UofG social scientists receive Smart Data Research Fellowships
Published: 12 February 2026
Two UofG social scientists have been awarded Fellowships by Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK).
Two social scientists at the University of Glasgow have been awarded Fellowships by Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK).
Bartolemeo Meletti and Dr Mingyu Zhu will use their Fellowships to address some of the UK's most pressing challenges, from combating AI-generated misinformation to forecasting demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Dr Mingyu Zhu is a Research Associate in Urban Studies & Social Policy. His research will combine smart meter data, housing characteristics, and weather records to model unhealthy indoor conditions.
By developing a thermal model and national cold-homes index, the ‘Cold homes and health risks’ project will help target interventions to reduce illness, fuel poverty, and health inequality.
He said: "Receiving this fellowship is a significant step in developing research that connects smart data with real-world policy challenges. It allows us to bring together smart data, social research and environmental monitoring to address some of the most pressing challenges facing UK households, from energy vulnerability to climate-related health risks. I’m grateful for the support of colleagues and partners who have helped make this possible."
Bartolomeo Meletti is a Senior Lecturer in Law and Head of Knowledge Exchange at CREATe, the Centre for Regulation of the Creative Economy. He will develop legal and technical infrastructure to manage copyright, data protection, and permissions in digital cultural collections.
Working with major institutions such as the British Library, the ‘Unlocking cultural and creative data’ project will enable safer access to cultural data for research,
innovation, and responsible AI.
He said: "I am excited to work with leading institutions on complex questions central to government priorities in copyright and Artificial Intelligence. While AI has renewed attention on these issues, cultural heritage institutions have faced legal barriers to sharing their collections and data for R&D for decades. With the support of SDR UK and my colleagues at CREATe, I aim to help unlock these data and strengthen the UK research ecosystem."
Professor Sara Carter, Vice President and Head of College of Social Sciences at UofG, said: "I am delighted that two of our colleagues have received these prestigious Fellowships that will allow them to make a real difference to society and how we live our everyday lives. This reflects the quality and scale of social sciences at the University of Glasgow and the vital impact of our research and teaching."
The Fellowship projects, each worth up to £200,000, cover SDR UK's four research themes: productivity and prosperity, health and wellbeing, digital society, and sustainability.
All projects will start in February 2026 and run for 18 months.
First published: 12 February 2026