Professor Athina Vlachantoni
Professor Athina Vlachantoni
DTP Director
I am a Professor of Gerontology and Social Policy in the Department of Gerontology at the University of Southampton. I am also a member of the Centre for Research on Ageing and the ESRC Centre for Population Change. My research interests are at the interface of ageing over the lifecourse and social policy. Recent research projects have focused on informal care provision across the lifecourse in the UK, Europe and China; pension protection among minority ethnic groups in the UK; and long-term care provision in India, China, the UK and sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr Thomas Carter
Dr Thomas Carter
DTP Deputy Director for Employability (Brighton)
Dr. Thomas Carter is a Reader in the School of Education, Sport, and Health Sciences at the University of Brighton, leading the Sport and Leisure Cultures Research and Enterprise Group. His anthropological research focuses on sensory embodiment, movement, power dynamics, and knowledge production. He mentors early career researchers in the Anthropology of Sport across Europe, as part of the International Network of Sport Anthropology and the Commission Chair for the Anthropology of Sport in the IUAES. His previous research has explored the politics of transnational migration, citizenship, governance through sport, and Cuban identity in baseball.
Professor Tamsin Bradley
Professor Tamsin Bradley
DTP Deputy Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) (Portsmouth)
Tamsin Bradley is Professor in International Development Studies at the University of Portsmouth, UK. She is a social anthropologist who has worked for over twenty years generating research on what works best to end Violence against Women and Girls in South Asia and Africa. She is the author of 4 monographs including Global Perspectives on Violence against Girls (2020. Routledge) and over fifteen peer review articles.
Professor Melanie Nind
Professor Melanie Nind
DTP Deputy Director for Training & Impact (Southampton)
I am a Professor of Education at the University of Southampton and one of the co-directors of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods. My research spans inclusive education, inclusive research, and research methodology. I am particularly interested in building capacity among teachers and users of qualitative research methods and in working with people with learning disabilities to foster belonging in education, research and community.
Dr Suzanne Everley
Dr Suzanne Everley
DTP Deputy Director for Student Engagement & Social Media (Chichester)
I am a Reader in the Sociology of Physical Education, Activity and Health at the University of Chichester. My research focuses on children’s experiences of physical activity and sport and methods of understanding these, with particular reference to creating child centred cultures as a means of safeguarding. I am chair of the Association of Child Protection Professional’s Special Interest Group in Sport and associate editor of the Child Abuse Review.
Jing Lin
Jing Lin
DTP Manager
Jing is the manager of the South Coast DTP, leading the administration team to provide support for SCDTP students, fellows, and the research network. Jing had worked in ethics and governance at the University of Southampton, and at the National Biofilms Innovation Center at its start-up stage throughout its first funding phase. Jing has both project management and programme management credentials and relevant experience.
Professor Ajit Nayak
Professor Ajit Nayak
Research in Practice Lead (Academic)
Ajit Nayak is Professor of Strategic Management at the Southampton Business School, University of Southampton. His research focuses on how firms innovate and develop new capabilities, achieve digital transformation, and how business leaders achieve sustainability transitions.
Prof Nayak’s research has received funding from the ESRC, AHRC and Innovate UK. He has published in leading academic journals including Academy of Management Review, Organization Studies and Business History.
Professor Sarah Neal
Professor Sarah Neal
Research in Practice Lead (Academic)
Sarah originally trained as a nurse before pursuing further studies in social policy and social research at the Universities of Bristol and Bath. With a focus on public health, she has contributed to numerous programmes in developing countries, particularly those facing fragility. Professor Neal also served as an advisor with the UK Department for International Development. Following the completion of her PhD on the determinants of neonatal mortality in developing countries at Southampton University in 2009, she collaborated on the Atlas of Birth Maternal Health Advocacy Project with the Universities of Southampton and Aberdeen, as well as the White Ribbon Alliance. Prior to her appointment as a lecturer, Professor Neal held a British Academy postdoctoral fellowship, conducting research on motherhood in very young adolescents (under 16 years) in developing countries.
Penny White
Penny White
Research in Practice Lead Administrator
Penny joined the South Coast DTP as Research in Practice Lead in April 2026 after ten years with the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) team at University of Southampton, most recently as the Centre Manager. She will be supporting the South Coast DTP Students with all aspects of the Research in Practice (RiP) component of their training. In addition to her experience in postgraduate research methods training provision, Penny also brings a wealth of experience and insight from previous high level administrative roles within the NHS, charity and commercial organisations.
