New Deputy Director appointment for Leeds Social Sciences Institute
Dr Gehan Selim, Associate Professor in Architecture & Urbanism, has been appointed as Deputy Director for Leeds Social Sciences Institute (LSSI) for the next three years.
LSSI aims to raise the profile of social science and its significant role in framing novel interdisciplinary and cross-institutional research collaborations and enhancing the skills of the next generation of researchers.
LSSI research excellence is enriched by bringing together disciplines, professions and people to solve real-world problems, ensuring that high-quality research informs societal change. Social science research is fundamental in responding to the complex global challenges facing contemporary society.
Dr Gehan Selim, Dr Sahla Aroussi and Dr Kate Pangbourne (also new Deputy Directors) will develop cross-cutting interdisciplinary research initiatives that draw additional input from humanities and STEM disciplines.
She will also support a new agenda based on co-created research themes that align with the University Strategy 2020-30 to deliver transformational research and tackle local, national and global challenges.
I am truly looking forward to supporting the director during the coming period in shaping LSSI’s vision and strategies in developing cross-cutting interdisciplinary initiatives that draw additional input from humanities and STEM disciplines and enable creative platforms to disseminate research excellence.
Dr Selim was Fellow of The Senator George Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice (2017/18) and currently leading the Architecture and Urbanism Research Group (A&U) in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds.
Her interdisciplinary research transcends the boundaries of disciplines across architecture, digital heritage, and urban politics, focusing on areas of liberation politics, geographies of urban conflict, co-produced knowledge, and developing sustained forms of community belonging.
Her research on humanitarian and marginalised communities in conflict cities received multiple awards and recognitions, such as the Women of Achievement Award (2021) and Newton Fund Prize for Outstanding Impact (2020).
Dr Selim said: “I am delighted to join LSSI as Deputy Director from August 2021. I am truly looking forward to supporting the director during the coming period in shaping LSSI’s vision and strategies in developing cross-cutting interdisciplinary initiatives that draw additional input from humanities and STEM disciplines and enable creative platforms to disseminate research excellence.”
Learn more about Dr Gehan Selim’s research.
