Rob Lawson

AC member

Rob currently works as Associate Professor in Sociolinguistics at Birmingham City University. After completing his PhD at the University of Glasgow on language, masculinity, and violence, Rob applied for a Fulbright Award in Scottish Studies in hope of expanding his research networks in the USA. This later led him to the University of Pittsburgh, where he spent an enriching year immersed in American culture and academia.

During his time in the US, he taught a postgraduate linguistics course, worked on research articles, and completed an edited volume on language use in Scotland. Amongst other things, he also presented talks at Stanford University, UC Santa Barbara, and University of Arizona, and travelled to iconic U.S. landmarks like the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. In 2019, he was invited to a take up a role as a Visiting Junior Professor in Finland; he was awarded an institutional Researcher of the Year award in 2023, and his research monograph won the European Society for the Study of English book prize in 2024.

Since returning to the UK in 2013, Robert has continued to champion the Fulbright values in his career, advancing his research on language and masculinities. His recent book explores linguistic patterns in media and fatherhood, and he investigates male supremacism and radicalisation. Rob's Fulbright experience has had a lasting impact on both his academic and personal life, opening countless doors and fostering lifelong friendships.