Georgina Robinson

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University
Dr Georgina Robinson is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Theology and Religion and Centre for Death-Life Studies at Durham University, with research interests primarily grounded in the interdisciplinary field of death studies. Georgina completed her PhD at Durham University in early 2023, with a thesis entitled ‘Alkaline Hydrolysis: The Future of British Death-Styles’. The research, which explores how alkaline hydrolysis may be adopted in accordance with the sociocultural and worldview contours of contemporary Britain, pioneered the first study of the funerary innovation in the United Kingdom and involved transatlantic fieldwork in the UK and USA. Following the completion of her PhD, Georgina was appointed as Postdoctoral Research Associate on a large European Digital Death Project (funded by EU-CHANSE), working alongside academics at the Universities of Durham, Helsinki, Aarhus, and Bucharest. The impact of her work has been far reaching and she has been invited to present her research findings internationally in academic, funerary, and public settings.

Georgina’s academic career began and continues in Durham in the Department of Theology and Religion, with her interest in death studies beginning to blossom during her undergraduate degree. Alongside her PhD, Georgina holds a MA in Religion and Society and BA in Theology and Religion, both awarded by Durham University. Since 2020, Georgina has worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Theology and Religion, leading seminars and delivering guest lectures for modules including ‘Death, Ritual and Belief’, ‘Worldview, Faith and Identity', ‘Emotion, Identity and Religion’, and ‘Sects, Prophets, Gurus’. In addition to her primary research and teaching work, Georgina is a Board Member of Durham University’s Centre for Death-Life Studies, Council Member of the Association for the Study of Death and Society, Associate Member of the Death and Culture Research Network, and has undertaken research for the voluntary sector.