Dr Katherine Smith
Research Associate

Profile

Biography

I am a Research Associate in Social Policy at the University of York. I am currently working with colleagues on a project about the impact of emotional support on youth mental health, with a place-based and youth transitions focus. I received my PhD at University of Sheffield in 2020 on youth-derived and gender-derived inequalities in young people’s participation. I have previously worked as a Research Associate on projects in the UK and Europe on youth participation and inequalities, as well as on young people’s experiences of the introduction of votes at 16 in Wales. I am interested in the process of doing research with young people, co-production and creative
methods. I also have a background as a youth worker in open access, targeted and participation youth work settings.

University roles

Associate member of the Institute of Mental Health Research

Research

Overview

Research Interests:

• Young people’s mental health
• Youth and community participation in politics and society
• Young people’s contemporary lives
• Gender inequalities
• Methodologies surrounding research with young people
• Creative and participatory approaches to research