Dr Reardon joins seven other leading academics bringing their expertise to Westminster.
On her appointment Dr Louise Reardon said: “Transport is integral to many aspects of our lives, and I am so excited to be taking up the Thematic Research Lead role in this important area, acting as a bridge between parliamentary and research communities.”
Dr Reardon's research analyses the role of governance and public policy in addressing societal challenges, such as climate change and wellbeing. Including analysing the role of emerging transport innovations such as micromobility and future flight technologies for the transition to sustainable transport systems.
The new cohort will work for three days each week in Parliament, while continuing their roles in their academic institutions, beginning in September 2024.
Following the success of a pilot programme which took place in 2023, POST has expanded the programme, bringing in four new areas, including Transport.
The full list of Thematic Research Leads is:
- AI and Digital – Dr Varuna De Silva, Loughborough University (New position)
- Arts and Humanities – Dr Helen McCabe, University of Nottingham (New position)
- Business, Economics and Trade – Dr Jane Parry, University of Southampton (New position)
- Climate and Environment – Dr Andrew Russell, Queen Mary University London
- Crime and Justice – Dr Ruth Lamont, University of Manchester (New position)
- Health – Dr David Strain, University of Exeter (New position)
- International Affairs and National Security – Dr Leslie-Anne Duvic-Paoli, King's College London
- Transport – Dr Louise Reardon, University of Birmingham (New position)
Thematic Research Leads will work with a wide range of staff from across POST, the House of Commons Library and the Select Committee teams to act as a bridge between Parliament and the research community, significantly enhancing the use of high-quality research evidence in scrutiny and debate.
