Since graduating, I have pursued an academic career. I completed a masters in Cultural Studies at Lancaster University in 1994, and then a PhD in Sociology in 1999. After receiving my doctorate, I became a lecturer in Sociology at the University of Southampton in 2000 before becoming a reader in Sociology in 2005. Then, in 2009, I became a professor of Sociology at the University of Southampton.

I am a director of the Centre for Population Change (CPC), which investigates how and why our population is changing and what this means for people, communities and governments. 
CPC is a collaboration between the Universities of Southampton, St. Andrews, and Stirling, it is an umbrella organisation bringing together multiple projects investigating population change. These projects are financed through a variety of funders, primarily the Economic and Social Research Council.

Dean of its Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Stirling Jan 22 - Aug 24
Faculty Dean of Research for Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Director of the Institute for Social Inclusion - Keele University Nov 2018 - Jan 22
Professor of Sociology and Head of the School of Social Sciences at the University of Southampton 2000 - 2018
MSc Lancaster University 1994
University of Plymouth BSC