Dean of Postgraduate Research, College of Science & Engineering

Co-Director: Centre for Research on Envrionment, Society & Health

Senior Editor: Social Science & Medicine

Editor in Chief: Wellbeing, Space & Society

My work considers how social, political, commercial and environmental processes affect social and spatial inequalities in health. In particular, I have focused on the role of place in understanding health outcomes and the consumption of unhealthy commodities (alcohol, tobacco, ultra-processed foods). This has included work on how aspects of place (e.g. green spaces, pollution, built environment) influence health in later life (e.g. cognitive health, frailty, biological ageing, multimorbidity).

In recent years, I have secured over £31 million in research funding from a range of UK, EU and overseas funding bodies. I have published over 200 papers, books and book chapters in various social science, population health and interdisciplinary outlets. With colleagues at Edinburgh and Glasgow I established the Centre for Research on Environment, Society & Health (CRESH).

I am currently Dean of Postgraduate Research (College of Science & Engineering) at the University of Edinburgh with responsibility for all aspects of doctoral training, funding and wellbeing support. Between 2016 and 2023 I was the Director of the ESRC Scottish Graduate School of Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (SGSSS-DTP) which provides funding and training to social science doctoral students across Scotland. As Director of the SGSSS-DTP I led the development of the 2016 and 2023 bids to the ESRC and the Scottish Funding Council for a total of 12 student cohorts (approximately £45m) on behalf of the 16 partner universities across Scotland.  I was also Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Health & Place, (2014-23). I am currently Senior Editor (Medical Geography) of Social Science & Medicine as well as co Editor-in-Chief (with Professor Susan Elliott) of Wellbeing, Space & Society.  Between 2013-16, I was Head of Institute (Geography) with line management responsibilities for 40+ academic staff member.  

Follow Jamie on twitter: @jamie0pearce @CRESHnews

In this video Jamie describes his research interests in place and health, particularly health inequalities