Dr Sally Hancock

Profile

Biography

I am a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of York. After completing my PhD at Imperial College London in 2012, I worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Edinburgh (2013) and York (2014-15). I began a lectureship in the department in 2015. 

My research is located across the fields of higher education, science policy, and the sociology of education. I am particularly interested in the career trajectories and experiences of doctoral graduates, with a focus on how educational and policy frameworks shape these careers. 

Recent projects include an analysis of doctoral employment outcomes in the UK, and a review of doctoral training on behalf of the ESRC. My research has featured in Nature, the Times Higher Education, and been cited by bodies including the British Academy, the UK Council for Graduate Education and the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. I am keen to hear from academic colleagues and prospective PhD students who are also interested in these issues. 

In the department I am currently Chair of the Board of Studies in Education. Previously I was the Director of Undergraduate Studies and, before that, programme leader for the BA Education and PhD in Education. I am also a member of the University Postgraduate Research Experience Committee and Research Culture Working Group. 

Research

Overview

My work is theoretically informed and policy relevant, and I enjoy using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to study:

• Doctoral education and career pathways: the diverse career paths that PhD graduates take, both within academia and in other sectors; how the skills and knowledge gained during doctoral training are applied in various professional contexts
• Science and society: how doctoral training equips individuals to contribute to society, whether through research, industry, or public policy; how research and innovation policies at national and institutional levels impact the training, development, and employment of doctoral graduates
• Higher education policy: how policies shape the funding, structure, and delivery of doctoral education, and equitable career opportunities for graduates. Though my work is UK focused, I consider international perspectives on higher education policy, comparing how different countries approach the training and employment of doctoral graduates.

External activities

Overview

I am a member of the Society for Research into Higher Education, the British Sociological Association, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

I regularly peer-review for many journals including Higher Education and Studies in Higher Education, and funders including UKRI.

From 2019-2023, I was an invited member of the Global Higher Education & Research steering group of the Worldwide Universities Network. Between 2019-22, I was a trustee of the University of York Graduate Student Association.