Dr Jennifer Hoolachan

Lecturer in Sociology

: hoolachanj@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2087 6871

I was appointed as a Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology in September 2016 and I am currently teaching on the School's Criminology programme across all levels. My research interests are in the areas of drugs & alcohol use; homelessness & housing; and youth transitions, subcultures & the life-course. In particular I am interested in constructions and theories of drug use and how these intersect with responses from the public, practitioners and policymakers. Moreover, my research concerns the public/private spaces in which drugs and alcohol are used and therefore my interests are inter-disciplinary as they cut across criminology, sociology and human geography. Methodologically, I am a qualitative researcher and experienced ethnographer and I am keen to explore research methods in general, including visual and sensory methods.

Career Overview:

Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology, Cardiff University, 2016 - present
Research Assistant, University of St Andrews, 2015-2016
Teaching Assistant, University of Stirling, 2011-2016
Research Assistant, University of Stirling, 2014-2016

Education and Qualifications:

PhD (Social Sciences) University of Stirling, 2016
MSc (Applied Social Research) University of Stirling, 2011
MSc (Alcohol and Drug Studies) University of the West of Scotland, 2010
MA(Hons) (Psychology) University of Glasgow, 2007

Professional memberships

British Sociological Association
Housing Studies Association

Speaking engagements

Scottish Graduate School Summer School, University of Edinburgh, June 2016
Ethnography Fieldwork Symposium, University of Stirling, April 2016
Holyrood Policy 'Housing in Scotland' Panel Discussion, Edinburgh, November 2015
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Seminar, James Hutton Institute (Aberdeen), October 2015
Centre for Research on Families and Relationships Conference, University of Edinburgh, May 2015
Housing Studies Association Conference, York University, April 2016, 2015, 2014
National Symposium: Undertaking a PhD in Substance Use, Oxford Brookes University, July 2014, 2013
European Network for Housing Research International Conference, CIH Edinburgh, July 2014
Kent Homeless Conference, University of Kent, July 2014

View orca profile

I currently teach on the following modules:

Year 1:

Foundations of Contemporary Criminology (SI0238)

Year 2:

Offending and Victimisation (SI0201)
Responses to Crime (SI0202)
Theory and Method in Contemporary Criminology (SI0200)

Year 3:

Diversity, Crime and Criminal Justice (SI0184)
Prisons and Community Sanctions (SI0203)

MSc:

Researching Crime, Safety and Justice (SIT725)
Responses to Crime, Safety and Justice (SIT726)

Supervision:

I am happy to supervise UG, Masters and Doctoral students engaged in qualitative research (particularly ethnography) who are interested in the topics of substance use, homelessness/housing, youth and/or antisocial behaviour.