlisted for the award in Inclusive Practice. She also holds a Special Supervisor position at Lucy Cavendish College. Isabelle's commitment to working with young people is reflected in her volunteering with a local youth organisation and teaching for access schemes within the University. She is currently studying for a vocational qualification in youth work theory and practice.

 

Research Interests

Sociology of ‘race’ and racism; sociology of gender; critical race theory; decolonial theory; race critical code studies; sociology of reproduction; cultural studies; representation, discourse & power; digital methods; digital ethnography; auto-ethnography

Teaching

In the 2021-2022 academic year, Isabelle will be supervising undergraduate students taking the following papers:
SOC3: Global Social Problems
SOC7: Media, culture and society 
SOC11: Racism, ‘Race’ & Ethnicity

Isabelle also contributes to departmental seminars for undergraduate and postgraduate students, providing insight on various elements of the academic process.

Isabelle is involved in the provision of a variety of training and access schemes within the university. These include:
- Providing peer-led training for the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences on Decoloniality and Reflexivity in Research (SHARE summer school, 2021; AHSS training for doctoral students, Michaelmas term 2021)
- Designing and running a six session supervision course, titled ‘Digital Sociology & the World today’, for Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge Higher Aspirations Scheme (November 2020 – May 2021)
- Working with Decolonise Sociology to facilitate workshops for staff and students

PhD Supervisor

Research Groups & Affiliations

Awards

PhD

  • International Placement Scheme Fellowship, Kluge Centre, Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA  (April 2022-July 2022)
  • 1+3 ESRC DTP Studentship with Pembroke College (October 2020 – June 2023)

MPhil

  • Polity Prize for best MPhil Dissertation in Sociology, University of Cambridge (October 2020)
  • Honorary Cambridge Trust Scholar  (October 2019 – June 2020)

Undergraduate

  • Myson College Exhibition for Personal Achievement, Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge (June 2019)                                                            
  • Marie Lawrence Prize for First Class Honours, Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge (June 2019)
  • Ruth Tomlinson Prize, Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge (February 2018; February 2017)                                 
  • Winifred Georgina Holgate Pollard Memorial Prize, University of Cambridge (July 2017);  awarded for outstanding results, scoring first in the 2016-2017 Human, Social and Political Sciences first year cohort of 181 students.                
  • Marie Lawrence Prize for First Class Honours with Distinction, Lucy Cavendish College, Univeristy of Cambridge  (June 2017)
  • Study of the United States Institutes on Civic Engagement, University of South Carolina, US State Department & Fulbright Commission (June 2017 - August 2017);  The sole UK candidate selected by the US-UK Fulbright commission to be awarded a place on a summer school run for 22 student leaders from across Europe at the University of South Carolina, fully funded by the US State Department.
Job Title:
PhD Candidate, Pembroke College
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