Leah is an ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Politics and International Relations 2021/22.  

Leah recently graduated with a PhD in Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh in 2021. Her thesis 'Change, Continuity, and Contestations: Framing Domestic Abuse Policy in Scotland Since 1998' was awarded the Political Studies Association Elizabeth Wiskemann prize for best dissertation in (in)equality and social justice 2021/22 and the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science Outstanding Thesis prize 2020/21. Her thesis traced how domestic abuse policy has been framed in post-devolution Scotland (1998-2018), drawing upon a feminist and intersectional approach to highlight key debates, contestations and resistance in framing the policy 'problem', complicating the dominant "success stories" of the Scottish case. Previous to graduating her PhD, Leah completed an MA in Politics and Sociology (Honours) at the University of Edinburgh and an MSc Gender Studies (Applied) at Stirling University. 

Leah is an interdisciplinary social scientist (across social policy, politics and sociology) with various research interests including framing politics, intersectionality, gender politics, childhood theory, social movements, contentious politics, discursive and policy change, institutional and constitutional change, gender-based violence, and qualitative research methods.