Staff Spotlight- Dr Serena Pattaro

My name is Serena Pattaro and I’m a Research Fellow at the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow. My work uses data to evaluate policies relating to inequalities across work, welfare, and health. I recently began leading the Work, Welfare and the Economy Strategic Theme within ADR Scotland, working closely with government, academic and stakeholder partners. We’ve just secured a major investment from the UKRI Economic and Social Research Council for 2026-2031 as part of the wider ADR UK national infrastructure programme.

My research on the impacts of benefit sanctions has contributed to UK and Scottish policy debates, including presenting evidence to the House of Commons Work & Pensions Select Committee. I also serve on the editorial board of the Journal of Social Policy, the UKRI ESRC Peer Review College and the ADR UK Expert Assessor Directory.

I enjoy creating collaborative spaces where researchers, policymakers and third sector analysts can learn from each other. I’ve co-chaired an Areas of Research Interest Workshop with the Department for Work and Pensions, co-led discussions on the wider impacts of the Scottish Child Payment through ADR Scotland, and recently chaired an ADR UK PhD student gathering in Edinburgh – which reminded me how important supportive research communities are, especially for women working in data science and policy.

How did you get into working with data?

I began working with large-scale datasets during my DPhil at Nuffield College, University of Oxford, where I studied women’s employment instability and fertility dynamics using cross-national life history data from the UN Economic Commission for Europe. I later worked at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and the ESRC Centre for Population Change at the University of Southampton, analysing data from British cohort studies to understand fertility postponement and recuperation.

Working with these rich longitudinal datasets strengthened my interest in using complex data to understand how social and economic policies shape people’s lives over time.

What inspires you about your job?

I am inspired by the challenges and opportunities offered by working with linked administrative data, where strong governance is essential to ensure data are accessed safely and responsibly. I currently co-lead a project linking Department for Work and Pensions RAPID data with Public Health Scotland health records to better understand employment and health support needs in Scotland. Cross-sectoral data linkage is at the core of advancing research for public good.

Collaboration is another key motivation: through ADR Scotland I work closely with government, academic, public health agencies and stakeholder partners to evaluate policies at the intersection of social security, labour markets and health. Ultimately, my work aims to improve social and health outcomes, particularly for people and families experiencing unemployment, economic inactivity, long-term ill health, disability and low income, and to ensure that the experiences of under-represented and disadvantaged groups are reflected in evidence and policy.

What’s your favourite administrative data research study, and why? 

A study I led with colleagues at the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR) examined occupational differences in COVID-19 hospitalisation and mortality risks between women and men in Scotland, published in BMJ Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Using linked Census, health and residential data for around 1.7 million people, we developed new household-level exposure measures that enabled novel insights at national scale.

During the first year of the pandemic, women generally experienced lower hospitalisation and mortality rates than men, but risks varied strongly by occupation: women in health and technical professions had some of the lowest risks, while men in transport jobs, particularly taxi and large vehicle drivers, faced the highest risks. The research was commissioned by the Scottish Government’s Chief Statistician’s Office to inform policy responses and was cited as evidence in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. Ongoing work explores how household living arrangements shape infection and severe outcomes among disabled people in Scotland.

What’s the most pressing issue data can help us solve?

A major challenge that data can help us address is the rise in economic inactivity across the UK since the pandemic. There are increased numbers of people out of work due to long-term ill health, disability and care-giving responsibilities – conditions that disproportionately affect women. These factors can limit career progression and labour market stability, with many people moving in and out of work, through periods of ill health and benefit receipt.

A key challenge is understanding how health, job quality and benefit receipt interact over time to shape long-term labour market and health outcomes. Linked administrative data offers a powerful way to track these pathways, helping policymakers identify where support is needed and design more effective and inclusive labour market and welfare policies that reduce social and health inequalities.

What top tips do you have for anyone looking to work in data and research?

My top advice for anyone looking to work in data and research is to hold on to your curiosity and passion – they are often what sustain you through complex projects and inevitable setbacks. Keep sight of the bigger picture and the purpose behind your work, stay grounded in the science, especially when challenges arise, because research rarely follows a straight path; if things don’t work out take some time to learn and start again. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek advice from more experienced colleagues – collaborations and learning from others are essential for growing in this field.