Dr Cristina Sechel, a Lecturer in the Department of Economics, has secured a UK government sponsored Policy Fellowship which will see her working closely with the Sheffield-based Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to address critical issues surrounding health and work.
This Fellowship strengthens the longstanding relationship between the University’s Department of Economics and the DWP, exemplified by the Department's convening of the DWP-sponsored Work Pensions and Labour Economics Study Group (WPEG) since 2006. The WPEG brings together academics and policymakers to explore key strategies for addressing labour market and workplace challenges.
The UKRI is funding 49 fellowships with 27 government departments and arms length bodies. The fellowships enable academics to work in government over the course of 18 months, so they can share their expert knowledge in the policy-making process. Academic fellows, in turn, get first hand insight and experience into key aspects of policy-making and Civil Service operations.
This two-way knowledge exchange is designed to improve the exchange of specialist knowledge between academic institutions and policy-makers, fostering deeper and more enduring connections between researchers and policymakers.
It also forms part of the Sheffield Policy Campus, a civic initiative designed to develop Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region as one of the leading centres for policy-making outside London.
Dr Cristina Sechel, Lecturer in Economics at the University of Sheffield, said: “I am very excited to have this opportunity to work with the Joint Work and Health Directorate.
“I believe that this joint project has the potential to generate much needed evidence and impact based on rigorous cutting edge data analysis
“Understanding the complex relationship between work and health is tremendously important, especially under the current circumstances, which are characterised by high rates of economic inactivity and increasing prevalence of health conditions among the UK working age population.”
The Fellowship will complement other funded projects in the Department of Economics, such as The causal impact of health status on labour market outcomes and Unpacking the Disability Employment Gap.
I believe that this joint project has the potential to generate much needed evidence and impact based on rigorous cutting edge data analysis
Dr Cristina Sechel
Lecturer in Economics