Q&A with Dr Emma Jones

Dr Emma Jones is a Lecturer in Education and Gender in the Department of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment.

How long have you been at IOE?

I initially joined IOE as a Master’s student in 2011, studying for an MA in Education, Gender and International Development. I then went on to complete an MRes in Education and Social Research Methods. During that time, I worked behind the Institute Bar and in the Newsam Library and began working as a Research Associate on several funded projects.

I left IOE to undertake my PhD but returned in 2019 as a Lecturer in Gender and Education.

What is the focus of your research and what benefits do you hope your discoveries or insights will bring?

My research in Gender and International Development is interdisciplinary and informed by feminist epistemologies and decoloniality.

I am particularly interested in how knowledges about gender come into being (and/or are excluded) in global policy and practice. 

I have recently conducted research on this theme at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). 

My research typically draws on qualitative approaches, with a focus on ethnography, and explores the inseparability of ethics, ontology, and epistemology. I am currently working on the following research projects:

  1. 1. A UCL-funded research project to explore the experiences of LGBTQ+ staff at UCL.
  2. 2. A Centre for Teachers and Teaching Research funded research project using walking interviews to understand PGCE student experiences of racialisation while training to become teachers.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The aspect of my job I enjoy the most is working with students to develop their MA and PhD research projects. 

There is real joy to be had in supporting and encouraging other people to develop their ideas, and I always learn something new myself."

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

I am a founder of the IOE Early Career Network (ECN), which I established in 2019 with Dr Keri Wong. During our two years in this role, we advocated for an early career perspective on important issues such as the IOE Masterplan work to transform the IOE buildings, and the new teaching and research concordats.

We conducted a survey of early career colleagues to better understand their experiences and used these findings to ensure that the ECN remains responsive to the needs of its members.

One of the things I am most proud of is that we successfully lobbied for an increased emphasis on mentoring at IOE. We also have an active social media presence on Twitter, recruited early career representatives for each IOE department, and have grown an early career community of colleagues on MS Teams. We are also launching a new podcast series called Academia et al., a dedicated space for early career staff to be heard within IOE and beyond. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I am proud to have contributed to this initiative and to have played a part in supporting and connecting early career colleagues at IOE.

What other subjects outside of your area of specialism interest you?

My wife is training to be an integrative psychotherapist. While I am pretty sure I would make a terrible therapist (something my wife would agree with!), I am fascinated by Psychotherapy as a field of study and what it can offer the Social Sciences. I was recently involved in a research project that provided therapeutic support for the research team and this proved to be an invaluable resource, supporting our wellbeing as a team and leading to a greater understanding of my positionality in relation to the participants and the data produced in the study.

What might it surprise people to know about you?

I am a very keen sportsperson and love the outdoors.

When I was younger, I played cricket and hockey to a high standard, although nowadays I am more likely to be found on the mountain bike trails around the Stratford Olympic Park or getting lost and muddy riding through Epping Forest.

I have climbed Kilimanjaro via the Machame route and solo hiked the length of the Lake District, but one of the things I am most proud of is working with ten women for six months in Portland, Oregon to build a four bedroom house for a refugee family.

Last updated 28 July 2023.

Dr Emma Jones. Image credit: Sarah-Jane Gregori for UCL IOE.

View Dr Emma Jones' research profile (IRIS)

Courses and teaching

On the Academia et al. podcast

Emma Jones and Li Wei guest on Academia et al S01E02

S01E02: Is it too early to think about retirement?

Link