Sarah-Jane Judge

Research Fellow

Biography

Background

Sarah-Jane has a background in biology and has worked as a practitioner in the fields of science engagement and widening participation for over 20 years.

She joined the University of Edinburgh in 2020 after completing her PhD in Sociology. Her doctoral research, titled “Social Factors Influencing Children’s Experiences of School Trips to an Aquarium,” was an ESRC-funded collaborative project between the University of Warwick and The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.

From February 2020 to November 2024 (when the centre closed), Sarah-Jane served as the Public Engagement Manager for the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, playing a key role in shaping outreach and engagement activities and creating an engaged research culture. Since October 2023, she has also been a Teaching Fellow with the Biomedical Teaching Organisation.

Sarah-Jane previously taught at the University of Newcastle (Australia), where she was course coordinator for the online Science and Professional Communication course. She also led outreach programs for the University's College of Science and Engineering and its Equity and Diversity Unit.

Sarah-Jane’s research interests focus on inequalities in non-formal science learning and the impact of research-adjacent activities, particularly public engagement and widening participation programs, on research culture. She is currently delighted to hold a research fellowship with the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society (CBSS) at the Usher Institute.

Qualifications

PhD Sociology – University of Warwick

PGc Social Research – University of Warwick

PGa Higher Education Teaching – University of Warwick

Msc Ecotourism – Napier University

BSc hons Aquatic Bioscience – University of Glasgow

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