Hello, I’m
Digital Media Sociologist
Dr. Rachel Katz
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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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
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