Research in Culture, Heritage and Society

Through engagement, interaction and co-creation with communities, our researchers in the fields of Culture, Heritage and Society produce leading research in the arenas of regeneration of cities, social justice, philosophy, tourism, film and media production, augmented and virtual realities, drama, music, history and archaeology.

Using creative arts, technologies and investigative techniques for the benefit of communities we look at how they can be strengthened through a deeper understanding of them and their heritage.

Research centres

Our interdisciplinary approach to research means you will find research in the field of Culture, Heritage and Society in a range of different centres across our University.

Centre for Research in the Digital Entertainment and Media Industries

Leader:
Dr Kieran Hicks

The Centre for Research in the Digital Entertainment and Media Industries (DEMI) was developed to provide a rigorous research base for the study of screen-based industries including games, film, television, animation, AR/VR/XR, simulations and virtual production.

More about the Centre for Research in the Digital Entertainment and Media Industries

Centre of Archaeology

Leader:
Professor Caroline Sturdy Colls

We offer world-class services in research, consultancy and community archaeology – all supported by cutting-edge equipment and facilities – and we are committed to education and dissemination of our research beyond academia.

More about the Centre of Archaeology

The C3 Centre: Creative Industries and Creative Communities

Researchers, innovators, artists and creative thinkers passionate about co-creating with their surrounding communities and sectors.

More about The C3 Centre: Creative Industries and Creative Communities

Research projects

This is just a sample of the exciting research currently ongoing at Staffordshire University.

View all projects

Postgraduate research

Current PhD opportunities

See our wide range of PhD opportunities and topics. They include self-funded PhDs and those offered through fully-funded scholarships.

Postgraduate research courses

Find out more about our professional doctorates, which combine taught modules with in-depth research. The research skills relate to professional practice.

Our researchers

Professor Carola Boehm

Professor

Having degrees both from the arts (music) as well as the sciences (electrical engineering, computer science) I am a genuine interdisciplinarian.

Carola's profile

Dr Neil Brownsword

Professor

Prof. Brownsword is an artist, researcher and educator. His research into the legacy of deindustrialisation in relation to North Staffordshire's ceramic industry, has had national and international cultural impact.

Neil's profile

Dr Dave Payling

Associate Professor

Dave is an audio-visual artist who holds a PhD in composition. His sonification composition, Listen (Awakening) was performed at the Sydney Opera House in 2004. He is section editor for Dancecult: Journal of Electronic Dance Music Culture.

Dave's profile

Dr David White

Senior Lecturer

Post Graduate Lead and Course Leader for MPhil / PhD in Games Technology. Senior Lecturer in Computer Games Programming – 3D graphics programming and AI.

David's profile

Dr Agata Lulkowska

Senior Lecturer

Dr Agata Lulkowska is a Senior Lecturer in Film Production in the Department of Film, Media and Journalism. Agata’s background is in film practice, installations and photography.

Agata's profile

Professor David Webb

Professor

David is the course leader for Continental Philosophy. His expertise includes Modern European Philosophy, especially phenomenology, and French epistemology and philosophy of science (Heidegger, Levinas, Foucault, Serres, Bachelard, Cavaill&egrav…

David's profile

Dr Sharon Coleclough

Senior Lecturer

Sharon works across all areas of film and media production, focusing upon specialisms in sound design, editing, acting and performance in film. She is an active researcher with international publications on lighting, sound and representation in film.

Sharon's profile

Dr Marc Estibeiro

Associate Professor

Marc is the Course Leader for MA Music Production and teaches computer sound, advanced Pro Tools techniques, modern composition and music software design.

Marc's profile

Professor Ian Brown

Professor

Prof. Brown’s research investigates how contemporary social identity is constructed through rituals of consumption within popular culture. His research also explores the Invented World and the Natural World, including plant/human relations.

Ian's profile

Dr Robert Marsden

Head Of Department- Media And Perf

Dr Robert Marsden is the Head of Department of Media, Performance and Communication. Robert also works in professional theatre as a director and writer, and writes on rehearsal studies, directing practice and British pantomime amongst other topics.

Robert's profile

Dr Andrew Stubbs

Lecturer - Film Industries & Studies

Dr Andrew Stubbs is Lecturer of Film, Media and Communication in the Department of Film, Media and Journalism. He teaches a range of subjects across Film, Television and Media.

Andrew's profile