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Staff Profile

Dr Audrey Verma

Lecturer in Sociology

  • Personal Website:
  • Address: School of Geography, Politics and Sociology
    Room 4.124
    Level 4, Henry Daysh Building
    Â鶹´«Ã½
    Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

About

Lecturer in Sociology. Previously Leverhulme Early Career Fellow researching activism and environmental participation in the digital anthropocene.

Education

  • 2016: PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen; affiliated with dot.rural RCUK Digital Economy Hub and The James Hutton Institute
  • 2011: Master's in Sociology (M. Soc. Sci.), National University of Singapore
  • 2007: Bachelor's (first class honours) in Sociology (B. Soc. Sci. Hons), National University of Singapore

Previous posts

  • 2019-2022: Leverhulme Early Career Fellow
  • 2022: Lecturer/convenor, Interdisciplinary research in practice, University of Groningen (summer school)
  • 2021: Lecturer/co-convenor, Navigating research boundaries, University of Groningen (summer school)
  • 2016-2018: Postdoc research associate - lead ethnographer on Creative Fuse North East
  • 2016: Lecturer/co-convenor, Introduction to Psychology and Sociology, ESCP Europe
  • 2016: Researcher, Citizen Sense project, Department of Sociology, Goldsmiths, University of London
  • 2013: Research assistant for National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA) follow-on Work Package Report 6: Shared, plural and cultural values of ecosystems
  • 2011: Research assistant to A/P Misha Petrovic, Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore
  • 2010: Independent researcher, INSEAD Asia
  • 2006-2007: Research assistant to A/P Volker Schmidt, Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore

Awards/funding

  • 2019-2022: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship
  • 2021: CHASE Climate Justice Network small grant 2021
  • 2021: Pioneer Award, Â鶹´«Ã½
  • 2017-2018: British Sociological Association early career forum regional event fund
  • 2017: AHRC-Creative Fuse North East Innovation Pilot Fund
  • 2012 - 2016: University of Aberdeen scholarship to undertake PhD studentship
  • 2008 - 2010:  National University of Singapore Research Scholarship
  • 2008 -2009: President’s Graduate Fellowship, National University of Singapore
  • 2007: Rosie Heng-Ko Poh Choo Gold Medal (best female Sociology student in the Examination for the degree of Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours, National University of Singapore)
  • 2006: Cambridge Scholarship (National University of Singapore)
  • 2005: Max Lewis Scholarship (National University of Singapore)
  • 2004: Shaw Foundation Scholarship (National University of Singapore)
  • 2002-2005: Dean's List awardee 5 consecutive semesters (National University of Singapore)

Languages

  • Malay (advanced spoken/written)
  • Mandarin (intermediate spoken)
  • Hindi (intermediate spoken)
  • Arabic (beginner spoken/written)
Research
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship 2019-2022
This research considers what it means to be human and an environmental citizen in what may be called the 'digital anthropocene', using a comparative ethnography across three grassroots movements in Singapore, Scotland and India. A book entitled Environmental activism, hope and resistance in the digital anthropocene has been contracted by Palgrave-Macmillan.

Creative Fuse North East (AHRC-funded)  2016-2018
The Creative Fuse North East (CFNE) project revolved around connecting the creative, digital and IT industry (CDIT) sector in North East UK with the five North East universities. I conducted an ethnography of the project alongside Dr Cathrine Degnent between November 2016 and June 2018, documenting the processes, practices, networks and narratives within the project. Our aim was to critically understand the nature of interdisciplinarity in the (co)production of knowledge and innovation.
Teaching
I have taught students from diverse national and cultural backgrounds in three countries, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I also design and deliver bespoke short courses on interdisciplinary research.

2022
SOC2058 Understanding social change and transformation

Selected previous teaching
  • lecturer and convenor, Interdisciplinary research in practice (undergrad summer school), University of Groningen
  • guest lecturer/tutor, Researching Social Life (social research methods) and Sociology for the Anthropocene, Â鶹´«Ã½
  • lecturer and co-convenor, Navigating research boundaries: Disciplines, methodologies, environments, identities (postgrad summer school), University of Groningen
  • lecturer and co-convenor, Introduction to Psychology & Sociology, ESCP Europe (for the school’s inaugural Bachelor in Management degree program)

I have also tutored on the following modules in Aberdeen and Singapore:
Humans & Other Animals, Oceans & Society, Social Inequalities, Anthropology & the Human Condition, Race & Ethnic Relations
Publications

  • Articles

    • Blell M, Liu S-JS, Verma A. . Gender, Work and Organization 2023, 30(2), 353-372.
    • Blell M, Liu S-JS, Verma A. . International Journal of Human Rights 2022, 26(10), 1822–1841.
    • Silk M, Correia R, Verissimo D, Verma A, Crowley SL. . People and Nature 2021, 3(6), 1130-1137.
    • Verma A, Van der Wal R, Fischer A. . Human Ecology 2017, 45(5), 686-695.
    • Verma A, Van der Wal R, Fischer A. . Geoforum 2016, 75, 75-86.
    • Verma A, Van der Wal R, Fischer A. . Ambio 2015, 44(Suppl. 4), 648-660.

  • Book Chapter

    • Verma A. Black magic women: On the purported use of sorcery by female foreign domestic workers in Singapore. In: Bonavita, HV, ed. Negotiating Identities: Constructed Selves and Others. Amsterdam; New York: Rodopi Press, 2011, pp.25-50.

  • Online Publications

    • Verma A, Dargie T, Chakraborty S. . The Sociological Review, 2021. Available at: .
    • Verma A, McKnight H, Gabriele G. . Audrey Verma, 2021. Available at: .
    • Verma A. ‘It’s complex’ – Race-related inequalities and ignorance in UKHE. 2020. Available at: https://postpandemicuniversity.net/2020/09/16/its-complex-race-related-inequalities-and-ignorance-in-ukhe/. In Preparation.
    • Verma A. . Social Science Space: SAGE, 2018. Available at: .

  • Reports

    • Verma A, James T, Faulkner A. . 2020.
    • Verma A, Degnen C. . 2018.