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Hello, I’m

Digital Media Sociologist

Dr. Rachel Katz

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About Me

As an internationally-respected digital sociologist and UX research consultant, I research how new technologies impact our everyday social relationships online and offline. My area of expertise is in the unexpected social outcomes of dating apps like Tinder, Grindr, and Bumble, for public health and tourism, which I have been researching since 2015  

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My current research at the University of Salford investigates how digital platforms can be better used for health stakeholders. I am developing a digital skills learning system for healthcare providers through the DiSkPass project, and I am also fostering an online network to improve health and social outcomes for people with chronic kidney diseases through the KIN (Kidney Information Network) project. My work on the Covid Sex Lives Project analyzed the efficacy of Covid-19 public health messaging on dating apps aimed at queer men (view our summary report here). 

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My work has been covered internationally on TV and news media, including the BBC, CTV Canada, Brazil's Canal Futura, Vox, and the Sunday Times. In addition to my award-winning teaching, I have been invited to speak about my research at esteemed universities such as the University of Cambridge, my alma mater.

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I'd love to get in touch and  help you by delivering workshops about the latest research on dating apps, managing any UX research projects, or any other ways you want to collaborate!

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About Me
Education
Piles of Books

Education

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University of Manchester

PhD, Sociology

University of Cambridge (Peterhouse)

MPhil, Multi-Disciplinary Gender Studies

Columbia University (Barnard College)

BA, Gender Studies major, and graduated a year early

Piles of Books
Awards and Grants

Awards & Grants

Honorary Research Fellowship, Uni. of Salford School of Health & Society  2022-24

Winner of the University of Manchester Outstanding Staff Award for Teaching  2020 

Morgan Centre Sociology Public Engagement Prize - highly commended 2019

PhD Studentship awarded by the University of Manchester to fund PhD 2017 – 2019

Funded for University of Oxford Digital Humanities Summer School from Digital

Humanities at Manchester 2018

NWCDTP (AHRC) grant for organizing Developing Intellectual Leaders event 2018

ArtsMethods Northwest (AHRC) and ESRC grant for organizing Manchester 

         Sociology department postgraduate conference  2018

Fellow, Columbia University Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies 2014 –2015

Dean’s List at Barnard College/Columbia University: Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall                2014, Spring 2015              

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