Academic Profile

David Kirk

Professorial Fellow
Professor in Sociology

Research Interests: Life Course, Criminology, Quantitative Methods, Experimental Methods.

Dave joined the Department of Sociology and Nuffield College at the University of Oxford in 2015. He is the Director of Research for the Department of Sociology, and a member of the Steering Committee. He is also a faculty affiliate of the Oxford QStep Centre. Dave received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago.

Dave's research agenda is primarily organized around three inter-related themes: first, the legitimacy of the law; second, the effect of neighbourhood culture and conditions on criminal and delinquent behaviour; and third, prisoner reentry and the consequences of housing and parole policies for criminal recidivism. One ongoing project involves an experimental housing mobility program for ex-prisoners. Kirk's recent research has appeared in American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, Criminology, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Areas of Supervision: Dave is available to supervise graduate students, particularly those with interests in criminology, urban sociology, and the use of quantitative methods.