About
Jessica Smith is a Lecturer in Politics within the Department of Politics and International Relations. She studies the sources and consequences of bias in our political systems, from what voters think to how our institutions operate. Her work centres on centres on gender, electoral politics, representation and political leadership with a focus on British politics.
Jessica is the convenor of the Political Studies Women and Politics Group and is founder and Co-Director of the Gender and Inequalities (GAIN) Research Centre at Southampton.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Political behaviour and gender-based stereotyping
- Executive politics
- British politics
- Political recruitment and representation
- Gender, politics and the media
Current research
Information on current research can be found on Jessica's website here.
Research projects
Completed projects
Publications
Teaching
Jessica teaches on the department's first year methods modules and British politics module.
She also teaches specialised modules on gender politics and political psychology.
Biography
Prizes
- Political Studies Association McDougall Trust Prize 2020 Winner, Best Dissertation in Elections, Electoral Systems and Representation (2020)
- SUSU Most Engaging Lecturer Faculty of Social Science (2021)
- Lecturer of the Year (2022)
- Political Studies Association McDougall Trust Prize 2020 Winner, Best Dissertation in Elections, Electoral Systems and Representation (2020)
- SUSU Most Engaging Lecturer Faculty of Social Science (2021)
- Lecturer of the Year (2022)
- PSA Joni Lovenduski Prize for Outstanding Professional Achievement by an Early Career Scholar (2025)