Dr Richard Brunner
- Research Associate (General Practice & Primary Care)
- Research Associate (Sociology)
email: Richard.Brunner@glasgow.ac.uk
School Of Social & Political, Sciences
Biography
I am currently Research Associate on two projects: Disabled people and COVID-19 in the UK (University of Glasgow and LSHTM) and Multimorbidity in Arthritis and Persistent Musculoskeletal Pain (MAP) Study (General Practice & Primary Care, University of Glasgow).
My Ph.D. in Sociology (University of Glasgow, 2011-2015) explored what people are able to do and be after being in psychiatric hospital using qualitative methods and the capabilities approach. From 2015-2019 I became Research Associate with What Works Scotland also at University of Glasgow, facilitating Collaborative Action Research with public services. Prior to these I worked as Research Fellow at University of Strathclyde in the School of Education (2008-11), conducting qualitative research into topics including disabled parents, educational transitions, domestic abuse prevention, and teaching and human rights. My previous career included support work with homeless people, mental health advocacy, community development, and policy work in the statutory and third sectors with a focus on equality and diversity, disability and mental health. I have written, published, collaboratively produced, and disseminated widely from my research, seeking conceptual and empirical impact in academic, policy, practice and social contexts. I have an MSc. in Social Policy (LSE, 2002), an MSc. in Social Research (GCU, 2010), and a degree in Sociology from the University of East London (1989).
Research interests
I have conducted extensive qualitative social scientific research, including action research approaches, with a wide range of marginalised groups and also with professionals. My ongoing research seeks to understand the experiences and inequalities of people with mental distress, disabled people, people with health issues, and other easy-to-ignore groups, using sociological concepts. I seek to use these empirical and conceptual understandings to empower marginalised groups, challenge oppression, influence public policy, and improve social justice outcomes. I also have an ongoing interest in the role of public services in improving outcomes for marginalised groups and individuals. I have an ongoing interest in applications of the capabilities approach to frame how we understand human outcomes. A lot of my research has been interdisciplinary and collaborative.
Grants
Grants awarded:
- £10,000 Co-investigator (with Dr Peter Craig and Professor Nick Watson) Evaluability Assessment of Fair Start Scotland. Scottish Government, 2017-18.
- £800 Health and Wellbeing Institute, University of Glasgow, to support attendance and paper at Qualitative Research on Mental Health Conference, Berlin, 20-22 Sep 2018.
- £1,500 Health and Wellbeing Institute, University of Glasgow, to support attendance and paper at Human Development and Capabilities Association Annual Conference, Buenos Aires, 31 Aug-2 Sep 2018.
- £1250 SPSS Conference Fund to support attendance and paper at Human Development and Capabilities Association Annual Conference, Buenos Aires, 31 Aug-2 Sep 2018.
- £4,912 Glasgow City Council contract: Co-producing Glasgow’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) Framework, 11 June 2018.
- £565 Health and Wellbeing Institute, University of Glasgow, to support attendance, symposium organisation and paper at Social Policy Association conference, University of Durham, July 2017.
- £667.75 What Works Scotland, to support attendance and paper at Cambridge Capabilities Conference, University of Cambridge, June 2017.
- £40,770 + fees: Full Award, 3-year ESRC PhD Studentship, Scottish DTC Health Pathway/University of Glasgow, 2011-2014.
- £2,000 Health and Wellbeing Institute, University of Glasgow to support presentation of Ph.D. research findings at Human Development and Capabilities Association Annual Conference, Nicaragua, September 2013.
- £1,200 Roberts Funding, University of Glasgow to support launch of Participatory Action Research with young Scottish Pakistani people ‘BME Youth Unemployment: a Fresh Perspective’, March 2012.
Other bids:
- £100,000, Applicant. ESRC/Government Office for Science ARI Fellowship - Research Engagement Fellow (12 months). Aug 2019 (successful to interview stage).
- £262,202. Applicant. Wellcome Research Fellowship (36 months): Reconceptualising how to transform mental health outcomes in Britain. Sep 2019 (successful to Stage Two).
- £163,471. Applicant. Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship (36 months). Tackling inequalities in mental health: reframing how to secure quality of life (unsuccessful bid).
- £149,155. Co-applicant. ESRC GCRF Networks Competition 2016: Addressing Multiple Deprivation and Alleviating Disability in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (AMDADSA) (unsuccessful bid).
Supervision
At Ph.D. level I am currently third supervisor (30%), alongside Professor Nick Watson and Dr Susan Batchelor, for:
- Ptolomey, Amanda
Children as Researchers Exploring Belonging, Transitions and Wellbeing
At Masters level I have supervised dissertations on:
- Parents’ experiences of social capital (MSc. Global health, 2016)
- Experiences of belonging amongst older people (MSc. Sociology, 2017)
- Positive deviance in mental health by international students (co-supervision with Dr Helen Sweeting, MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit) (MSc. Global Mental Health, 2018)
- A qualitative exploration of men's mental health in areas of high deprivation (MSc. Equality and Human Rights, 2018)
At Honours level I have supervised a dissertation on:
- Mental health stigma in the British Armed Forces (Sociology, 2018).
Teaching
Postgraduate level:
- Equality and Human Rights (MSc) - The Capabilities Approach.
- The Disabling Society (MSc Equality and Human Rights Module) - Mental Distress and the Disabling Society.
Additional information
- Member, School of Social and Political Sciences Ethics Forum (2016-2020).
- Co-ordinator, University of Glasgow Capabilities Approach Co-Learning Group (2017-present).
- Co-ordinator, Health and Social Sciences collaborative Masters dissertations in Thriving Places programme (2015-2018).
- ECR representative, Institute of Health and Wellbeing (2015-present).
- Postdoctoral representative, Lord Kelvin Award Scheme PhD Scholarship selection Panel (2016-17).
- Professional memberships: Social Policy Association; British Sociological Association; Human Development and Capabilities Association.
- https://glasgow.academia.edu/RichardBrunner
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard_Brunner3/research