Dr Silvia Behrens is a Research Associate at the School of Social & Political Science. Working with Principal Investigator Professor Morag Treanor, Silvia co-leads a project that explores context, factors and approaches to educational exclusions and absences. The project is part of the 'Children's lives and outcomes' research strand at the ESRC-funded Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR).

Prior to joining University of Glasgow, Silvia completed her PhD in Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde investigating young people’s activism in the UK and held a postdoctoral role at the WiSE Centre for Economic Justice at Glasgow Caledonian University. With a background in Political Science (B.A.) and Cultural Studies (M.A.), she is interested in young people's political participation including migrant populations, the relationship between educational achievements and inequalities, public policy and international relations. Her professional experiences in policy and policy research include internships with the International Development Committee at House of Commons and the Directorate for External Affairs at the Scottish Government.

Silvia is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) and has taught on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian University.

• educational exclusions and absences in Scotland
• youth activism, political participation and representation
• migration, social inclusion and citizenship
• caregiving and gendered expectations around care
• quantitative and qualitative research methods

Research groups

• Social & Urban Policy

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Prior publications

• 2024/25 British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants Scheme Unpaid care and gender expectations in same-sex partnerships: opportunities to re-shape policy? (PI Dr Nina Teasdale, Glasgow Caledonian University)
• 2019-2023 University of Strathclyde Student Excellence Award, PhD fees and stipend

• Quantitative Data Analysis (URBAN5127 and SPS5033)

Silvia is a member of the Political Studies Association, the British Sociological Association and the European Consortium for Political Research. She is also a mentor of PhD students for the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science.