Bio

[short bio]

Ioana Cerasella Chis (she/they) is social researcher interested in anti-capitalist, anti-work, and anti-disablement politics. She completed her PhD in July 2024 in the Political Science and International Studies Department at the University of Birmingham with a thesis titled ‘The Politics of Work and Disablement: Prefiguring a Non-Productivist Future’. Some of Ioana’s most recent publications can be found in the Global Political Economy Journal, the International Journal of Care and Caring, and the International Journal of Disability and Social Justice. Ioana serves on the committees/boards of Society for Disability Studies, Marxism and Disability Network, Leisure Studies Association, and the Theory Study Group of the British Sociological Association. Currently, Ioana is collaborating with other scholars to co-edit Special Issues for academic and non-academic journals. She is also editing a Book Review Symposium article, while undertaking other scholarly ‘service’ work not covered in this bio. In 2026, Ioana will start a three-year Leverhulme Trust & LKAS Postdoctoral Fellowship.

My doctoral research project was completed in 2024 at the University of Birmingham, in the Political Science and International Studies Department, School of Government (access my university page here). The title of my doctoral thesis is The Politics of Disablement and Precarious Work in the UK: Prefiguring an Anti-Productivist Future and its abstract is available here. This project examined (not least through interviews and diary entries) UK-based gig economy subjects of disablement’s everyday activities. Through it, I made theoretical, political, praxiological, and empirical contributions to various academic spaces (e.g. social sciences in general and Critical Political Economy, Marxism, and Disability Studies) and to the collective thinking and organising of disabled people’s organisations, trade unions, and other collectives concerned with anti-capitalist social change.

During the doctoral programme and alongside my doctoral research, I undertook a self-organised, three-month, ESRC-funded placement with The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, gaining valuable insights from this sector. I also acted as a member of the advisory team for an inter-institutional academic project that investigated changes to the working environments of workers in the hospitality sector during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, I became Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have facilitated seminars on modules of political science, political theory, research methods, research skills, comparative politics, and social policy/sociology-related topics in the School of Government and School of Social Policy and Society.

Over the past decade, I have undertaken work in various areas of higher education by holding roles such as Academic Skills Advisor (Academic Skills Centre), Graduate Teaching Assistant and Teaching Fellow in two university Schools, Tutor of A-level students (Access to Birmingham Scheme), Student Enhancement Administrator (School of Social Policy), Online Instructional Designer (Library Academic Engagement department) and others. I also undertook funded placements and internships within the third and public sectors, thus learning about the work conducted by Birmingham-based social enterprises, charities, and the city council.

Throughout my time in higher education, I have been a keen supporter of other scholars’ and activists’ research and insights. To this end, I have organised numerous talks, workshops, Symposia, conferences, and conference panels via the British Sociological Association; BSA Theory Study Group; the Marxism and Disability Network; my department/school; the Contemporary Philosophy of Technology Research Group; and the Birmingham Autonomous University collective (among others). I have also been actively involved in the UNISON and UCU trade union branches on campus. 

Active involvement on academic associations/networks’ committees:

• Marxism and Disability Network (MDN): Steering Group member since March 2023;
• Theory Study Group of the British Sociological Association (BSA): co-convenor since July 2022;
  • some examples of BSA Theory events I hosted: in 2022; in 2024;
• Society for Disability Studies (SDS): Member of the Board of Directors since September 2024;
  • Member of the Communications and Publications Committee of SDS;
• Leisure Studies Association (LSA): Executive Committee Ordinary Member since July 2025;

• Co-founder and committee member of the Contemporary Philosophy of Technology Research Group, University of Birmingham (2015 – 2019)