Dr Sarah Fox

I am a Research Associate with the Substance Use and Associated Behaviours (SUAB) research group based in the department of Sociology. I was awarded my PhD in February 2019 with a thesis that explored the journeys to support among women who experienced co-occurring substance use and domestic abuse victimisation. I have a MSc in Drug and Alcohol Studies from The University of Glasgow, a MSc in Applied Social Research from Trinity College Dublin, and a B.A (Hons) in Humanities from Dublin City University.

I have also worked in homeless, children and young people and domestic abuse settings as a support worker, fundraiser, refuge support worker and researcher. 

Interests and expertise

I am a qualitative researcher, and my area of interest is women’s lived experiences of substance use, particularly women who experience multiple disadvantage, because I feel it’s important that we create space in research and policy for women’s voices to be heard. I use narrative pen-portrait style methods, with an interest in the life-story, and I have an interest in the use of creative methods as a way of sharing lived experience.

I’m also passionate about supporting PhD and ECR researchers because academia can be a challenging place to work so I think it’s important that we support our peers wherever possible.

Life outside work

I like to ensure I have a healthy work-life balance, so at the evenings you’ll find me in the kitchen cooking, reading non-academic books that have little to do with work, or overdoing it on box-sets. At the weekends, I’ll catch up with friends, go home to Dublin when I can, or I’ll head out for a long stroll where I like in West Yorkshire at the foot of the Pennines. I’ve recently got a sewing machine so trying my hand at that too.