Dr Millie Light

Qualifications

Year	Qualification	Awarding body
2023	PhD	Ulster University
2016	MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy	Canterbury Christ Church University
2010	PGCE with QTS	Truro-Penwith College/Open University
2006	BA(Hons) English	Goldsmiths College University of London

Membership of external committees

British Sociological Association

Research interests and expertise

Millie is a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in precarity and embodiment, with specific focus on precarious employment and its effects on mental health and wellbeing. Millie also works on a longitudinal participatory research project documenting poverty and social security with parents/carers living in the UK, and collectively pushing for social policy change. Millie draws from a professional background plus teaching in the performing arts and from experience as a dance movement psychotherapist to work with creative, embodied approaches to explore the insecurities of 21st century existence. Theoretical interests include feminist and critical theory, new materialisms and critical posthumanism.

Research topics

• Arts and health
• Sociology of health and illness
• Embodiment and embodied health
• Precarity
• Poverty
• Inequalities
• Social security
• Social policy
• Arts-based methods
• Participatory research
• Critical theory
• Posthumanism

Externally funded research grants

Feb 2024 - Feb 2025

'Precarious Health' Mildred Blaxter Postdoctoral Fellowship award (Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness) held at Nottingham Trent University. Grade 6 Spine Point 30 salary, costs and expenses. Mentored by Prof Pam Alldred in Dept. of Social Work, Care and Community.

Current research students

Supervising a PGR with a focus on endometriosis and health inequalities in Scotland

Previous student supervision

At Nottingham Trent University I was on a supervisory team for 1 PGR and an internal assessor for another. My contract ended so I was not there for their completion.

Number of research students supervised to completion

0

CPD delivered

Movement and poetry workshops for wellbeing (community based)

Engagement with organisations which contribute to the development of educational, cultural or socio-economic policies in Cornwall

My policy influencing has so far been at the DfE, DWP, House of Lords and Scottish parliament including in areas of SEND, childcare, Universal Credit and the child poverty strategy.

Engagement with professional associations and societies

I have presented papers at the British Sociological Association's annual conferences and study group theory streams, London and online (2023-2025); Midlands Conference in Critical Thought (2024); European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry in Edinburgh (2025).