Liam Foster Sheffield University, UK

Liam teaches social policy, sociology and social work at the University of Sheffield. After graduating in Social Policy and Administration at the University of Leeds he undertook an MA in Social and Public Policy, also at the University of Leeds, before completing a PhD on Gender, Pensions and the Life Course at the University of Sheffield in 2006. Following the completion of his PhD Liam was appointed as a lecturer in social work at the University of Sheffield.  

Much of Liam’s research continues to focus on inequalities in later life and policy implications, particularly in relation to pensions. He has liaised with the Labour Party, Trade Unions, the European Parliament and pension providers and published extensively in this area. Liam is also interested in theories of ageing including the political economy of ageing and the implementation of active ageing policy and has recently published (with Professor Alan Walker) (eds) (2014) The Political Economy of Ageing and Later Life: Critical Perspectives with Edward Elgar.

Liam employs a variety of methods in his research which inform his teaching, including secondary data analysis. He has been teaching social research methods to students in the social sciences for approximately ten years with a particular focus on quantitative methods. He has also developed quantitative teaching resources for teachers in the social sciences and written about teaching social research methods.

In his spare time Liam enjoys playing and watching football (Sheffield Wednesday), spending time with his family, sampling real ale and collecting an eclectic mix of vinyl and cds.