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 2014.
I engage extensively with research stakeholders: I was recently invited by Tinder to discuss my research as a panelist at their "Nailing Dating" event this October, and in 2023 Bumble commissioned me to create and deliver a workshop for them based on my impartial academic research. My research has been covered internationally on TV and news media, including the BBC, CTV Canada, Brazil's Canal Futura, Vox, and the Sunday Times.​​​
Dr. Rachel Katz in the center, with fellow panelists (left to right) Emma-Louise Boynton, Munroe Bergdorf, Sarah D'Angelis, and Paul C. Brunson at Tinder's Nailing Dating event in London.
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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 capabilities 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. I am a co-investigator on the Online Dating Lives Project, a UK-wide general population study about people's postive and negative experiences of dating apps, inequalities, and health communication on dating apps. 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 also been published in respected academic journals such as Social Media + Society. In addition to my award-winning teaching, I have been invited to speak 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
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Shortlisted for Salford Celebration of Innovation Award 2024
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Honorary Research Fellowship, Uni. of Salford School of Health & Society 2022-24
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Winner of the University of Manchester Outstanding Staff Award for Teaching 2020
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Morgan Centre Sociology Public Engagement Prize - highly commended 2019
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Awarded University of Manchester PhD studentship 2017 – 2019
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Funded for University of Oxford Digital Humanities Summer School by Digital Humanities at Manchester 2018
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NWCDTP (AHRC) grant for organizing Developing Intellectual Leaders event 2018
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ArtsMethods Northwest (AHRC) and ESRC grant for organizing Manchester Sociology department postgraduate conference 2018
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Fellow, Columbia University Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies 2014 –2015