Centre for European and International Studies Research
Bringing together researchers and postgraduates from across the University, the Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR) is a supportive and intellectually stimulating place. We welcome linguists, historians, sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists and specialists in area studies. Our work crosses multiple fields in humanities, social sciences and the arts.
In the Research Excellence Framework 2021, Area Studies was ranked as the top modern UK university for overall quality by Grade Point Average (GPA) and research power, and 2nd across all UK universities for research power, according to Times Higher Education.
A regular programme of events helps promote our research and nurture our culture. We host strategic research projects on topics such as EU language policy, the Transnational European Union, the History of the Jewish Press in Central Europe, Port Towns and Francophone Africa in a comparative and transnational context.
Partnerships and collaborations
We're partnered with external stakeholders and research organisations on issues of mutual interest, including Southern England Local Partners (SELP), the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), Chatham House and the West Africa Institute (WAI).
Several of our PhD students are members of the international History of European Integration Research Society (HEIRS)postgraduate research network. Founded by a group of doctoral students from Portsmouth and Cambridge, HEIRS works as an open network for all PhD and early career researchers to contribute to discussions on European integration and its history.
Funding
Our activities have been funded by major UK and European research councils, including:
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- European Social Fund (ESF)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- European Union (EU)
- UNESCO
- British Academy
- Various non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
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Our members
CEISR Executive

Dr Simon Stewart
- Job Title Reader In Sociology and Director of the Centre for European and International Studies Research
- Email Address Simon.Stewart@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Area Studies History Politics and Literature
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Angela Crack
- Job Title Reader in Civil Society and Research Degree Coordinator
- Email Address Angela.Crack@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Area Studies History Politics and Literature
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Media ready expert
Professor Wolfram Kaiser
- Job Title Professor of European Studies
- Email Address Wolfram.Kaiser@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Area Studies History Politics and Literature
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Natalya Vince
- Job Title Reader in North African and French Studies
- Email Address Natalya.Vince@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Area Studies History Politics and Literature
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Robert James
- Job Title Senior Lecturer in History
- Email Address Robert.James@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Area Studies History Politics and Literature
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Dr Maria Cannon
- Job Title Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History, and Senior Wellbeing Tutor
- Email Address maria.cannon@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Area Studies History Politics and Literature
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Professor June Purvis
- Job Title Emeritus Professor of Women's and Gender History
- Email Address june.purvis@port.ac.uk
Dr Charles Leddy-Owen
- Job Title Senior Lecturer in Sociology
- Email Address charles.leddy-owen@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Education and Sociology
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Emma Maynard
- Job Title Senior Lecturer
- Email Address emma.maynard@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Education and Sociology
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Professor Jane Creaton
- Job Title Professor of Higher Education Associate Dean (Academic)
- Email Address Jane.Creaton@port.ac.uk
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Glenn Hadikin
- Job Title Senior Lecturer, English Language and Linguistics
- Email Address Glenn.Hadikin@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Languages and Applied Linguistics
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Media ready expert
Dr Melita Lazell
- Job Title Associate Head (Research and Innovation) and Principal Lecturer in Political Economy
- Email Address melita.lazell@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Area Studies History Politics and Literature
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Patricia Shamai
- Job Title Associate Head (Students), Senior Lecturer in International Relations, and Course Leader MA International Relations
- Email Address patricia.shamai@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Area Studies History Politics and Literature
- Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Research
Research groups
Research areas and areas of expertise
News, blogs and podcasts
Find our more about our latest research successes, read blogs by our academics and listen to the latest ideas and discoveries that look set to change our lives in our Life Solved podcast.