Dr Joy Probyn

School of Health & Society

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Current positions

Senior Lecturer

Biography

Joy is a sociologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Salford, and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She joined the University in 2014, following an early career as a postdoctoral qualitative health researcher, in which she worked on projects relating to adolescent diabetes management, paediatric end-of-life care, and informed consent in cardiac surgery. Joy completed a BA (Hons) in Sociology (2004) and a PhD in Health Services Research (2010) at the University of Liverpool. Since joining Salford, she has held a number of senior academic leadership roles, including Interim Head of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology (2020–2022) and Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research (Admissions) (2020–2025). Joy is skilled in teaching qualitative research methods at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Other areas of teaching expertise include health inequalities and gender studies. Joy has supervised seven PhD/DProf candidates and two MPhil students to successful completion since 2021. Her current research interests focus on gender inequality in the workplace, with particular emphasis on flexible working practices.

Areas of Research

Joy's historic research spans the disciplines of social science and medicine, with pas projects focusing on experiences of health and illness and the development of interventions to improve patient experiences. Her current programme of work relates to gender inequality in relation to flexible work practices. Joy holds expertise in qualitative research methods, with a particular focus on interpretive phenomenology and creative methods in the study of lived experiences.

Areas of Supervision

Qualitative methods
Gender inequality
Motherhood
Work
Wellbeing

Teaching Qualifications and Recognitions

Teaching

Joy's teaching is focused on qualitative research methods and health, wellbeing and illness in society, and inequalities within society.

Qualifications and Recognitions

Qualifications

  • PG Cert Academic Practice

    2019 - 2020

  • PhD in Health Sciences

    2006 - 2010

  • BA (Hons) Sociology

    2001 - 2004