Holly Rooke
Department of Urban Studies and Planning
PhD Student
- Profile
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Prior to starting my PhD I worked in the charity sector, mainly supporting people experiencing homelessness in Bristol. I had several frontline and managerial roles, including coordinating an emergency accommodation project that provided safe shelter to over 300 people during the Covid-19 pandemic. I have also previously worked in local government policy.
I have a BA in Philosophy and English Literature (2017) and an MSc in Public Policy (2022) from the University of Bristol. I used by MSc thesis to explore the construction of illegality in UK political speeches about asylum seekers.
Alongside my PhD studies I work as a research assistant for Refugee Education UK and the University of Bristol on a project exploring the barriers that people from refugee backgrounds face in accessing higher education in Britain.
- Research interests
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Thesis title: Migration, Cities and Inequality
Taking a comparative case study approach, my research aims to capture experiences and effects of forced migration in two cities, one in the UK and one in the global South, with a particular focus on grassroots-led initiatives. I hope to use my project to foster cross-contextual learning around the impacts of forced migration on urban areas, and specifically on urban inequality.
My project is part of the University of Sheffield Centre for Doctoral Training in Emerging Urban Inequalities.