Employment research award for SBS academic

Dr Michael Vallely, Department of Work, Employment and Organisation, has been awarded funding from EPIC Futures NI (£40,837) to carry out research on ‘Conflict Scarring on Employment Outcomes in Northern Ireland: A Place-Based Approach’. Michael is principal investigator on the project, working with Anne Devlin, PhD from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to examine how conflict scarring may continue to impact labour market outcomes in NI.  

 EPIC Futures NI, led by Ulster University, has awarded the funding to the project, one of eight pioneering projects focused on creating a fair and inclusive labour market across Northern Ireland. This investment will drive research to build a more inclusive labour market, bringing together academia, policymakers, business, and communities to deliver practical, evidence-based solutions. 

Further information on the EPIC Futures NI awards can be found here: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/news/2026/january/epic-futures-ni-awards. 

Published: 29 January 2026