Rebecca Loader

I took up the post of Research Fellow in 2015 following the completion of my PhD, which explored pupils' experiences of participating in shared education programmes, focusing particularly on aspects of reconciliation. My research interests more broadly are in education and social cohesion, identities in education, faith schools, intercultural education, and intergroup relations. Developing these interests and drawing on my doctoral experience, I am currently working on a project exploring inter-school collaboration and intergroup contact via shared education in international contexts such as Macedonia and Cyprus.   

Prior to commencing my PhD, I worked in research roles in the third sector and in public sector consultancy, where I was involved in projects for the Department for Education (England) and Department for Communities and Local Government, among others. I hold a BA in Religious Studies with Education from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Social Research Methods, specialising in peace and conflict research, from Ulster University.