Vulnerability and Policing International PhD Summer School

Apply for a place at the Vulnerability and Policing International PhD Summer School.

Monday 7 July 2025 – Friday 11 July 2025

University of York

The Vulnerability and Policing International PhD Summer School provides a fantastic opportunity for the next generation of vulnerability and policing researchers to build lasting connections with peers, learn from internationally renowned academics, and to develop skills and confidence.

Held in York, UK, from 7-11 July 2025, the Summer School programme includes sessions that will be delivered by world-leading vulnerability and policing experts, as well as workshops dedicated to exploring researcher wellbeing, data collection and analysis methods, publishing, and achieving research impact. The Summer School will also include a range of social activities and networking opportunities.

The Summer School is open to enrolled PhD students from any relevant discipline. We hope to bring together an internationally mixed cohort and warmly welcome applications from across the world.

What’s included?

As well as your attendance at a full programme of sessions across four days and hearing from internationally recognised experts, additional benefits are:

  • Bed and breakfast accommodation will be provided (in single ensuite rooms) on campus at the University of York from Monday 7 July for four nights.
  • Lunch will be provided from Tuesday to Friday.
  • Applicants can apply for a travel bursary from the Centre – we aim to make it feasible for you to get here. Please note that we may not be able to provide funding for every successful applicant.
  • The cost of social events and some evening meals will also be covered by the Centre.

How to apply

Please complete the application form no later than 5pm (GMT), 28 February 2025 to be considered for a place on the Summer School.

You will need to provide a brief summary of your PhD topic and outline why you wish to attend the Summer School as part of the application. If you plan on applying for a travel bursary, you will need to include estimated travel costs.

Applications will be reviewed by the Centre, with places being awarded on the basis of:

  • The quality of the application
  • The relevance of the applicant’s research interests and PhD topic
  • Ensuring a diverse mix of participants

Places in the Summer School are limited to 20.


Programme

Monday 7 July

Arrival Day: There are no daytime sessions on Arrival Day.

Evening activity

Welcome meal

Tuesday 8 July

Welcome

Introduction to the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre – Professor Kate Brown and Professor Adam Crawford (Centre Co-Directors) and Professor Charlie Lloyd (Centre Deputy Director).

Workshop

Title TBC – Professor Adam Crawford (Centre Co-Director)

Making connections

Short timed informal one-to-one conversations about your research with Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre Postdoctoral Researchers.

Academic activism: risks and rewards

Professor Nicole Westmarland (Centre Co-Investigator, Durham University)

Evening activity (optional)

  • Evening Meal (informal in York City Centre)
  • Free time to explore York

Wednesday 9 July

The politics of engaging police in research

Professor Ben Bradford, (Centre Co-Investigator, UCL)

Graffiti wall mapping exercise

Mapping core theories, concepts and methods being deployed by you and our Centre researchers – Dr Laura Bainbridge (Centre Co-Investigator, University of Leeds).

Researcher wellbeing in the context of sensitive research subjects

Dr Laura Bainbridge (Centre Co-Investigator, University of Leeds)

Workshop – Three Minute Thesis

Dr Dominika Butler (University of York)

Evening activity (optional)

  • Organised activity in York
  • Evening Meal

Thursday 10 July

Implementing anti-racism in vulnerability and policing research

Dr Katy Sian (Centre Co-Investigator, University of York)

Viewpoints on vulnerability as a focus for policing and public services

Professor Adam Crawford (Centre Co-Director), Dr Chris Devany and Dr Öznur Yardımcı (Centre Postdoctoral Researchers)

Responsibly harnessing data to support evidence-based policy and practice and improve societal wellbeing

Professor Dan Birks (Centre Deputy Director, University of Leeds)

Workshop: publishing

Tom Sutton (Publisher- Routledge)

Evening activity (optional)

  • Evening Meal (informal in York City Centre)
  • Organised activity in York

Friday 11 July

Workshop: dissemination and media engagement

Danny Shaw (Ex-BBC home affairs correspondent and former adviser to Yvette Cooper) and Nathan Capstick (Centre Communications and Engagement Officer, University of Leeds)

Workshop: impact

Speaker TBC

Three Minute Thesis competition

Professor Kate Brown and Professor Adam Crawford (Centre Co-Directors)

Farewell and departure


Join the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre’s international PhD Network

The Centre’s PhD Network brings together a community of PhD students across multiple disciplines who focus on the intersection of vulnerability and policing. It aims to encourage collaboration, learning and innovative research.

The Network provides a forum for discussion among PhD students, training opportunities, and organises talks from speakers working in the field of vulnerability and policing.

Complete the PhD Network submission form to join the Network.