Department of Development Studies

Jess Whelligan

Key information

Roles
Department of Development Studies Graduate Teaching Assistant
Qualifications
BSc in Politics and Philosophy (Bristol), MA in International Law (London), MSc in Research for International Development (London)
Email address
281755@soas.ac.uk
Thesis title
Questioning BRTs: A win-win solution to public transport problems in developing countries? (ESRC-ITF collaborative studentship)
Internal Supervisors
Dr Matteo Rizzo

Biography

Jess is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Development Studies. Her research focuses on the implementation of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in the cities of the global South. 

With a focus on labor movements and the informal transport economy. She is currently studying the implementation of the Metrobus BRT system in Mexico City.

Jess holds a BSc degree in Politics and Philosophy (Bristol), an MA in International Law (London) and an MSc in Research for International Development (London). Prior to starting her PhD she worked for a number of years as a researcher in the international trade union movement, focusing particularly on informal work, worker responses to climate change, multinational companies, international supply chains and worker education.and worker education.

Research interests

Political economy; informal economies; labour formalisation; law and development; gender and work; the future of work; labour movements;  "just transition"; urban development; urban transport; green finance; Latin America; Mexico; Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Contact Jess