Dr. Sarah O Brien

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Sarah O'Brien is a Research Associate in the ESRC-funded MIMESIS Action Project at the University of Manchester. Her research investigates the tacit and explicit assumptions that drive human hopes and fears regarding the future of nuclear sites across England, Scotland, the Netherlands, and France. Sarah's work focuses particularly on La Hague, France, where she ethnographically explores the local landscapes, livelihoods, and temporalities associated with a nuclear fuel reprocessing site. Her PhD thesis, titled "Truth, Action, Transition: Energy Frontline Lancashire, UK", was completed at the University of St Andrews, where she received a full scholarship from the European Research Council as part of the research group "The Ethics of Oil: Finance, Moralities, and the Environmental Politics of the Global Oil Economy." Her doctoral project involved thirteen months of ethnographic research in a community resisting the development of the shale gas industry associated with hydraulic fracturing. Through her work, she aims to connect her doctoral research insights with current investigations under the MIMESIS project, reflecting on the ethical dimensions that shape energy realities and considering the landscapes in which these ethical frameworks operate.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Manchester

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering or science subject Strong background in mathematics and physics
Application Checklist
  • Academic transcripts
  • Two academic references
  • Personal statement
  • CV/Resume
  • English language proficiency certificate
Specialization Notes

Includes MSc in Advanced Electrical Power Systems and MSc in Communications and Signal Processing.