Professor Alison Park is Director of Research, and joined ESRC in January 2019.

Prior to joining ESRC she was the Director of CLOSER (Cohort and Longitudinal Studies Enhancement Resources), a significant ESRC-funded collaboration based at UCL Institute of Education. CLOSER brings together eight leading UK longitudinal studies, the British Library and the UK Data Service to maximise the use, value and impact of longitudinal studies. It does this by stimulating longitudinal research, developing and sharing resources, and providing training.

Prior to joining UCL, Alison led a research team at NatCen Social Research which carried out a range of government and academic studies, both qualitative and quantitative, including Understanding Society, the British Social Attitudes Survey and the UK arm of the European Social Survey.

Alison was awarded a CBE for services to social sciences in the 2018 New Year Honours, and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences.