We are delighted to welcome Aislinn Fanning to the Patents and Humans Team! Aislinn joined the PatentsInHumans team in August 2025 as a Post Doctoral Researcher.
Prior to joining the PatentsInHumans team, Aislinn has been a PhD researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, School of Law. Aislinn’s research focuses on qualitative research methods, feminist and queer theory, constitutionalism and equality and anti-discrimination law.
Her PhD research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, analysed anti-discrimination law in Northern Ireland and its contribution to overcoming discrimination based on gender and sexuality since 1998. Prior to beginning her PhD research, Aislinn completed an MRes in Social Science Research methods at the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast in 2021 (also funded by the Economic and Social Research Council). She graduated with an LLB in Law with Politics from Queen’s University Belfast, School of Law in 2020.
Aislinn is an experienced qualitative researcher, particularly in using semi-structured interviews and focus groups, having used those methods in both academic and policy research contexts. She is very excited about bringing her experience to this role on the PatentsInHumans project.