ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Principal Lecturer and PGR Co-ordinator

I first came to the ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ in 1994, and worked as a full-time researcher – and part-time PhD student - in the Department of Applied Social Studies until 2003.

I then left to work first at Birkbeck College and then the National Children’s Bureau.

I returned to the University in 2007 to work part-time as a researcher in the Institute of Applied Social Research, followed by some time in Education Studies and a return to the Safer Young Lives Research Centre (formerly the International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking).

In 2018 I began a fractional post supporting PGR students in the Institute of Applied Social Research. In 2022 I was appointed to a full-time Principal Lectureship in the School of Applied Social Sciences (SASS). My main role, in addition to teaching and research activities, is to oversee the doctoral research taking place within SASS and the Institute of Applied Social Research.

Qualifications

• MA (Hons Sociology) University of Aberdeen 1993
• PhD (University of Luton) 1999
• Thesis title: Re-defining the problem: The exclusion from school of children living in children's homes.

Teaching Expertise

• I have almost 30 years experience of HE teaching at all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, from access courses to doctoral study.
• I have experience of examining PhDs externally, and was external examiner for the MA Child Studies programme at King’s College, University of London (2014-2018). I provide annual guest lectures to King’s College and Middlesex University.
• I currently lead two Masters units, as well as providing occasional input to social work and other programmes.
• I have supervised eleven Professional Doctorates and two PhDs to successful completion. I am currently Director of Studies for seven doctoral students, and second supervisor for a further four students.

Research Interests

I am an experienced researcher and have worked on a wide range of research projects relating to different aspects of child welfare, including children and young people in care, education, youth offending, safeguarding and child exploitation. I am experienced in applying a variety of research methods and approaches.

• Children in need and children in care
• Educational experiences of children in need and children in care
• Child exploitation
• Children missing from and excluded from school
• Research methodology in applied research, including evaluation.

Current and recent research projects (last three years)

• 2023 ongoing – Researcher, Exploring racial disparity in the youth justice system (ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ and Keele University (funded by the Nuffield Foundation).
• 2023 ongoing – Advisor, Girls and Gangs Project (funded by MOPAC).
• 2022 ongoing – Advisor, Harmful Sexual Behaviours Project (funded by the Pilgrim Trust)
• 2023 - 2024 – Advisor, Evaluation of the Pan-Bedfordshire Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit (Home Office funded)

External Roles

• Reviewer, Child Abuse Review; Safer Communities; Child and Family Social Work; Children and Society

Internal Roles

• Chair of the School of Applied Social Studies ethics panel.
• Deputy chair of the research institute ethics panel for the Institute of Applied Social Research
• IASR Research Degrees Committee representative#.
• Chairing, PGR vivas.

Publications (Last Five Years)

• Brodie, I., Beckett, H. and Yeo, A. (2023) Tackling Child Exploitation Risk Thematic Project. Available at:
• Brodie, I. (2022) Safeguarding, young people and gangs. In P. Andell and J. Pitts (eds) Palgrave Handbook of Gangs. Palgrave.
• Brodie, I. (2022) Child Exploitation: Definitions and Language. Tackling Child Exploitation Support Programme. Available at:
• Brodie, I. and Hurst, A. (2022) Community Awareness Raising: Key issues for strategic leaders. Tackling Child Exploitation Support Programme. Available at:
• Brodie, I. (2022) Safeguarding, young people and gangs. In P. Andell and J. Pitts (eds) Palgrave Handbook of Gangs. Palgrave.
• Tackling Child Exploitation Children and Young People’s Voice Strand – resources various. Available at:
• Racher, A. and Brodie, I. (2020) Joining the dots? Tackling child exploitation during Covid-19. Journal of Children's Services.

Contact Details

E: isabelle.brodie@beds.ac.uk