About
Professional appointments:
PRESENT APPOINTMENT
Professor of Politics, Department of Politics,
• Head of School of Politics & Communication Studies, 2007- 10
• REF outputs coordinator 2016-current
OTHER MAIN APPOINTMENTS
• HEFCE Politics REF 2014 sub-panel member and 2021 Deputy Chair of the Politics REF sub-panel
• President, British Politics Group, American Political Science Association, 2016-18
• Co-editor, Parliamentary Affairs, 2012-2022
• Editorial Board, Irish Political Studies (ex-editor) 2011-current
• Editorial Board, Irish Studies in International Affairs, 2014-current
• Chair, Youth Citizenship Commission, 2008-9, appointed by the PM
• President, Political Studies Association of UK, 2008-11 Founding Fellow, Political Studies Association of the UK, 2025- current
• Chair, Political Studies Association of UK, 2005-8
• Visiting Professor, Social and Policy Research Institute, University of Ulster, 2006-7
• Visiting Scholar, St John’s College, Oxford University, 2003
• Elected to the Academy of Social Scientists, 2004
Political Studies Association Sir Isaiah Berlin Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Political Studies, 2024.
Political Studies Association Pippa Norris Prize award for Outstanding Contribution to Research, 2026 (Northern Ireland General Election study)
Research supervision on parties, elections, politics in Northern Ireland.
Prizes or Honours
- Children’s Identity and Citizenship European Association (CiCea) best research publication of the ye (Children’s Identity and Citizenship European Association (CiCea), 2012)
- Civic Contribution Award (University of Liverpool, 2012)
- Political Studies Association of Ireland Brian Farrell Prize (Political Studies Association of Ireland, 2010)
- Silver Award (UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL STUDENT GUILD, 2010)
- Chair, Youth Citizenship Commission (Prime Minister, 2008)
- Visiting Professorship (Social and Policy Research Institute, University of Ulster, 2006)
- APSA Panel Competition (PSA , 2003)
- Political Studies Association of the UK Bernard Crick Prize for Outstanding Teaching (Political Studies Association of the UK, 1997)
Funded Fellowships
- Visiting Fellow, St John's College, Oxford University (St John's College, Oxford University, 2003)