Dr Emma Hughes began her career in renal nursing within NHS Lothian in Scotland, before relocating to Australia and New Zealand to practice in a range of clinical fields, including cardiothoracic, critical care and operating theatre. Emma spent time nursing in refugee camps in Greece, then returned to Scotland to work as a Senior Clinical Research Nurse and as part of the Infection Prevention Control Team in NHS Lothian.

On completion of her ethnographic PhD research in refugee health, Emma commenced as Lecturer in Nursing at Edinburgh Napier University (ENU), leading a range of public health and community nursing modules, as well as Programme Leader for the BSc Nursing Studies (international) programme and Co-Lead for Sustainability in the School of Health and Social Care. Emma continues to be a Visiting Lecturer at ENU.

In 2025, Emma joined the University of Glasgow Singapore as Assistant Professor in Nursing, predominantly contributing to the BSc (Hons) Nursing programme jointly offered by University of Glasgow and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). She is part of the University of Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network and Public Health Research Group.

Emma is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Editorial Board Member of Scope Health and Well-Being Journal, as well as reviewer for Nurse Education Today and Journal of Transcultural Nursing.