University Professor Elected as Academy of Social Sciences Fellow

The University of St Andrews’ Professor Gurhathen Singh Sanghera has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS) — one of the UK’s most prestigious honours in the field of social science research.

Professor Sanghera, a Professor in the School of International Relations, is among 743 new Fellows elected to the Academy from 39 UK organisations, including 35 higher education institutions, think tanks, non-profits, and civil service bodies, as well as researchers from countries including Australia, the Czech Republic, Finland, and Ireland.

Professor Sanghera joined the School of International Relations as a Lecturer in 2007, was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2017, and became a full Professor in 2023. He holds a BA (Hons) and a PhD in Peace Studies from the University of Bradford.

His research explores the complexities of social justice and examines the ways in which different forms of discrimination — including caste, class, gender, geography, sexuality, and religion — intersect to shape people’s everyday lives, and how people respond to such processes. Much of his work has focused on human rights, children’s rights, and the politics of race and ethnicity, spanning research sites such as India, Liberia, Haiti, England, and Scotland. 

Recently, his research has examined experiences of death, dying, mourning, and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reflecting on the honour, Professor Sanghera emphasised the broader significance of social science at a critical moment in history. “It is a great honour and privilege to have been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences,” he said in the University’s announcement of his award. “At a time when societies around the world are facing profound challenges, there is an urgent need for the social science community to address pressing issues relating to conflict, inequality, racism, the rise of authoritarianism, and the climate crisis.”

The recognition has been welcomed warmly within St Andrews. Professor Fiona McCallum Guiney, Head of the School of International Relations, said, “Professor Sanghera’s fellowship is richly deserved. It is wonderful to see his outstanding contribution to the discipline honoured in this way.”

Beyond his research, Professor Sanghera has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts since 2020 and serves on the Editorial Board of the journal Social Sciences. He is currently a member of the University’s Centre for the Critical Reimagining of Human Rights and the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Peer Review College, alongside sitting on the Academic Adviser Panel at the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission.

The Academy’s Fellowship comprises 1,700 leading social scientists drawn from academia and the public, private, and third sectors. All Fellows are elected through an independent peer review process that recognises excellence in their fields and substantial contributions to social science for public benefit.

Academy President Will Hutton FAcSS said he was “delighted to welcome these leading social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship,” adding that their work has advanced understanding across a wide range of societal challenges. “We look forward to working with them to further promote the important role the social sciences play in our daily lives,” he said.