Rushane Walker
Profile
Biography
I started my PhD in Sociology at the University of York September 2026, where my research examines the governance and interpretation of gene-editing technologies across medical and food sectors. My research explores how regulation, policy, public trust and societal perspectives influence how gene editing is understood and governed in these different contexts.
My interest in this area developed through my academic and professional experience across biology, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology and food science. I have worked within the biopharmaceutical and medical device industry in a highly regulated environment, giving me practical experience of quality, regulation, scientific processes and the governance of biotechnology etc. Alongside this, my academic and research experience has developed my interest in genetics, GMOs, public acceptance and the relationship between science and society. My previous research with my MSc degree into GMOs, sustainability, crop yield, profitability and public perceptions helped lead me towards my current research. My PhD brings these experiences together through a sociological and STS perspective, examining how scientific developments are interpreted, regulated and shaped by social, political and institutional contexts.
