Five University of Glasgow researchers have been appointed to highly competitive Academic Fellowship positions with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Dr Lewis Forsyth, Dr Eleanor Kirk and Dr Dely Elliot (College of Social Sciences), Professor Sajjad Hussain (College of Science and Engineering), and Dr Emma Stewart (College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences) have been announced as Academic Fellows. 

They will work on projects in collaboration with SPICe on topics that enable Scottish Parliament to better hold Scottish Government to account, scrutinise legislation and debate issues of national importance.

Each Academic Fellowship will undertake a piece of new research that is directly linked to ongoing parliamentary work, proposed either by SPICe or by the Academic Fellow. Each Fellowship aims to provide new knowledge and research capacity to SPICe, increase the use of academic knowledge and skills in the Parliament and promote collaboration with Parliament within academia. Their projects will run from this autumn until the end of this Parliament in spring 2026.

These Fellowships are supported by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account and the MRC Impact Acceleration Account.

Dr Lewis Forsyth: Council Tax and the Scottish Approach to Taxation

Dr Forsyth’s Academic Fellowship examines how Council Tax policy in Scotland aligns with the Scottish Government’s taxation principles, namely Proportionality, Certainty, Convenience, Engagement, Effectiveness and Efficiency. The project will comprise a literature and evidence review, as well as a series of interviews with politicians and civil servants in Scotland and beyond. Based in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), Lewis will be working within the Financial Scrutiny Unit until 2026, where he is expected to present the findings of the research project to a Scottish Parliament committee, most likely the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.

Professor Sajjad Hussain and Dr Dely Elliot: Job Cuts in Scottish Universities: Effects on Scientific Innovation, Economic Stability and International Reputation

This project investigates the wide-ranging impacts of job cuts in Scottish universities, focusing on how reductions affect scientific innovation, economic stability, and international reputation of Scottish universities. Using literature review, data analysis and stakeholder interviews, we aim to provide evidence-based recommendations for policymakers. The work will primarily engage with the Education, Children and Young People (ECYP) Committee, building on ongoing parliamentary discussions around higher education, technology, and economic stability. Our findings will help inform future policy decisions to safeguard Scotland’s higher education sector and its vital contributions.

Dr Eleanor Kirk: Employment Advice in Scotland: need, provision and distinctive models
Academic Fellow

The project will survey the landscape of employment advice in Scotland, investigating provisions for employment advice which is free of charge for users across Scotland; the needs of advisees and to what extent are they being met by current arrangements. Dr Kirk will also consider which model(s) of provision provide the most effective support to workers facing problems at work.

Dr Emma Stewart: The impact of cash and in-kind transfers in the first 1001 days on child health outcomes and health inequalities: an evidence review

Tackling inequalities in early childhood is important not only for children’s health and wellbeing but to prevent negative impacts on later life. This project aims to research international evidence on the impact of cash and in-kind transfers on child health and health inequalities.

The work will involve gathering and synthesising evidence on the effects of cash and in-kind transfers received in the first 1001 days on child health outcomes in high income countries, and providing an overview of how transfers impact upon child health inequalities, focusing on priority family types at higher risk of child poverty. Working with the Social Security team, evidence will be published in a SPICe policy briefing, presented to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee and disseminated through Maternal and Child Health Network(MatCHNet) based at the University of Glasgow.

The blog has been cross posted by the University news website.

First published: 22 September 2025

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